The (OESSH) is a papal lay order dedicated to supporting the Christian community in the Holy Land. While its motto " Deus lo vult " ("God wills it") evokes the Crusades, the order as it exists today was formally organized in the 19th century based on medieval pilgrimage traditions. Historical Origins
Pope Pius IX formally established the order as a papal order of knighthood to support the newly restored Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Der Ritterorden vom Hl. Grabe von deny KreuzzГјg...
The order primarily traces its origins to the custom of knightly investiture at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Starting in 1336, Franciscan friars were authorized by the Pope to dub noble pilgrims as "Knights of the Holy Sepulchre". The (OESSH) is a papal lay order dedicated
The order underwent a significant transformation in the 19th century to become a structured papal institution: The order primarily traces its origins to the