The word Apostle means a messenger. The Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ were the messengers He sent throughout the world to tell all mankind the glad tidings, the good news of the Gospel.

Ordinary men from the fishing crafts of small inland seas, from the tax-collectors’ benches, from the homes of the less than middle class, they were normally destined for obscure lives and unhonored graves.

But they met the Saviour of the world. He spoke the compelling words, “Come, follow me.” They could have ignored His invitation and returned to their nets, to their coins, to their mediocrity. Wisely they accepted His invitation. They lived for three years with the Master, received from Him incredible power and authority, and went out to be His spokesmen.

Among this historic Twelve the least known was the Apostle Jude. Today however he is loved and honored by millions, who call him the Saint of the impossible.

In his honor we pray:

God, Who through Thy blessed Apostle Jude hast brought us into the knowledge of Thy Name, grant that by advancing in virtue we may set forth his everlasting glory, and by setting forth his glory we may advance in virtue. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

Relics of St Jude in the possession of the Abbey-Principality, originally the gift of Mar Georgius of Glastonbury

The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is the most direct ecclesiastical descendant of the church responsible for the consecration of Prince-Abbot Joseph III (Archbishop Joseph René Vilatte) in 1892.

In 1987, the consecrator of the present Prince-Abbot, Archbishop Professor Bertil Persson OCR, wrote to the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church concerning this consecration. The reply he received from Bishop Paulose Athanasius of that church is reproduced below, and as will be seen affirms the details of the consecration of Prince-Abbot Joseph III as well as the status of his principal consecrator, Mar Julius (Alvares).

In order to silence any doubt that might remain as to this matter, a member of the Order of the Crown of Thorns sought confirmation of the information conveyed in the above letter, and received the following reply from the Metropolitan Policarpos Geevarghese:

It will be seen that these letters are clear and self-explanatory as to the position of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.

A biography of Prince-Abbot Joseph III by a member of the San Luigi Orders, “Monseigneur Joseph René Vilatte: Une vie en image” by Msgr. Raphaël-Magnoald Steck KOCT, is available to purchase at this link.

This letter of commendation from 1970 was addressed to our Royal Patron, the Most Revd. Prince Kermit William Poling de Gniezno, OA(Comm) by the Ecumenical Patriarch, His All Holiness Athenagoras I (1886-1972).

Handwritten greeting on visiting card of H.B. Nicolaos VI (1915-86), Greek Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa 1968-86 (1972).

Christmas greetings of Moran Mor Ignatius Jacob III (1912-80), Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East 1957-80.

Christmas greetings from H.B. Benedictos I (1892-1980), Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem 1957-80.

Christmas greetings from Archbishop Makarios III (1913-77), Primate of Cyprus (1950-77) and President of the Republic of Cyprus (1960-74, 1974-77)

Christmas greetings from Chiang Kai-Shek (1887-1975), President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) (1928-75) and Madame Chiang Kai-Shek (1898-2003) (1973)

H.E. Dr. Norbert Wójtowicz, Grand Prior of Continental Europe for the San Luigi Orders, is to be among the speakers at the forthcoming conference of the “Polskie Stowarzyszenie Badań nad Zachodnim Ezoteryzmem” – the Polish Society for the Study of Western Esotericism – in Kraków on 30-31 May. The aim of the organization is to conduct academic research on Esoteric Traditions and to bring together scholars interested in the field. Dr. Wójtowicz will speak on “William Blake and his mysterious world”.

>>Conference details (in Polish)

On a number of occasions on social media, William Leo Timlin of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, USA, has falsely claimed to be a member of the San Luigi Orders, using images of our insignia taken from this website. Screenshots are provided below.

Timlin is not and has never been a member of the San Luigi Orders, and his claims are a baseless and fraudulent imposture. Timlin has a long history of assuming titles for himself without the slightest legitimate authority. He has previously declared himself to be King of Redonda, a “canonical” and “orthodox” bishop, and indeed Pope Adrian VII and Patriarch of the West. When Timlin was challenged as to his false representations regarding the Order of the Crown of Thorns he responded with a campaign of lies, malice and hatred against us on social media which has revealed his true nature very clearly. We have naturally refrained from responding in kind to his insults.

A police report from the Coon Rapids Police Department in our possession, dated April 2014, records a number of relevant matters. The complainant in the report is recorded as having found after research that Timlin was “not a validly ordained bishop, and Timlin had a history of fraudulent behavior with other bishops, priests, etc. [Reporting party] said he found numerous complaints of similar incidents involving Timlin from other churches in the nation.”

We find the following findings in the police report particularly troubling,

“[The investigating officer] attempted to call Timlin in an attempt to set up an interview. [Officer] spoke with an unidentified male who said Timlin was sleeping, and usually woke up at around 11am…in his taped statement, Timlin was extremely deceptive, and changed his story multiple times…Timlin denied that he was a bishop.”

This conduct is amply sufficient to cause us to warn the faithful against this man and his pretensions. We declare that, after his own exact words, how very truly he is indeed not a bishop, and further that his person should be anathema to all who seek to follow Christ.

The United States of America does not recognize titles of nobility, but that does not mean that it has not developed a system of honours of its own. To receive a titular military commission from those states that maintain such a system is an honour that can be traced back to the antebellum era, when the landed gentry received such awards for financing the militia without being expected to take actual command. In some cases there is a tongue-in-cheek element to the award – Nebraska appoints Admirals of its Great Navy, but the state is landlocked, and the Admiral commission makes reference not only to command over officers and seamen, but also tadpoles and goldfish.

Over the years, the Prince-Abbot has received honours from four State Governors of the United States. He is a Kentucky Colonel (Kentucky’s highest honour), a Nebraska Admiral (Nebraska’s highest honour), a Lieutenant Colonel, Aide de Camp Governor’s Staff by commission of the Governor of Georgia, and an Honorary Texan by commission of Governor Rick Perry. These awards emphasise the warm relationship that exists between the Prince-Abbot and the United States as well as continuing over a century of history of the Abbey-Principality there.