AMEDIANS, in church-history, a congregation of religious in Italy, so called from their professing themselves amantes Deum, "lovers of God;" or rather amati Deo, "beloved of God." They wore a grey habit and wooden shoes, had no breeches, and girt
themselves with a cord. They had 28 convents; and were united by Pope Pius V. partly with the Cistercian order, and partly with that of the Soccolanti, or wooden-shoe wearers.