The Ecumenical Hospitaller Order of St. John
Knights of Malta
and
Ordine Militare ed Ospedaliero
di S. Giovanni d'Acri e S. Tommaso

FACT FILE: Not much is given away as far as the real history of this "Order" is concerned. It appears to be some sort of continuation of a King Peter/Pichelian Order in terms of the name - however similarities with another self-styled Order "Ordine Militare ed Ospedaliero di S. Giovanni d'Acri e S. Tommaso" (Military and Hospital Order of St John of Acra and St Thomas) indicate a merger with that Order. There history in terms of the present day "Order" was on the 14th July 2001 (http://www.order-of-malta.org); as follows; "In 1917, after the Russian Revolution, some members of the Order came to the United States and founded a Priory of St. John . Because of internal differences and personal ambitions of various leaders, the movement fragmented and splinter groups arose. Commanderies of the Order have been established in various states and the high traditions handed down through the centuries continue to be maintained." In this short passage, a definite link with the Russian tradition is claimed. However by the time a new web site has emerged (http://www.ordineecumenicomalta.org/) with an identical style, the story is somewhat different; "The … Order … was founded by the Master Prince Gioberto of the Frigia - D'Amorio dynasty in 1176, in Jerusalem. … This Order was initially a component branch of the Jeruslamite Hospitallers, but the Order established itself freely with its own autonomous, independent and corporate base, and … was subjected to the imperial and royal protection of the Sovereign House of Byzantium. … In 1922, the 21st November, the dignitaries of the Great Teaching where called into a solemn gathering, in Leece, under the guidance of the Grand Master of the Order H.I.H. Luigi Cesaro Sperione. By aggregation, the Order took on a new name of Ecumenical Hospitaller Order of Saint John - Knights of Malta." page 2/4 of the history. "In 1962 H.I.H. Prince Don Francesco Amoroso Comneno Flavio Lascaris Paleologo d'Aragona, as direct descendent of Michele II Balbo d'Amorie Roman Emperor of the East, founder of the Imperial Dynasty Frigia d'Amorio and Galizia, assumed its Sovereign Grand Mastership … By Imperial Decree, on the 17th October of 2001, H.I.H. the Prince Don Francesco Amoroso Comneno Angelo Flavio Lascaris Paleologo d'Aragona, adopted and designated H.M.S.H. Prince Don Peter Joseph lossif, formerly Grand Chancellor of the Order, governing the aforesaid Order in replacement of His August Person." page 3/4 of the history. http://www.ecumenicalordermalta.org/html/storia_en.htm It is still one and the same Order as the webpage http://www.order-of-malta.org  (copy of page via the Wayback Machine) in July 2001 provides an address and telephone numbers identical to the present web page ( Via Nomentana, 299 00167 Rome / Italy Tel + 39 06 84242788 Fax +39 06 84242804) -see http://www.ecumenicalordermalta.org On the latest site a Grand Masters list is not given, but a few names with dates do appear as quoted above; Ecumenical Hospitaller Order of St. John Knights of Malta Grand Master List (source: http://www.ecumenicalordermalta.org/html/storia_en.htm) 1922 Luigi Cesario Speridione 1962 Prince Don Francesco Amoroso Comneno Flavio Lascaris Paleologo d'Aragona 2001 Prince Don Peter Joseph Lossif This compares with; Military and Hospital Order of St John of Acra and St Thomas Grand Master List (source: http://www.ord-sgast.it/elenco.htm) 1899 - 1931 Luigi Cesario Amoroso d'Aragona 1931 - 1959 Pietro Amoroso d'Aragona 1959 - 1996 Luigi Amoroso d'Aragona 1996 - ……    Angelo Amoroso d'Aragona The similarity of names is such and the claims to be founded by the "Frigia-D'Amorio dynasty" which appear on both sites, is sufficient to realise that there has been an amalgamation of Orders!

List of "Grand Masters" Ecumenical Hospitaller Order of St. John Knights of Malta. 1922 Luigi Cesario Speridione 1962 Prince Don Francesco Amoroso Comneno Flavio Lascaris Paleologo d'Aragona 2001 Prince Don Peter Joseph Lossif List of "Grand Masters" Ordine Militare ed Ospedaliero di S.Giovanni d'Acri e S.Tommaso 1205 – 1239 Aminado de Amerusio 1239 – 1281 Giovanni de Amerusio 1281 – 1299 Bonusmiro de Amerusio 1299 – 1315 Mazziotto de Amerusio 1315 – 1340 Nicola de Amerusio 1340 – 1360 Benenato Amerusio 1360 – 1398 Sergio Amerusio 1398 – 1421 Iacobo Amerusio 1421 – 1441 Francesco Amerusio 1441 – 1490 Ruggiero Amorusio 1490 – 1525 Nicola de Amorosa d’Aragona 1525 – 1589 Ferdinando de amorosa d’Aragona 1589 – 1595 Aminado Amoroso d’Aragona 1595 – 1620 Giovanni Ferdinando Amoroso d’Aragona 1620 – 1635 Carlo Augusto Amoroso d’Aragona 1635 – 1684 Costanzo Vittorio Amoroso d’Aragona 1684 – 1722 Donato Alberto Amoroso d’Aragona 1722 – 1744 Filippo Augusto Amoroso d’Aragona 1744 – 1762 Carmine Mattia Amoroso d’Aragona 1762 – 1779 Ippazio Alessandro Amoroso d’Aragona 1779 – 1821 Vito Nicola Carmine Amoroso d’Aragona 1821 – 1881 Felice Vito Amoroso d’Aragona 1881 – 1899 Salvatore Amoroso d’Aragona 1899 – 1931 Luigi Cesario Amoroso d’Aragona 1931 – 1959 Pietro Amoroso d’Aragona 1959 – 1996 Luigi Amoroso d’Aragona 1996 - ………… Angelo Amoroso d’Aragona

LINKS Ecumenical Hospitaller Order of St. John Knights of Malta  Ecumenical Hospitaller Order of St. John Knights of Malta URL Dead   Ordine Militare ed Ospedaliero di S. Giovanni d'Acri e S. Tommaso

NOTE: The appearance of a link to another Site does not mean there is a connection between any organisation represented by that Site and the the Web Site provider. The Links are provided for those who wish to discover more about the Orders of St. John, and their various claims.  The links are provided in honesty of purpose.

Any comments or suggestions to selfstyle@church.prestel.co.uk

Created 4th June 2004

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