The Global Lazarite Presence
The largest international confraternity of Lazarite brothers and sisters - 15,000 strong |
In the enclosed map of the world, the countries highlighted in Lazarite Green refer to countries and jurisdictions wherein the United Grand Priories is represented by means of a Grand Priory, Grand Commandery, Commandery or Delegation of the Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem. In some of these countries, the Grand Priories of the Order are presently 'in formation', meaning that the Lazarite delegations and Commanderies in the region in question will be formally upgraded and consecrated into Grand Priories by decree of the Supreme Grand Priory of the Order.
In the countries not highlighted in Green, our sister organisations and strategic partners also have their presence on the ground. The Order is thus represented by means of its sister affiliated organizations such as the Sacred Medical Order of the Knights of Hope or its strategic partners such as the International Flame of Peace Movement.
As of May 2020, the United Grand Priories is physically present in 78 consecrated and registered jurisdictions in 69 countries. Additionally, its sister affiliated organizations are also present by means of representatives in a further 13 countries. Truly an international confraternity of Lazarites!
Leadership
The United Grand Priories of the Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem is led by its Supreme Grand Prior-Elect, His Imperial Royal Highness Sandor Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduke of Austria and Prince of Tuscany. The Supreme Grand Priory is appointed by the Supreme Grand Prior and is constitutionally confirmed at the International Lazarite Congresses held by the Order. The Supreme Grand Priory is composed of the Grand Officers of the Order and the representative of each registered Grand Priory of the Order worldwide. The Grand Officers form the Knights in Council within the Supreme Grand Priory.
The Grand Vicar-Elect of the Order, HIRH Herta Margarete Habsburg-Lothringen; The Grand Chancellor-Elect, HE Massimo J Ellul
The Deputy Grand Chancellor-Elect, HE Charles McWilliams; The Grand Secretary General-Elect, HE Steven Groeneveld; The Grand Marshall-Elect, the Chev. Peter Neuen
The Grand Receiver General-Elect, the Chev. Thomas Nash; the Grand Almoner-Elect, the Chev. John Ogden; the Grand Registrar-Elect, the Chev. James Schutz
The Grand Hospitaller-Elect, the Chev. Benjamin Anguiera; The Grand Geneologist, the Chev. Daniel Bugeja; Aides de Camp for the office of the Grand Chancellor, the Chev. Stefan Andras; the Chev. Robert Vella
The Order of Saint Lazarus is very active worldwide with various dynastic and noble families within its ranks. A number of Grand Priories of the Order are run by such personalities, including the President of the Ethiopian Crown Council, His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, the grandson of Emperor Haile-Selassie, who is the Grand Prior of our Ethiopian Grand Priory (photo far left); the Vice Chairman of the Council of Timorese Rajas (Dewan Usif Timor) and Head of the Royal House of Kupang, His Royal Highness the Raja Don Leopold Nicolaas Isu Nisnoni (middle photo), who is the Grand Prior of our Indonesian Grand Priory; His Majesty the late King Kigeli V of Rwanda (photo far right) who was appointed Grand Prior of the Grand Priory of Rwanda in April 2016 and many others. In 2020, with the position of Supreme Grand Prior-Elect being entrusted to HIRH Sandor Habsburg-Lothringen, our chivalric organisation now falls under the temporal protection of the Archduke of Austria and Prince of Tuscany. Needless to say, the Habsburg-Lorraine noble family has its historic roots entrenched in the fabric of European history, with illustrious kings, queens and emperors from various European nations forming part of this rich, noble ancestral lineage.
The International Lazarite Symposium
The Order has been organising hugely successful Lazarite Symposia since April of 2012. They have featured the biggest worldwide Lazarite convocations to date. During these Symposia, the representatives of the various jurisdictions of the Order utilise this platform so as to project their various Hospitaller initiatives worldwide and also to execute constitutional needs and responsibilities within the Order’s structure itself.
Grand Officers of the United Grand Priories of the Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem in the April 2012 International Lazarite Symposium discussing the operations of the various jurisdictions of the Order around the world.
- In 2012, the biggest to-date Lazarite gathering was held at the Sacra Infermeria in Valletta, Malta and the delegates confirmed the unparalleled expansion of the Order during the Symposium’s three day sitting.
- The 2014 International Lazarite Symposium was held in Saint Kitts and Nevis Island in June 2014 and heralded the Order’s expansion in Central and South America and the Caribbean. It also threw its weight behind the hugely innovative and fruitful initiatives of its sister organisation member, the Sacred Medical Order of the Knights of Hope, in this region.
- The 2016 International Lazarite Symposium was organized in Florida, United States (January) and Malta (April/May). Its dual zoned base ensured that the Symposium underlines not just the Order’s growth worldwide, but also the need for flexibility in the venues chosen for the Symposia in order to assist the physical presence of the delegates hailing from all parts of the globe.
- In February and June 2017 respectively, the International Lazarite Symposium was held again in Malta and Nevis Island. During these Symposium sittings, the Order’s membership of international and European fora and institutions was enhanced and the Order’s physical presence by means of its own clinic and Museum of the Order were initialized.
- In April 2020, for the international celebrations of the 25th Anniversary since the founding of the United Grand Priories, the International Lazarite Symposium was planned be held in Malta. A number of dignitaries, de jure nobility, high ranking politicians, ministers, mayors, members of parliament, councillors, justices of the peace, ambassadors and consuls from various jurisdictions had already confirmed their presence for this singular event. Due to the international Covid-19 pandemic, the date of the Symposium has been postponed for a later date.
Various instances during the International Lazarite Congresses held since 2012.
Our Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem is registered as a Non Governmental Organisation
within the United Nations Organisation and also within the European Commission and various bodies operating under the Council of Europe.
Order of Saint Lazarus on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=176538414928&ref=mf
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hospitaller-Order-of-Saint-Lazarus-of-Jerusalem/104156626309022
Our Structure |
The United Grand Priories of the Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem was established in 1995 as a chivalric organization emulating the noble ideals of the medieval but extinct Order of Saint Lazarus. In that year, the Grand Priories of England and Scotland combined to create this new Lazarite organization. Today, the Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus continues its Hospitaller and philanthropic work in 78 different jurisdictions around the world and is spread in six continents.
There are other regions which include members of the Order but who are not yet numerous enough to create their own Commanderies, Grand Commanderies, Priories or Grand Priories. All these, together with the respective regional Delegations listed hereunder, form part of the Grand Priory of the International Lazarites and are duly represented in the Supreme Grand Priory of the Order by means of the former Grand Priory representatives. The Sacred Medical Order of the Knights of Hope with its own autonomous structure is also fully represented in the Supreme Grand Priory of the Order . Other chivalric organisations and institutions have special memoranda of understanding with the Order so as to ensure more synergy worldwide when executing Hospitaller and philanthropic initiatives.
Lazarite Blood Donation Activity held by the Order in Slovakia
together with the Municipality of Zlote Morovce
The biggest ever gathering of Lazarite Hospitallers in these last decades – The International Lazarite Symposium organised by the United Grand Priories in April 2012
Our constant Hospitaller work and our commitment to furthering our goal of philanthropic work as per the needs of the region in question around the world has made the United Grand Priories of the Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, one of the biggest, if not the biggest, Lazarite organization world – wide. It proudly boasts of the respect of the highest authorities in all the continents and its Hospitaller work has been publicly applauded in various jurisdictions spanning the globe. Its 15,000 membership includes the representation of most of the world’s largest Christian denominations, including Bishops, Prelates, Monsignors, Canons, Parish Priests and other ecclesiastics. Members also include missionaries, volunteer workers, executives and the management of nongovernmental organizations, middle and top management and business executives, army and navy and air force personnel and officers, international personalities, mayors, public officers, members of parliament, nobility and other distinguished Confreres and Consoeurs.
Regardless of one’s social standing, membership into the Order immediately infers to all one’s dedication to work on a voluntary basis in order to increase Hospitaller and philanthropic work under the Lazarite banner in the 21st century. The growth of the Order worldwide is solely due to this constant vision of enhancing our positive energies worldwide without the need for personal gratification and glorification; it is indeed a universal team effort.
| North America: | |
| Aruba | The Priory of Aruba (under the Grand Priory of the Netherlands) |
| Canada | The Grand Priory of Canada |
| Cuba | The Grand Priory of Cuba |
| Curacao | The Priory of Curacao (under the Grand Priory of the Netherlands) |
| Dominican Republic | The Grand Priory of the Dominican Republic |
| Haiti | The Grand Priory of Haiti (in Formation) |
| Jamaica | The Grand Priory of Jamaica |
| Mexico | The Grand Priory of Mexico (in Formation) |
| Puerto Rico | The Priory of Puerto Rico (under the Grand Priory of the US) |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis Island | The Grand Priory of Saint Kitts and Nevis Island |
| United States of America | The Grand Priory of the United States of America |
| South America: | |
| Argentina | The Grand Priory of Argentina |
| Brazil | The Grand Priory of Brazil |
| Colombia | The Grand Priory of Colombia |
| Ecuador | The Grand Priory of Ecuador |
| Peru | The Grand Priory of Peru (in Formation) |
| Uruguay | The Grand Priory of Uruguay (in Formation) |
| Europe: | |
| Albania | The Grand Priory of Albania |
| Armenia | The Grand Priory of Armenia |
| Austria | The Grand Priory of Austria |
| Balearic Islands | The Priory of the Balearic Islands (under the Grand Priory of Spain) |
| Belarus | The Grand Priory of Belarus |
| Belgium | The Delegation of Belgium |
| Bosnia Herzegovina | Grand Priory of Bosnia Herzegovina (in Formation) |
| Bulgaria | The Grand Priory of Bulgaria |
| Czech Republic | The Grand Priory of the Czech Republic (in Formation) |
| Denmark | The Grand Priory of Denmark |
| England | The Grand Priory of England |
| Estonia | The Delegation of Estonia |
| Finland | The Grand Priory of Finland (in Formation) |
| France | The Grand Commandery of France |
| Germany | The Grand Priory of Germany |
| Gozo | The Grand Priory of Gozo |
| Greece | The Delegation of Greece |
| Hungary | The Grand Priory of Hungary |
| Isle of Man | The Priory of the Isle of Man (under the Grand Priory of England) |
| Italy | The Grand Priory of Italy |
| Liechtenstein | The Grand Priory of Liechtenstein |
| Macedonia | The Grand Priory of Macedonia |
| Malta | The Grand Priory of Malta |
| Moldova | The Grand Priory of Moldova (in Formation) |
| Montenegro | The Grand Priory of Montenegro |
| The Netherlands | The Grand Priory of the Netherlands |
| Norway | The Grand Priory of Norway (in Formation) |
| Poland | The Grand Priory of Poland |
| Portugal | The Delegation of Portugal |
| Romania | The Grand Priory of Romania |
| Russia | The Grand Priory of Russia |
| Scotland | The Grand Priory of Scotland |
| Serbia | The Grand Priory of Serbia |
| Sicily | The Grand Priory of Sicily |
| Slovakia | The Grand Priory of Slovakia |
| Spain | The Grand Priory of Spain (in Formation) |
| Sweden | The Grand Priory of Sweden |
| Switzerland | The Grand Priory of Switzerland |
| Ukraine | The Grand Priory of Ukraine |
| Wales | The Delegation of Wales |
| Africa and the Middle East: | |
| Botswana | The Grand Priory of Botswana (in Formation) |
| Central African Republic | The Grand Priory of the Central African Republic |
| Congo | The Grand Priory of Congo |
| Egypt | The Grand Priory of Egypt |
| Ethiopia | The Grand Priory of Ethiopia |
| Ghana | The Grand Priory of Ghana |
| Jordan | The Grand Priory of Jordan |
| Kenya | The Grand Priory of Kenya |
| Libya | The Commandery of Tripolitania |
| Rwanda | The Grand Priory of Rwanda |
| South Africa | The Grand Priory of South Africa |
| Uganda | The Grand Priory of Uganda |
| United Arab Emirates | The Delegation of the United Arab Emirates |
| Asia: | |
| China | The Grand Priory of China |
| Indonesia | The Grand Priory of Indonesia |
| Japan | The Delegation of Japan |
| Kazakhstan | The Delegation of Kazakhstan |
| Pakistan | The Grand Priory of Pakistan |
| Singapore | The Priory of Singapore |
| Sri Lanka | The Grand Priory of Sri Lanka |
| Australia and Oceania: | |
| Australia | The Delegation of Australia |
| International: | |
| The Grand Priory of the International Lazarites | |
Sacred Medical Order of the Knights of Hope |
|
| Humanity Healing International | |
| International Flame of Peace Coordinating Board | |
Click on the chapter ‘The Grand Priories’ to know more about the operations in the various regions of Lazarite activities.