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The Knights of the Order of Malta

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For almost nine centuries, the Sovereign Order of Malta, also known as the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, has embodied a tradition of dedicated service, humanitarian commitment and defense of Christian values throughout the world. Founded in the 11th century to protect and assist Christian pilgrims on their journey to the Holy Land, the Order has evolved over time to become one of the world’s oldest charitable and humanitarian institutions.

The Foundation de Villedieu

Members of the Order, known as the Knights of the Hospital, were both monks and warriors, committed to defending the holy places and assisting the needy. Over the centuries, the Order of Malta extended its reach beyond the Holy Land, establishing commanderies and hospices across Europe and the Mediterranean. The result was Villedieu, Villa Dei, literally “City of God”. This small parcel of land, which at the time was nothing but meadows and forests, was given to the Knights of the Order of Jerusalem by Henry I Beauclerc in gratitude for their loyal service in the Holy Land.

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©Grand Sacre 2016|Philippe Clairay
    Church entry ritual - Grand Sacre 2004Church entry ritual - Grand Sacre 2004
    ©Church entry ritual - Grand Sacre 2004|Studio Bataille

      Radiation of the city

      In 1530, the Order received the island of Malta in fief from King Charles V, thus becoming the Order of Malta. In the centuries that followed, the Commanderie de Villedieu prospered thanks to the many craftsmen who settled there: tanners, millers, bakers, foundrymen, butchers… At the same time, the Order of Malta, in control of the town, also broadened its scope to include humanitarian and medical activities, founding hospitals and dispensaries to care for the sick and poor. This was the case in Villedieu, where a general hospital was created in 1716. More than just a dispensary, it served to feed the poor and instruct orphan girls in the art of lacemaking.

      The Order of Malta today

      In France, the Revolution put an end to the Commandery’s omnipresence by choosing civil over religious power. In the 19th century, the Order of Malta lost its territories and political sovereignty in Europe, but continued to exert its influence through its charitable works. Today, the Sovereign Order of Malta is present in over 120 countries around the world, where it carries out projects to help refugees and provide relief in the event of environmental disaster, war or famine. Every four years, during the Grand Sacre de Villedieu, you can attend the religious procession led by senior members of the Knights of Malta, most of whom are dressed in official parade attire: bright red pourpoint, white gloves and black cape adorned with the Maltese cross.

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      Members of the Order, whether knights, ladies, clerics or volunteers, commit themselves to the fundamental values of the Order: charity, fidelity and solidarity. They dedicate their lives to serving the most vulnerable and promoting human dignity, thus perpetuating the legacy of the Knights of the Order of Malta.

      The Knights of the Order of Malta: from soldiers to benefactors by Nota Bene

      Les chevaliers hospitaliers de l'Ordre de Malte : de soldats à bienfaiteurs
      Les chevaliers hospitaliers de l'Ordre de Malte : de soldats à bienfaiteurs
      Les chevaliers hospitaliers de l'Ordre de Malte : de soldats à bienfaiteurs

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