Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem | |
Ordo Equestris Sancti Sepulcri Hierosolymitani | |
![]() Coat of arms of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre | |
Abbreviation | OESSH |
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Formation | c. 1099 |
Founder | Godfrey of Bouillon |
Founded at | Church of the Holy Sepulchre |
Type | Order of chivalry |
Purpose | Support the Christian presence in the Holy Land |
Headquarters | Palazzo Della Rovere |
Location |
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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) |
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Website | www |
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]
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was invoked but never defined (see the help page).