A useful publication for those studying any of the Crusader Orders

A number of military religious orders emerged during the 11th century as a response to the need of protecting Christians on pilgrimages towards the Holy Land and to defend the Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem. Some of these orders are still in existence today, albeit with a transformed role, that of raising charitable funds and conducting essential humanitarian projects.

The Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem together with the Templars, the Knights of St John, and the Teutonic Knights were among a larger number of monastic orders, many of which are no longer in existence today. These monks of war were sons of noble families who took the votes of poverty, obedience and chastity and lived a monastic and military disciplined life in barracks, while in the name of the Cross, they waged some of the most epic wars on infidels, who wanted to overrun the Holy Land.

In his latest book entitled The Primitive Statutes of the Monks of War and the Rules of St Benedict and St Augustine, Professor Charles Savona-Ventura brings together the early statutes and rules of these various Crusader Orders - the Monks of War. He compares these with Western-based religious Monastic Order's regulations in force during the period of the crusades. This publication, published by the International Academy of the Order of St Lazarus (Sancti Lazari Ordinis Academia Internationalis), will definitely be useful for anyone studying the origins of any of the Crusader Orders in the Holy Land.

The need to provide services (hospitallers) to pilgrims visiting the Holy Land, coupled with the need to continuously protect these pilgrims and fight off the threating forces of infidels, led to the development of a new version of Monastic Orders. Working within a relatively tight-knit community, it stood to reason that these Orders interacted between themselves and formed distinct alliances. When setting up these monastic organisations, the brethren looked at the rules as promulgated by both the Rule of St Benedict and that of St Augustine. These Monastic Orders also "borrowed" specific regulations from each other.

The Primitive Statutes of the Monks of War and the Rules of St Benedict and St Augustine, by Savona-Ventura can be purchased from https://www.lulu.com/

Based in Malta, the International Academy is a registered non-profit, voluntary and public benefit association, governed by Maltese legislation. The association is enrolled with the Malta Business Registry [LPA-141] and the Malta Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations [VO/1969].

The objectives of the Academy include the promotion of historical knowledge related to the Military and Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem established in the 11th century, and other related Crusader and Orders of chivalry. Historical research may relate to the hierarchy, traditions, their laws and ancient history, as well as their relations with Christian Churches.

More information may be obtained via email: [email protected] or by visiting the Academy's website: http://www.lazarus-academy.com/