The First Order

The Eastern Orthodox and Latin (Roman Catholic) Orders

The Eastern Orthodox Tradition
In 451, the Bishop of Jerusalem was named Patriarch by the Council of Calcedonia, and the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem assumed control of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which control he still exerts to this day. The Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem was the leader of the Byzantine Guards of the Holy Sepulchre. In 1099 came the Crusaders from the West who were of the Latin (or, Roman Catholic) Church, not of the Eastern Orthodox Church, and a Latin Guard of the Holy Sepulchre was then founded. Thus, two Guards of the Holy Sepulchre developed, one under the authority of the original Orthodox Patriarch and the other under the authority of the Latin Pope at Rome. It is from these two organizations that the concept of an "Order of the Holy Sepulchre" later developed. After the fall of Constantinople, the Orthodox Order declined in numbers, until this day when but a handful of monks still guard and maintain the Holy Sepulchre itself, while another Order of Orthodox origin (The Religious and Military Order of Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, f. 1982) maintains the old Chivalric tradition.

The Various Roman Catholic Orders
The Roman Catholic Guard declined also, and eventually disappeared, although revivals were made in 1496, 1746, and 1868. Briefly, in 1496, Pope Alexander VI authorized the Franciscan Friars of Mount Zion to give the honorary title of ³Knight of the Holy Sepulchre² to visiting pilgrims. In 1746, Pope Benedict sold diplomas of Knight of the Holy Sepulchre (for about $2,000, a considerable sum in the mid-18th century). In 1868, Pope Pius IX granted the Roman Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem the authority to appoint Knights to the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. The modern Roman Catholic Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre was finally "reestablished" in 1888 by Pope Leo XIII but the Order fell into disuse and was again reformed with a new constitution in 1907 by Pope Pius X. There followed several decades of little and no activity, and the Order was again given a new constitution in 1932 by Pope Pius XII. The Roman Catholic Equestrian Order was again "reformed" in 1976 by Pope Paul VI and given a new Charter which altered the purpose and character of the Order. In the 1940s, the Pope relinquished the Grand Magistery to a Cardinal appointee, and the Equestrian Order is not now under Papal protection.

Certain adherents of this Roman Catholic Sepulchre Order insist that only the Roman Catholic Order is authentic, and these adherents further claim a "continual existence" for the Order. In fact, it is quite clear to objective historians that the modern Equestrian (Roman Catholic) Order cannot claim sole authenticity, cannot lay claim to great antiquity, cannot attempt to take precedence over other Orders, and cannot pronounce on the validity of other Orders. It is also clear that each reestablishment and each reformation marks the epoch of a new Papal Order so that actually there have been a series of Roman Catholic "Sepulchre" Orders with a variety of purposes and with a wide range of membership requirements, depending upon each charter newly issued. These several reestablishment and rechartering dates show that the modern Equestrian Order cannot lay claim to great antiquity. Indeed, the nature of the modern Equestrian Order has altered so radically that, notwithstanding Equestrian Order member claims to the contrary, a modern authority such as the Harper Collins Encyclopedia of Catholicism (1995) identifies the Roman Catholic Equestrian Order as a "fraternal organization." In 1990, the Roman Catholic Bishops of England, in response to an inquiry from the British Foreign Office, identified the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre as a "church award," whereupon Great Britain withdrew its recognition of the Order as an Order of Chivalry and does not permit British citizens to wear the Order's decorations.

Other European Orders

An Important Tradition of the 13th-15th Centuries

The Religious and Military Order of Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem

Seven years after his entry into the very heart of the Holy Sepulchre, following the well-established 300-year-old tradition of the 13th-15th centuries, the Abbot Bishop, having qualified himself to wear the Jerusalem Cross and, in Byzantine tradition and practice, having authority to confer the Cross, granted the right to bear the Jerusalem Cross to Duke Lloyd Douglas who also was authorized by this distinguished Orthodox Prelate to found The Religious and Military Order of Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. The Patent of Authority was signed by the Abbot-Bishop and the Sovereign Grand Master and by some thirty witnesses during two simultaneous Celebrations of the Holy Eucharist (one Western Rite, one Eastern Rite) on March 10, 1982, as the great planetary alignment occurred which is now known to the Knights of this Order as The Day of the Great Sword of Heaven, a symbolic event which demonstrates the power and majesty of God. The Patent of Authority is held in the archives of the Order and has been examined many times by Knights of the Order and by many others.

Along with letters of authenticity, the Supulchre Cloth was entrusted to the care of the Sovereign Grand Master, and it is now in the archives of the RMOKHS. From it is prepared the Scapular Reliquary that is possessed by every true Sepulchre Knight. The RMOKHSJ is a traditional Order of Chivalry constituted by proper religious and episcopal authority. The Order is not a "chivalric re-creation," nor is it a "fraternal organization," and it holds in its archives letters of recognition from many other Orders of Chivalry, as well as many Noble and Royal Houses. The RMOKHSJ is a religious and sovereign (independent) Order of Chivalry, so founded and so conducted. While holding a Charter from an Eastern Orthodox authority, Investiture in the RMOKHSJ is not restricted, but is available to worthy Christians of all denominations.

Fifteenth Anniversary Anniversary Celebrations

Arms

Intercessor, Patron, and Sovereign Grand Master

Knightly Apparel

Sepulchre Knights have inherited the chivalric tradition which teaches that society can only exist when there is

• honesty
• civility
• consideration, and...
• self-discipline.

This Order of Knighthood teaches and believes that we live in a "moral environment" (to quote Professor Christina Hoff Sommers), and this Order of Knighthood--as a religious Order of Chivalry--promotes a moral environment for its Knights who valiantly resist cruelty, cheating, and cowardice, first in themselves, and then--by example--in others. The Order's moral environment insists that a standard of ethical ideals consists of "integrity, respect for human life, self-control, honesty, courage, and self-sacrifice" (Sommers).

Furthermore, this Order promotes the concept of personal achievement and excellence in whatever field of endeavor individuals select, drawing its women and men Knights from many fields, but always selecting for Knightly elevation those who have worked hard and achieved. This Order believes that Knightly elevation--with the titles, ranks, and awards that go with Knighthood--is worthwhile because such elevation brings with it a dedication to excellence within a moral framework. To achieve this moral framework, the RMOKHS

• provides for its Christian members a foundation for personal spiritual and prayerful life that draws upon the discipline of the ancient Chivalric Tradition, and
• elevates to the Knightly class persons who possess spiritual virtue and personal and professional achievement and who have made sustained and outstanding contribution to religion, or to mankind, or to both.

The Work of authentic Sepulchre Knighthood is found in the constant practice of these ancient ideals of Chivalry. Knights are equipped with "the whole armour of God" by presenting to them the ancient accouterments of battle, including a holy relic which is worn by each Knight as part of the Sepulchre Uniform. The Knights of the Holy Sepulchre also regularly fulfill The Discipline of the Sword of the Spirit, a spiritual rite of prayer and enlightenment.

Both men and women are eligible for knightly elevation and honor in the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. The title follows the Continental (not British) custom, either "The Right Honorable Chevalier" or "The Right Honorable Dame." Knights are generally admitted at the age of twenty-one or older. For younger persons, youth ranks are provided.

Just as the wholesome influence of genuine Chivalry is needed in these modern times, so are there men and women who seek the Knightly Orders as a fulfillment of a spiritual quest. The ranks of Chivalry are always open to the worthy, the sincere, and the honest who strive to nurture God's world through service.

If the purposes and goals of this Order of Chivalry are also your goals, and if you are interested in determining your eligibility for Knighthood, you may write the Grand Magistry at

Or, if you prefer, you may contact the Order by submitting this FORM.

Note: inquiry by regular postal mail must include full name, full postal address where information can be sent, and a brief explanation as to one's interest in chivalry and knighthood.