A Brief Introduction to The Sovereign Order of the Orthodox Knights Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem [ abbreviated OOSJ ]

 

The Sovereign Order of the Orthodox Knights Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem [abbreviated OOSJ] tracks its history to the mid-eleventh century in Europe and Jerusalem.  The Order functions under the Spiritual Protection of His Holiness Aleksey II, the Most Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, and under the Imperial Protection of the House of Romanov in the Person of H.H. Prince Michael of Russia.

Following the Russian Revolution, many of the Hereditary Commanders settled in Western Europe and some later settled in the USA.  The Headquarters of the O.O.S.J. is now in the city of Mount Vernon, New York State. The Australian Bailiwick of the Order is part of the Sovereign Grand Priory.

 

Nature of the Order:

The Order retains the tradition of the Hospitallers (Ospitalarii) of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem and in particular, the tradition established by His Imperial Majesty Emperor Paul I of Russia, when he created a Russian Grand Priory for his imperial realm with an oecumenical Christian tradition in the spirit of charity and fraternity.

The Order is a religious, chivalrous and noble Order, and its principal goal is the direct relief of sickness, suffering, poverty, distress, misfortune, disability and helplessness, without discrimination. Additionally, the Order promotes the formation of Christian oecumenicalism, which seeks to promote brotherly relationships among the various churches whose spiritual values are based on the dignity of all human beings, without distinction of race and creed. The Order in Australia promotes the rights of all human beings as defined by the Charter of the United Nations.

 

The Order today:

In various countries across the World, The Sovereign Order of the Orthodox Knights Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem (O.O.S.J.) is represented by its respective Bailiwicks, Priories and Commanderies.  Thus, the Bailiwick of Australia, an integral part of the Order, derives from the Russian Grand Priory of St. Petersburg, which was established by the Russian Emperor Paul I who became the 72nd Grand Master of the Order in 1799, when the then Grand Master (Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim) of the Order of Saint John of Rhodes and of Malta abdicated. The O.O.S.J. is an Order of Chivalry and its lineage has had a turbulent but striking history. It has many Units in many countries of the World.

  • It is recognised today as a non-government charitable organisation by the United Nation
  • Its Bailiwick in Australia is recognised in its own right by the Australian Government as a Charitable Non-Profit Organisation.
  • Its Bailiwick in Australia is registered as a Public Company Limited by Guarantee, with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ACN 103 345 213)
  • The Order is Tax exempt (ABN 13 345 213)