Ordo Sancti Lazari Newsletter: Grand Priory of the Maltese Islands incorporating the Commandery of Gozo Volume 6, Issue 3
August 2012
The Syrian Crisis
Inside this issue: Commandery of Gozo
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Kevelaer Pilgrimage
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News & Activities
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Historical titbits
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Forthcoming Activities
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News from Ireland
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Lazarite Book Club
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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.
Since March 2011, we have witness the suffering 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 combatants waging it out at the lines—war today becomes 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 fundraising 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 Patriarch 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.
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 Grand Priory has also financially supported the initiative of Comm. Dr. J. Debono to assist the hospital work of the Medical Missionaries 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.
The Maltese medical profession have had the opportunity for links with this hospital particularly 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 community has gartered its resources, and by chasing, phoning and probably also harassing any individuals who are in position where they can help, have prepared a trailer containing medical equipment 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 affiliate Order of Charity made a further contribution to help assist the sufferers of leprosy there.
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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 Spiteri — owner of D Elegance boutique was held at the Grand Hotel Ghajnsileem -Gozo. The show , compared by Mr. David Huband from the UK, displaying evening/cocktail and occasional garments 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 party with tea, scones, jam cream and cakes and traditional Maltese pastizzi provided by Chev. Griscti. Held in the lovely setting of the house and gardens when new friends were made and old acquaintances renewed.
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 Kevalear. The pilgrimage was led by the Grand Master H.E. Don Carlos Gereda de Borbon, Marquis de Almazan and the Order’s Spiritual Protector His Beatitude Gregorios III. Besides the pilgrimage, the meeting was an important one for the Order as a whole since during the meeting, the Grand Master and the Spiritual Protector signed the Kevelaer Declaration which addresses a number of contentious issues relating to the history 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 leadership of Prof. Michael Ross (GP America) worked closed together with Professor Charles Savona-Ventura (Historian of the GP Malta) and Bernard Barton (Grand Prior of Ireland).
Grand Priory News & Activities
Grand Charity Spring Ball On 2 June the Commandery of Gozo organized a Grand Charity Spring Ball at the Grand Hotel in Għajnsielem, under the patronage of Mr. Martin Bugelli, Head of the European Commission Representation in Malta. Andrew Buhagiar and Samantha Sciberras, the wheelchair dancing champions entertained all with their marvellous performance showing off their tremendous talents to all those present. For the occasion, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II sent a personal letter addressed to the Commander of Gozo, Chevalier Paul Banavage, wherein she congratulated the Commandery and praised its charitable work in Malta. The Queen sent her appreciation for the wishes the Commandery 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 Commission 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.
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24th June—Fund-raising event including a talk by the Historian of the Grand Priory 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 refugees. 7th July—The Annual Barbeque at Commino was organised by the Commandery of Gozo. This was a definite success 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.
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Historical titbits— The Russian 19th century admissions These admissions have long been The onset of the French Revolution in contested since no formal docuthe 18th century and the attack on the mentation has been forthcoming. Ancien Régime alienated the more conThey are specifically mentioned servative nobles, and added to the in the contemporary book by J.T. ranks of the émigrés. Following the Georgel. Voyage a SaintRoyal Family’s attempted escape and Pétersbourg en 1799-1800. Alexis their subsequent capture in 1791, the Eymery, Paris, 1818, p.206-207. Comte de Provence, the Grandmaster Further evidence can be found in of the Order o f St. Lazarus fled France a number of portraits in Russia. to Belgium. A loyal band of followers, These confirm members of the including the Comte de Cossé-Brissac, Order from that country shown accompanied the comte de Provence wearing the green cross: Count during his forced exile. This group inVasilievich Levashov [b.1783 cluded individuals who were or eventud.1848]; and General Vasily D. ally became members of the united Rykov [b.1759 d.1827]. Also Orders such as Vicomte Nicolasknown are period insignia of the Alexandre Virieu [admitted 1779] and Order of Saint Lazarus subsequently appointed belonging to the Grand Vasily Vasilievich Levashov chevalier Dominique Charles Duke Vladimir and Grand de Boysseuhl [ad.~1795]. Duchessa Leonida [private collection of Grand Following the death by guillotine of King Louis XVI Duchessa Maria Vladimirovna] and to CzaVasily Vasiand the death of his son Louis XVII, the Comte de Prolievich Levashovr Paul I [Kremlin Museum]. Certificates vence became king-in-exile assuming the name Louis and letters patent for the Russian Members are conXVIII. In 1798, Emperor Paul I of Russia offered Louis the served in Saint Petersburg. See: http:// use of Jelgava Palace in Courland (now Latvia), guaranwww.idtg.org/archive/1345-general-levashov-atying Louis' safety and bestowed upon him a generous knight-of-the-order-of-st-lazarus/ pension. In Jelgava Palace where many old courtiers There is therefore no doubt whatsoever that the lived, Louis attempted to recreate the court life of VerOrder survived the turmoil of the French Revolution sailles re-establishing all the court ceremonies. He also with honorary membership being conferred on the invested a number of dignitaries into the Order of Saint nobility of Russia. The close knit followers of King Lazarus. The Emperor of Russia Tzar Paul I [b.1754 Louis XVIII—serving also as d.1801] was given the sash of the grandmaster of the order of Saint Grand Cross of the Order, while his Lazarus—continued to maintain sons the Grand Dukes Alexander the esprit de corps of the Ancien [b.1777 d.1825; later Tzar Alexander Régime until the Bourbon RestoI] and Constantine [b.1779 d.1831] ration in 1814. With the Restoratogether with twenty other personaltion, the Order again became a ities of the Imperial Government Royal Order with the king giving were received into the Order of St his protectorship and patronage, Lazarus. These included: Aleksey Ivaand management being left to novich Gorchakov [b.1769 d.1817], Claude-Louis Raoul de La Châtre Prince Sergey Gargarine [d.1852], serving as Administrateur gécomte Alexander Vassilyevitch Suvonéral . 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. Vasily D. Rykov
Forthcoming Activities 2012
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 Grand Priory and the Commandery of Gozo are now gearing for the Autumn Investiture scheduled for 20th October 2012. As in previous years, the formal investiture will be preceded by an informal event aimed at presenting the brevets to the postulants and more importantly to introduce the new postulants to the rest of the members. Details will be circulated in due course, but all members should make a distinct effort to attend both these events. An investiture can be considered the “baptism” of new members into the Grand Priory and in a broad sense into the Order.
www. www. stlazarusmalta.org stlazarusmalta.org
NEWS FROM IRELAND United Nations recognised GP Ireland as UN NGO We are pleased to announce that as of July 2012, The Grand Priory of Ireland has been recognised by the United Nations with the status of United Nations Non Governmental Organisation, UN NGO.
Lazarite Book Club "Rivista Araldica" (1913), pp 679-683 This early 20th century publication carries the statutes 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 Carmel in the Holy Land. These statutes can be considered 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.