On September the 17th 2012 in succession to His Eminence László Cardinal Paskai, His Eminence Dominik Cardinal Duka, Archbishop of Prague, became the highest moral and spiritual authority of the Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem accepting the position of Chaplain General. While retaining its characteristic of ecumenism, the Order reasserted with pride and honour its ties with the Catholic Church and rediscovered its historic spiritual protection.
Since 2 February 2005 the spiritual protection of the Order has been
provided by His Eminence László Cardinal Paskai. The Spiritual Protector is the guarantor of the spiritual
legitimacy of the Order and its relationship with the Catholic Church in
an ecumenical spirit. He ensures the strict
monitoring of the ecumenical character of the Order.
The Grand Master Emeritus, Prince
Charles-Philippe, The
Grand Master, Count Jan Dobrzensky &t the newly invested Chaplain General Cardinal Duka.
The
Grand Master and Grand Master Emeritus invest the Cardinal as
Chaplain General to the Order.
Chaplain General to the Order.
It is wonderful for the Order of St Lazarus to now have Cardinal Duka as Chaplain General of the Order. He has an extraordinary history of witnessing to the Faith. A Dominican, in 1975 the Communist government deprived him of the authorisation for the sacred ministry and for almost fifteen years - until the regime collapsed in 1989 - he worked as a designer at the car factories of Škoda. In the meantime, he also worked in secret in the Dominican Order as novice master and teacher of theology.
Some photos of the Investiture in Prague Cathedral.
Procession in.
The Grand Master and Cardinal Duka hosted a reception in Archbishop's Palace.
The splendid facade of the Archbishop's Palace.
Dominik Cardinal Duka, Archbishop of Prague and the Papal Nuncio to the Czech Lands, Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza, arriving for Mass at St Vitus Cathedral.
The Grand Master and Grand Master Emeritus invest the Cardinal as
Chaplain General of the Order of St Lazarus.
Grand Treasurer Nigel Sterland and his wife Anne are introduced to Cardinal Duka at the reception after Mass held in the Archbishop's Palace.
Fr Simon Henry, Chaplain General of the Grand Priory of Great Britain, Mgr Luigi Casolini, Dean of Tivoli Cathedral and Chaplain General of the Grand Priory of Italy, & Fr Mark Lawler, Chancellor of the Priory of Great Britain in the splendid setting of the Cathedral.
And with Mgr Bosé, Grand Prior Spiritual of the Order.
Further photos of the Investiture in Prague can be found here.