The Discalced Carmelites or Barefoot Carmelites is a Catholic mendicant order with roots in the eremitic tradition of the Desert Fathers and Mothers. The order was established in 1593, pursuant to the reform of the Carmelite Order of the Ancient Observance by two Spanish saints, Saint Teresa of Ávila and Saint John of the Cross.The Discalced Carmelite order is now known by the initials O.C.D. (The older branch of the order, Carmelites of the Ancient Observance, has the initials "O.