Order of Saint Lazarus

The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem is a religious/military order, purportedly dating back to the First Crusade. The Order is run by two distinct channels of authority, referred to as the Malta Obedience and the Paris Obedience. From the second half of the twentieth century onwards, various schisms have rocked the administration of both Obediences.

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The primary object of these organisations was, and still is, the tending of the sick, especially those with leprosy, of whom Lazarus was regarded as the patron saint. From the 13th century, the order made its way into various countries of Europe - Sicily, Lower Italy and Germany (Thuringia); but its chief centre of activity was France, where Louis IX (1253) gave the members the lands of Boigny near Orléans and a building at the gates of Paris, which they turnec into a lazar-house for the use of the lepers of the city. A papal confirmation was obtained from Alexander IV in 1255. The knights were one hundred in number, and possessed the right of officiating weddings and receiving pensions charged on ecclesiastica benefices. An eight-pointed cross was the insignia of both the French and Italian orders. The gradual disappearance of leprosy combined with other causes to secularize the order more and more.

Related Topics:
Leprosy - Lazarus - Sicily - Italy - Germany - Thuringia - France - Louis IX - 1253 - Boigny - Orléans - Alexander IV - 1255

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In Savoy in 1572 it was merged by Gregory XIII at the instance of Emanuel Philibert, duke of Savoy in the Order of St Maurice. The chief task of this branch was the defence of the Catholic faith, especially against the Protestantism of Geneva. It continues to exist in the 21st century as an order of merit. In 1608 the order in France was united by Henry IV with the order of Notre-Dame du Mont-Carmel. It was treated with special favor by Louis XIV, and the most brilliant period of its existence was from 1673 to ??, under the marquis de ?ouvois. From that time it began to decay. It was abolished at the French Revolution, reintroduced during the Restoration, and formally abolished by a state decree of 1830.

Related Topics:
Savoy - Gregory XIII - Emanuel Philibert, duke of Savoy - Order of St Maurice - 1608 - Henry IV - Notre-Dame du Mont-Carmel - Louis XIV - French Revolution - 1830

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In the mid-1990s, another organisation was founded in Britain which was modelled on the operations of the Venerable Order of Saint John. The Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem thus shed both its claim to be a chivalric order and also the use of the term military.

Related Topics:
Britain - Saint John - Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem - Order - Military

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