Medieval Knights: A Captivating Guide to the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, Knights Hospitaller, Order of Saint Lazarus, Knights Templar, and Teutonic Knights (Exploring Christianity) by History Captivating

Author:History, Captivating [History, Captivating]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-04T00:00:00+00:00

What Happened to the Order of St. Lazarus?

The historical timeline of the Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem provides a fascinating glimpse into the history of the times, especially in regard to the fear of lepers and their isolation, as well as the dedication of those who cared for them. While it is believed that the leper hospital in Jerusalem was founded sometime after 1098 and provided care to lepers in the Holy Land before the First Crusade, they didn’t become known as a military order until later, taking part in some battles during the Second Crusade. In 1191, the leper hospital in Jerusalem was abandoned, and they maintained a new home base in Acre.

Approximately fifty years later, the order’s historical timeline states that its men fought in the Battle of Gaza in 1244, where all the leper knights were killed. Throughout the decades, they continued to participate in a number of clashes until 1291. It has been said that all members of the order were killed in the unsuccessful defense of Acre.

Yet the Order of St. Lazarus survived to a certain extent, though by the mid-1400s, their raison d’être had faded since the scourge of leprosy was declining. Like the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and even the Hospitallers, the Order of St. Lazarus faded somewhat, at least in their actions and reputations as mighty knights. However, new eras saw the order working quietly to support the sick and needy. Today, it continues to provide humanitarian and philanthropic aid around the globe.

Following the French Revolution, chivalric orders no longer enjoyed legalized recognition in France. The 1920s saw the reorganization of the former order, and in 1927, it was reorganized as the Association Française des Hospitaliers de Saint-Lazare de Jérusalem . In 1929, the order’s statutes and rules were based on the 1841 Fundamental Statute of the Knights Hospitaller.

The Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem still exists today and is unique among the many Catholic orders since it allows non-Catholic members. The order has maintained a spirit of service, morality, discipline, and sacrifice that exemplify the knights of old and their dedication to helping others.

Today, the military and hospital order continues to focus on and care for members of society, including those living in poverty and the homeless. It claims to be an apolitical and non-denominational organization, with roughly four thousand members located across five continents, making it the smallest of the medieval military orders today. The organization continues to make pilgrimages to the Holy Land and dedicates itself to maintaining the history and purpose of the order.

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