Our modern Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller (Sovereign Order) is a Christian, chivalric, ecumenical and international community directly descended from the Hospitaller activities at the Hospice, founded before the turn of the 12th Century by Amalfi merchants, for pilgrims in Jerusalem.
Who We Are
The Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller is an international community of members, who continue 900 years of tradition to help the sick and the poor of all nationalities, races, and creeds and is based on Christian principles. The Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem originated in a hospice founded in approximately 1070 to care for pilgrims, which was dedicated to St John the Baptist. The brothers and sisters of the Hospital, which was recognized as a religious Order by the Pope in 1113, nursed the poor and sick of any faith.
The modern-day Sovereign Order is divided into 27 Commanderies (chapters) in 14 countries in Europe and North and Central America, consisting of approximately 850 members worldwide. The International office is located in Vancouver, Canada. Each Commandery chooses the charities it will support. Most charitable activities are for the benefit of the local area.
The Commandery of the Palm Beaches has 64 members who serve on boards, donate money and time to local charities and work together on projects of the Order. Fifteen local charities were recipients in 2017.
The linked video from our sister Commandery in Vancouver will provide you with a history of the modern Order.