Due to some recent - yet unwarranted - speculation in some quarters, the Order has re-issued the "Declaration of Legitimacy" explaining in a wider context, the protection of the Royal House of France, whose representative is HRH Prince Charles-Philippe d'Orléans, Duke d’Anjou.
DECLARATION OF LEGITIMACY
The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem is, since its origin in the Holy Land, a Catholic institution. Its spiritual vocation was solidified with the search for Christian unity during the nineteenth century.
Since the fourteenth century, the Order of Saint Lazarus has remained under the protection of the Royal House of France.
This identity, which is its legitimacy, continues in our time with an ecclesial, historical and human foundation.
I - Under the jurisdiction of the ordinary of the Archdiocese of Prague, His Eminence Dominik Cardinal Duka, President of the Czech Bishops' Conference, the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem has gained the status of a private association of the faithful.
Furthermore, His Eminence Dominik Cardinal Duka is the Chaplain General of the Order.
II - The Order of Saint Lazarus is under the protection of the Royal House of France, whose representative in the Grand Magistry is HRH Prince Charles-Philippe d'Orléans, Duke d’Anjou. Prince Charles-Philippe is both Grand Master Emeritus and Grand Prior of France.
III - In accordance with Articles 20 and 24 of the Constitutional Charter, His Excellency Jan Count Dobrzenskỳ z Dobrzenicz was elected Grand Master on 20 November 2010 at the General Chapter, by all Knights, Dames and Chaplains who were eligible to vote. Count Dobrzenskỳ z Dobrzenicz was installed on that the same day, in Orleans Cathedral, as the 50th Magnus Magister citra et ultra maria, Præceptor Boignacy.
IV – In accordance with the introduction of the Constitutional Charter, the Order of Saint Lazarus formed its spiritual heritage in the nineteenth century by admitting Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant members, and in so doing it defined its mission: to assist the most disadvantaged by working for Christian unity in a spirit of chivalry.
V - All members are committed to promoting the spiritual, charitable and traditional goals of the Order in the spirit of the Constitutional Charter and obeying, in this context, to the hierarchy. Moreover, the Order asks each postulant to commit to the decree of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith rejecting membership in the Freemasonry, approved by His Holiness Pope John Paul II on 26 November 1983.
In recent years, organisations have used the green cross to imitate the Order of Saint Lazarus, by usurping elements of its identity and its symbols. These organisations claim the “green cross”, illegitimately, to promote activities for their own ends.
Unlike the Order of Saint Lazarus, these organizations cannot guarantee the complete separation of their rank from the members of the societies mentioned in the decree of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 26 November 1983.
The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem in no way condones the methods and the actions of these organisations.
The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem is a historic institution which serves the poorest and promotes Christian unity, in a spirit of chivalry.
Signed by:
HE Dominik Cardinal Duka O.P.
Chaplain General
HRH Prince Charles-Philippe d’Orléans.
Grand Master Emeritus
HE Jan Count Dobrzenskỳ z Dobrzenicz
50th Grand Master
