Volume 6, Issue 3 August 2012

Commandery of Gozo 2

Kevelaer Pilgrimage 2

News & Activities 2

Historical titbits 3

Forthcoming Activities 4

News from Ireland 4

Lazarite Book Club 4

Inside this issue:

Ordo Sancti Lazari Newsletter: Grand Priory of the Maltese Islands

incorporating the Commandery of Gozo

Editor

Chev. C. Savona-Ventura

Email:

saven@vol.net.mt

Any relevant news items or

articles are solicited. Kindly

send material in electronic

format to the editor.

Editor

Chev. C. Savona-Ventura

Email:

saven@vol.net.mt

Any relevant news items or

articles are solicited. Kindly

send material in electronic

format to the editor.

The Syrian Crisis

Since March 2011, we have witness the suffer-ing of the Syrian people following the nationwide uprising that gave rise to a civil war conflict. As in any conflict, it is the innocent that suffer the most—the non-combatant inhabitants of the towns and villages which have seen the brunt of the fighting. War is no longer an issue of combat-ants waging it out at the lines—war today be-comes very mu7ch a personal affair that directly and indirectly influences the inhabitants adversely.

The members of the Military & Hospitaller

Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem are particularly linked to Syria since the Order is honoured by having the Patriarch His Beatitude Gregorios III for its Spiritual Protector. His Beatitude had launched an appeal for donations to help provide refugees who had leave their towns, villages, houses and family property with places of shelter in Damascus, in the Melkite monasteries and in other places.

The various jurisdictions have responded generously—the Grand Bailliwick of Slovakia alone donated 10.000 Euros to the Patriarchate. Pope Benedict XVI has also decided to devolve the collections gathered during Holy Thursday Mass that he will celebrate on the 5th of April 2012 in the basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano to the humanitarian assistance of Syrian refugees. 100 thousand dollars were donated by the Vatican for the Syrian people.

The Grand Priory of the Maltese Islands has also made attempts to help relief the suffering of the Syrian unfortunates. Utilizing its small but effective sources, it has organised specific fund-raising activities to enable it forward its contribution. In the first half of 2012, the Grand Priory donated the sum of Euro 2000 for the Syrian cause—this has now been acknowledge by the Patri-arch himself who sent his blessing to all the members of the Grand Priory. The conflict persists with no apparent end in sight—the suffering continues—the needy increase in number. The

members’ response when asked to support such fund-raising initiatives must continue. After all, the Order’s primary aim is one of philanthropy.

The Maltese medical profession have had the opportunity for links with this hospital particular-ly through contact with the Maltese MMM nuns—one Sister Mary Borda having worked as an obstetrician at St. Luke’s Hospital. The Order has in the past donated an ultrasound machine to Makiungu Hospital. In support the medical com-munity has gartered its resources, and by chasing, phoning and probably also harassing any individ-uals who are in position where they can help, have prepared a trailer containing medical equip-ment for use in the hospital—which also caters for cases of leprosy. The Grand Priory assisted in this endeavour by making a financial contribution to help purchase necessary items, while the affili-ate Order of Charity made a further contribution to help assist the sufferers of leprosy there.

The Grand Priory has also financially sup-ported the initiative of Comm. Dr. J. Debono to assist the hospital work of the Medical Mission-aries of Mary in Makiungu Hospital located 31 km. southeast of Singida Town on the high central plateau of Tanzania . The MMM is an organization of Catholic Sisters with religious vows. The Sisters are qualified in a wide range of health care professions, or other skillsets that support this effort.

PAGE 2 ORDO SANCTI LAZARI VOLUME 6, I SSUE 3

Grand Priory News & Activities

24th June—Fund-raising event including a talk by the His-torian of the Grand Pri-ory about the history of the Order in general and of the Grand Priory in particular followed by a dinner in the Black Pearl restaurant.

30th June—Book launch by GP member Dr R. Blundel. All proceeds from the sales of these books went for the fund-raising

initiative to assist the Syrian refu-gees.

7th July—The Annual

Barbeque at Commino was or-ganised by the Commandery of Gozo. This was a definite suc-cess when the members of the Grand Priory and Commandery literally let their hair down to

relax in the idyllic Blue Lagoon Bay.

28th July—Summer Barbeque at Mellieha. Hosted by Chev J. Grixti who graciously made available his home and grounds for the event, the barbeque was an enjoyable occasion where friends could relax and eat-drink-be merry at their hearts’ content.

Commandery of Gozo

Fashion Show On the 5th May, The Commandery of Gozo Organised a fashion show in support of the

Grand Charity ball which is due on the 2nd June. The show produced by Mrs. Denise Spiter i—owner of D Elegance boutique was held at the Grand Hotel - Ghajnsileem -Gozo. The show , compared by Mr. David Huband from the UK, display-ing evening/cocktail and occasional gar-ments besides bridal gowns.

English Tea at Dar Manresa Gardens On the 12th May , The Mothers' Union hosted an English Tea

and Cakes in support of the Commandery of Gozo at Dar Manresa Retreat House in Gozo. Aimed as fund-raising event, 77 guests attended the English style tea par-ty with tea, scones, jam cream and cakes and tra-ditional Maltese pastizzi provided by Chev. Grisc-

ti. Held in the lovely setting of the house and gardens when new friends were made and old acquaintances renewed.

Grand Charity Spring Ball On 2 June the Commandery of Gozo organized a Grand Chari-ty Spring Ball at the Grand Hotel in Għajnsielem, under the patronage of Mr. Martin Bugelli, Head of the European Com-mission Representation in Malta. Andrew Buhagiar and Saman-tha Sciberras, the wheelchair dancing champions entertained all with their marvellous performance showing off their tremen-dous talents to all those present. For the occasion, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II sent a personal letter addressed to the Com-mander of Gozo, Chevalier Paul Banavage, wherein she congrat-ulated the Commandery and praised its charitable work in Malta. The Queen sent her appreciation for the wishes the Command-ery had passed on to Her Majesty and her Royal Family on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee. The letter was read during the evening just before toasts were given in honour of the President of Malta, Don Carlos Gereda De Borbon, 49th Grand Master, and to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The British High Com-mission was also represented by Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Jonathan Knight, who gave a short speech on the occasion of H.M. Diamond Jubilee and thanked all for the wonderful evening.

Kevelaer Pilgrimage The Grand Prior in May led a delegation of eight members

of the Grand Priory to a pilgrimage to the Holy Shrine of Kev-alear. The pilgrimage was led by the Grand Master H.E. Don Carlos Gereda de Borbon, Marquis de Almazan and the Or-der’s Spiritual Protector His Beatitude Gregorios III.

Besides the pilgrimage, the meeting was an im-portant one for the Order as a whole since during the meeting, the Grand Master and the Spiritual Protector signed the Kevelaer Dec-laration which addresses a number of contentious issues relating to the histo-ry of the Order. The Grand Officer Professor Michael Ross undertook this initiative to counter false claims from other groups concerning the history of our Order. To complete the information a professional team of experts under the leader-ship of Prof. Michael Ross (GP America) worked closed to-gether with Professor Charles Savona-Ventura (Historian of the GP Malta) and Bernard Barton (Grand Prior of Ireland).

PAGE 3 ORDO SANCTI LAZARI VOLUME 6, I SSUE 3

The onset of the French Revolution in the 18th century and the attack on the Ancien Régime alienated the more con-servative nobles, and added to the ranks of the émigrés. Following the Royal Family’s attempted escape and their subsequent capture in 1791, the Comte de Provence, the Grandmaster of the Order o f St. Lazarus fled France to Belgium. A loyal band of followers, including the Comte de Cossé-Brissac, accompanied the comte de Provence during his forced exile. This group in-cluded individuals who were or eventu-ally became members of the united Orders such as Vicomte Nicolas-Alexandre Virieu [admitted 1779] and subsequently appointed chevalier Dominique Charles de Boysseuhl [ad.~1795].

Following the death by guillotine of King Louis XVI and the death of his son Louis XVII, the Comte de Pro-vence became king-in-exile assuming the name Louis XVIII. In 1798, Emperor Paul I of Russia offered Louis the use of Jelgava Palace in Courland (now Latvia), guaran-tying Louis' safety and bestowed upon him a generous pension. In Jelgava Palace where many old courtiers lived, Louis attempted to recreate the court life of Ver-sailles re-establishing all the court ceremonies. He also invested a number of dignitaries into the Order of Saint Lazarus. The Emperor of Russia Tzar Paul I [b.1754 d.1801] was given the sash of the Grand Cross of the Order, while his sons the Grand Dukes Alexander [b.1777 d.1825; later Tzar Alexander I] and Constantine [b.1779 d.1831] together with twenty other personal-ities of the Imperial Government were received into the Order of St Lazarus. These included: Aleksey Iva-novich Gorchakov [b.1769 d.1817], Prince Sergey Gargarine [d.1852], comte Alexander Vassilyevitch Suvo-rov [b.1729 d.1800], comte Nikolai Ivanovich Saltykov [b.1736 d.1816], baron Dreisen, baron Fersen, comte Grigori Grigorevich Koutchelev, comte Nicholas Panine, and comte Jean Pavlovich Koutaissov.

Historical titbits— The Russian 19th century admissions These admissions have long been contested since no formal docu-mentation has been forthcoming. They are specifically mentioned in the contemporary book by J.T. Georgel. Voyage a Saint-Pétersbourg en 1799-1800. Alexis Eymery, Paris, 1818, p.206-207. Further evidence can be found in a number of portraits in Russia. These confirm members of the Order from that country shown wearing the green cross: Count Vasilievich Levashov [b.1783 d.1848]; and General Vasily D. Rykov [b.1759 d.1827]. Also known are period insignia of the

Order of Saint Lazarus belonging to the Grand Duke Vladimir and Grand

Duchessa Leonida [private collection of Grand Duchessa Maria Vladimirovna] and to CzaVasily Vasi-

lievich Levashovr Paul I [Kremlin Museum]. Certificates and letters patent for the Russian Members are con-served in Saint Petersburg. See: http://www.idtg.org/archive/1345-general-levashov-a-knight-of-the-order-of-st-lazarus/

There is therefore no doubt whatsoever that the Order survived the turmoil of the French Revolution with honorary membership being conferred on the nobility of Russia. The close knit followers of King

Louis XVIII—serving also as grandmaster of the order of Saint Lazarus—continued to maintain the esprit de corps of the Ancien Régime until the Bourbon Resto-ration in 1814. With the Restora-tion, the Order again became a Royal Order with the king giving his protectorship and patronage, and management being left to Claude-Louis Raoul de La Châtre serving as Administrateur gé-néral .

Vasily Vasilievich Levashov

Vasily D. Rykov

Editor

Chev. C. Savona-Ventura

Email:

saven@vol.net.mt

Any relevant news items or articles are solicited. Kindly

send material in electronic format to the editor.

www. stlazarusmalta.org

Lazarite Book Club

"Rivista Araldica" (1913), pp 679-683

This early 20th century publication carries the stat-utes of the Order of St Lazarus formulated in 1913. The previous statutes dated to the 18th century. The 1913 statutes are the first documented evidence of a secularization of the Order demonstrating a break from Papal jurisdiction and documenting the shift to the Melkite Patriarch. This shift occurred originally in the mid-19th century, but formal documentation has yet to come to the fore, though it is known that the Order during the mid-19th entury were involved with the rebuilding of the monastery of Mount Car-mel in the Holy Land. These statutes can be consid-ered the modern beginning of the Order of Saint Lazarus—the 18th century Order having been kept alive by the determined adherent French members of the Ancien Régime.

www. stlazarusmalta.org

Forthcoming Activities

2012

The Grand Priory and the

Commandery of Gozo are now

gearing for the Autumn In-

vestiture scheduled for

20th October 2012. As in

previous years, the formal

investiture will be preced-

ed by an informal event

aimed at presenting the

brevets to the postulants

and more importantly to in-

troduce the new postulants to the rest of the mem-

bers.

Details will be circulated in due course, but all

members should make a distinct effort to attend

both these events. An investiture can be consid-

ered the “baptism” of new members into the Grand

Priory and in a broad sense into the Order.

NEWS FROM IRELAND

United Nations recognised

GP Ireland as UN NGO

We are pleased to announce that

as of July 2012, The Grand Pri-

ory of Ireland has been recognised by the United

Nations with the status of United Nations Non Gov-

ernmental Organisation, UN NGO.