Artz of The Order of St. Lazarus

Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem

I became curious after I discovered that Adam fitzPeter de Birken, the son of Emma de Lascelles, my 25th Great Grand Aunt, gave the Order of St. Lazarus 4 acres of land in Fairburn, Yorkshire, England.

One of the few military Orders to survive the fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the loss of the Holy Land it remained true to the chivalry that founded it. The members of the Order were dedicated to two ideals;  aid to those suffering from the dreadful disease of leprosy and the defense of the Christian faith.

The Knights Templar had a policy stipulating that any of the knights contracting leprosey while in Jerusalem could join the Order of St. Lazarus.

The Templars would pay a pension for each knight admitted to the Order.

After 1291 the Order no longer held a military role and by the middle of the 16th century leprosy was virtually wiped out though out Europe. The Pope felt there was no longer a need for them and the Order fell silent until it came under thte protection of the Royal House of France.

During the 17th century, with a fleet of 10 frigates they patrolled for Pirates that plagued the Meditteranian.

The symbol of the order is an 8 pointed green maltese cross. The mission is To uphold and defend the Christian faith, to assist and help the sick and vulnerable, to promote and uphold the Christian principles of chivalry and to work for Christian unity. The moto is Atavis et armis (With ancestors and arms).

This week the Artz of The Order of St. Lazarus