Order of the Holy Sepulchre

This article is about the order of chivalry of the Holy See. For the canons regular, see Canons Regular of the Holy Sepulchre.

Order of the Holy Sepulchre
Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
Ordo Equestris Sancti Sepulcri Hierosolymitani
AbbreviationOESSH
Formationc. 1099; 925 years ago (1099)
FounderGodfrey of Bouillon
Founded atChurch of the Holy Sepulchre
TypeOrder of chivalry
PurposeSupport the Christian presence in the Holy Land
HeadquartersPalazzo Della Rovere
Location
Region served
Worldwide
Membership
30,000
Pope Francis
Fernando Cardinal Filoni
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa
Assessor
Tommaso Caputo
Main organ
Council Complete of State
Parent organization
Holy See
Affiliations
Award(s)
  • Knight/Dame of the Collar
  • Knight/Dame Grand Cross (KGCHS/DGCHS)
  • Knight/Dame Commander with Star (KC*HS/DC*HS)
  • Knight/Dame Commander (KCHS/DCHS)
  • Knight/Dame (KHS/DHS)
Websitewww.oessh.va
Formerly called
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The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (Latin: Ordo Equestris Sancti Sepulcri Hierosolymitani, OESSH), also called the Order of the Holy Sepulchre or Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, is a Catholic order of knighthood under the protection of the Holy See. The Pope is the sovereign of the order. The order creates canons as well as knights, with the primary mission to "support the Christian presence in the Holy Land".[1] It is an internationally recognised order of chivalry. The order today is estimated to have some 30,000 knights and dames in 60 lieutenancies around the world.[2] The Cardinal Grand Master has been Fernando Filoni since 2019, and the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem is ex officio the Order's Grand Prior. Its headquarters are situated at the Palazzo Della Rovere and its official church in Sant'Onofrio al Gianicolo, both in Rome, close to Vatican City.[3] In 1994, Pope John Paul II declared the Virgin Mary as the order's patron saint under the title "Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Palestine".[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference vatican.va was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "About us". Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  3. ^ "History". Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Blessed Vergin Mary Queen of Palestine". www.oessh.va. Retrieved 8 August 2024.