INTERNATIONAL ORDERS
(ORDERS OF THE HOLY LAND)
ORDER OF MALTA
Name. Soverign Military and Hospitalier Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta.
History. The order was already existing in Jerusalem in 1099 under the authority of
Gérard
de Bouillon. It was sanctioned by Pope Pascal in 1113 and exists to this day with its headquarters at the Palace of Malta in Rome. The Order
is recognized as a soverign state by 54 nations and has embassies and legations in various countries, issues passports, coin (not recognized),
and stamps. Activites. Hospitals, dispensaries, education centres, ambulance services,
emergency and
medical teams to aid victims of war and natural disaster by providing medicine, food, shelter and clothing.
Prince Grand Master. His Eminent Highness Fra Andrew Bertie (elected 1988)
Flag. Red with a silver cross (the oldes in the world, approved 1130).
Emblem.White cross of 8 points, "Maltese Cross". Distinction. Pro merito
melitensi (merit of the order), crosses 5 cl. and medals 3 cl.
Classes. 1 Knights of Justice and Conventual Chaplains, those having taken religious vows; 2.
Knights of
Obedience and Donats of Justice (promising to stive for perfection in Christian life); 3. Those who have made no religious vows or promise,
divided into 6 categories: Knights and Dames of Honour and Devotion; Conventual Chaplains ad honorem; Knights and Dames of Grace
and Devoiton; Magistral Chaplains; Knights and Dame of Magistral Grace; Donats of Justice. There are 11 000 members in the world.
(The first four categories require proof of noble lineage.)
OFFSHOOTS - ORDERS OF ST. JOHN
Grand Bailliwick of Brandenburg of the Order of the Knights of St. John of the Hospital of Jerusalem.
Autonomous protestant order established in the German states in 1332. Aslo known as the Johanniter Orden or Evangelical Order of St. John.
It gave birth to two national orders in Sweden - Johanniterorden i Sverige (1920) - and in the
Netherlands - Johanniter Orden in Nederland (1909)
Grand Priory of the British Realm of the most venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem
orTheOrder of St. John. Established 1827 with the monarch as Soverign Head.
OTHER ONLINE RESOURCES
The Knights of Saint John in Germany.
EQUESTRIAN ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE OF JERUSALEM
History. Founded in Jerusalem in 1099 by Godefroy de Bouillon, brother of Gérard.
There are currenly 12 000 members in 31 lieutenancies around the world.Mission.
To increase the practice of Christian living by pilgrimages and retreats, and to encourage the conservation and proagation of the faith in the
Holy Land.
Grand Master. His Eminence Cardinal Caprio. Grand
Prior.
His Beatitude Monseignor Sabbah, Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Emblem. Arms of the Kingdom of Jerusalem
ORDER OF THE TEMPLE (KNIGHTS TEMPLAR)
History.Established by Hugues de Payns in Jerusalem in 1119 as the "poor knights of Christ." to defend the pilgrims and the protect the roads leading to the Holy Land. Sanctioned by Pope Honorius II in 1127. Abolished by Pope Clement V in 1312 when it possessions were given to the Hospitaliers of St. John of Jerusalem. It was reorganized in Portugal in 1318 and approved by Pope John XXII the following year. Secularized in 1789 and became the Portuguese Order of Christ.
TEUTONIC ORDER
History. Founded in the Holy Land in 1190 by the merchants of the Hanseatic League of Bremen and Lubeck to provide hospital services for the pilgrims and the crusaders who fell ill. Statute recognized by Pope Celestin in 1196. Abolished by Napoleon in 1809, it was reestablished by Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria in 1834. In 1929 it renounced its statute as an order of chivalry and became a religious one.
Grand Master (Hochmeister) .....
ORDER OF ST. LAZARUS
History. Between 1099 and 1187 in Jerusalem the Lazarists (named for the patron saint of the sick, St. Lazarus), were monks working in the leper colonies. When Jersualem fell in 1187, it became a military order, and was dissolved in 1608 when its French possesions were amalgamated with the Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (see France), and its Italian ones with the Order of St. Maurice (see Italy)
The Military and Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem
