History and nomenclature of the Order

In days of old, men joined together in Orders of Knighthood to set themselves apart as Champions of a certain cause. Today, in a world torn apart by war, hatred, and civil strife, a group of men are joining together as Champions of Christianity.

The Knights of the Order of the Sacred Cup are practicing Christians. They are workers in their churches, and for causes which help the needy and bring religious enlightenment to the world. The Sacred Cup that Our Lord used at the Last Supper is a symbol of hope to these men. The Cup represents the Sacrificed Blood of Christ shed for all those who will believe upon His Holy Name. It is an outward sign of the Lamb that was Slain to give us life eternal.

The Order is a fraternal fellowship of Christian men. While chivalric in its character, it is not an Order of Chivalry in the classical definition of that term. It acknowledges Jesus Christ, Son of God, as its Grand and only Master. These knights exalt the Sacred Cup and defend the symbolic meaning of the elements of the Last Supper as representing the broken body and shed blood of Jesus. The Order gives forth no code of conduct except that which is handed down through the teachings of Holy Scripture.

The Order of the Sacred Cup was founded in Grafton, West Virginia, USA, on 1 August 1970, with the main purpose to be that of helping and aiding needy children. It still pursues this goal on a selected basis. The order also functions as an honorary award given in recognition of outstanding service to the Church of Jesus Christ.

The Order is truly Ecumenical in nature. The founders and original officers were mostly drawn from Protestant churches. Its original religious charter was bestowed by Patriarch Peter II Zhurawetsky of Miensk, and the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Benedict I, conferred Apostolic Blessings on the Order. His successor Patriarch Diodoros likewise extended his Patriarchal Blessing to the Knights of the Sacred Cup. In 1988 Prince Kermit William of Miensk became Grand Knight Chancellor and held that position with distinction, building up the work and membership of the Order. On his death in 2015 he was succeeded by his adopted son and heir Prince Edmond III of San Luigi.

The Order of the Sacred Cup has maintained close ties with the Shrines of the Holy Land over the years. Prince Kermit William and other officers have visited on occasion the Cenaculum, a room in an old church built on the traditionally accepted site where the Last Supper was held. At this place, Services of Investiture have been held for the Knights. Also, their insignia has in the past been taken there and blessed.

Another tie with the Holy Land began in December 1970, when the Archbishop of Galilee, the Most Revd. Joseph Raya, started the tradition of remembering the Knights of the Sacred Cup at the Christmas Eve liturgy each year celebrated in “The Home of Our Lord” in Nazareth. The Order has made periodic donations to both the Cenaculum in Jerusalem and the Church of St Gabriel in Nazareth.

The late Knight Grand Chancellor, Prince Kermit William of Miensk, in the Church of St Gabriel in Nazareth.

Membership of the Order is by invitation or by nomination by an existing Knight.

Aims and Regulations of the Order

1. The Name of the Order shall be: THE ORDER OF THE SACRED CUP.

2. The members of the Order shall be known as: KNIGHTS OF THE SACRED CUP

3. The aims of the Order shall be:

a. To acknowledge Christ as Lord and Saviour, and to exalt the Sacred Cup of our Lord used at the Last Supper.

b. To defend the symbolic meaning of the elements of that Supper as representing the Body and Blood of Christ.

c. To be a living example of one who follows the Master Jesus.

d. To enlighten ourselves and others with things spiritual and cultural, and to give aid and help to orphans and needy children.

4. The Order shall be open to all males, eighteen years or older, who are practicing Christians. Females of the Christian faith, and males and females of a non-Christian faith, may be admitted as “Honorary Members” by the Grand Knight Chancellor as a personal recognition.

5. The Order shall not be:

a. Used as a means of personal or political gain.

b. Used to recruit for any denomination, or be the tool of any denomination. Nor shall the officers thereof have any power to dictate as to the personal or privy worship of its members.

6. The Organization of the Order shall be:

a. International Level (Executive Chapter of the United Kingdom)
Grand Knight Chancellor (Chief Executive Officer)
Grand Scribe (Executive Secretary and Information Officer)
Grand Steward (Treasurer)
Journalistic Scribe
Grand Chaplain
Grand Musician
The Grand Officers and Charter Members of the Order comprise the Privy Council of the Order which will have authority over major policy concerning the International Level of the Order. The Grand Knight Chancellor has veto power over the rulings of the Privy Council.
b. Regional, State and Local Chapters may be chartered by the International Level. Only one Chapter per state or territory may be formed.
c. Each Regional, State and Local Chapter of the Order will be independent or each other. The Executive Chapter will maintain a control over such chapters as far as basic aims and regulations of the Order are concerned. If not contradictory to the basic aims and regulations of the Order, each subsidiary chapter shall have the power to devise and set forth rules, patterns, ceremonies and meetings for that chapter.
d. The finances of the Order will be met by free-will offerings and donations given by the Knights.

The Hymn of the Order

“There is a Fountain filled with Blood” by William Cowper

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood, lose all their guilty stains.
E’er since, by faith, I saw that stream Thy flowing wounds supply
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

Letter of President Chiang Kai-Shek thanking the Grand Knight Chancellor for the bestowal of Knighthood in the Order of the Sacred Cup.