The Grand Commandery of Saints John and Lazarus of Jerusalem (Gran Commenda dei Santi Giovanni e Lazzaro di Gerusalemme) headquartered in Milan, Italy, has entered into a mutual treaty of full partnership, friendship, collaboration, accreditation and recognition with The Royal Byelorussian Protectorate of the Orthodox Order of the Military and Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem.

The Grand Commandery was formed in 2019 by the union of several international commanderies in the chivalric traditions of St John and St Lazarus. These included some who were already under the protection of Prince Don Hugo José Tomassini Paternò Leopardi of Constantinople. They have continued under Prince Hugo José’s successor Prince Ezra.

The Grand Commandery is under the temporal protection of the Imperial House of Tomassini Paternò Leopardi of Constantinople and has received the spiritual blessing of the Patriarchate of Antioch of the Syriac Orthodox Church, in addition to having the official recognition of Syrian institutions.

The Grand Commandery is committed to the noble mission of supporting persecuted Christians in Syria, Iraq, Egypt, and Palestine.

Count Lemke wearing the tie of San Luigi

The Abbey-Principality extends its sincere condolences upon the death of Count Carl Lemke of Texas, USA. Count Lemke was born at Little Rock, Arkansas, on 24 October 1951. He was a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Thorns and the Order of the Lion and the Black Cross, and further held office in the Royal Byelorussian Orders. In 2014, the Prince-Abbot of San Luigi conferred on him the hereditary title of Count and granted him arms. He was also a Fellow of the Institute of Arts and Letters (London) and received the Grand Prix Humanitaire de France et des Colonies.

Count Lemke was an exceptionally skilled craftsman and established Unique Regalia, a manufacturer of chivalric insignia. He was appointed by warrant as official insignia maker to San Luigi and Royal Belarus and many members of our Orders can testify to the high quality of his work. His son Joseph, who is also a member of the San Luigi Orders and now succeeds to his father’s title of Count, assisted him in this thriving business. Both father and son were veterans of the United States military.

The Grand Collar of San Luigi, made by Count Lemke.

Count Lemke was a much valued correspondent and friend of the Prince-Abbot and his humane outlook was evident when speaking of his family and that of the Prince-Abbot. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.