On 24 of July 2011 at one of the oldest parishes of Valetta – Basilica Saint Dominic the solemn investiture of the Knight Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem will take place. You will have a unique opportunity to whiteness and participate in the magnificent ceremony, which traces back to the glorious traditions of medieval European knighthood.

The solemn knight procession will walk to the heart of Basilica in full gear with flags of the Order. Traditional choir polyphony will spiritually unite new knights with their predecessors of all ages. Scouts will join the ranks of the knights, and prelates of superior rank will join the celebration of new members of the Order. The unforgettable ceremony from the remote past will definitely become one of the unforgettable moments of your life.

The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus is one of the orders of chivalry to survive the downfall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the attempts by the Crusader knights to win control of the Holy Land from the forces of Islam. In theory the Order remained a military one, but with the exception of a brief period in the 17th century it played no military role after 1291. The Order of Saint Lazarus is one of the most ancient of the European orders of chivalry. At the very least it dates back to the time of the Crusader knights. From its foundation in the 12th century, 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.

Today the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem is an international self-governing and independent body, dedicated to the care and assistance of the poor and the sick According to the Constitution the Order is nonpolitical, oecumenical or nondenominational, as its membership is open to all men and women being practicing members of the Christian faith in good standing within their particular denomination. Its international membership consists of Roman-catholic, Anglican, Protestant, Orthodox, United, Old Catholic, New Apostolic and other Christians, upholding with their lives, fortunes and honour the principles of Christianity.

PROGRAMME