The board of directors of the International Academy of the Order of Saint Lazarus launched its first call for Corresponding Membership. This call is open specifically for those individuals, as well as non-members of the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, who are interested in researching or want to enhance their knowledge about the history and traditions of chivalric and other orders.

Corresponding members can participate in general meetings with voting rights, although they cannot be members of the board of directors in an administrative capacity. At the request of the Board, however, they can have a consultative voice.

The objectives of the Academy include the promotion of historical knowledge related to the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, and other related crusader and orders of chivalry. Historical research of the Academy may relate to the hierarchy, traditions, their laws and ancient history, as well as their relations with Christian churches.

The Academy is based in Malta and is a registered NGO [VO/1969]. Since its setting up, the Academy already organised several international conferences including Malta (2015), Palermo (2017), Malta (2019), Gotha in Germany (2023) and again in Malta (2024).

The International Board of Directors is composed of Prof. Charles Savona-Ventura, director; Prof. Michael Wallis Ross, vice-director; Carmel Bonello, secretary and Public Relations officer; Dr Raymond Gatt, treasurer; Dr Andreas Rademachers, member; The Count de Évora, member; Prof. Horatio C. R. Vella, grand archivist and historian of the Order and Sijt de Boom, who is a nominee of the Order's Foundation.

According to the International Academy's statute, there are three classes of members, called Corresponding Members, Regular Members and Honorary Members.

At present, this call by the board of directors is to attract prospective corresponding members of the Academy. This call should be of particular interest to lovers of history, as well as prospective history graduates. Furthermore, the Academy is planning to establish research bursaries to widen research in the Academy's areas of interest.

The board of directors has decided not to collect a membership fee for the time being.

Those persons who would like to submit an application for membership, are kindly invited to visit this link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSuWsFBQ-uW1FEmBl698QAq2O44P-1NWedBnf6cabwTGMaMA/viewform?usp=header

Acta Historiae Sancti Lazari Ordinis - Volume 7

The Academy has published its seventh volume of this journal, which is edited by Professor Savona-Ventura, Professor Vella and Professor Ross.

Published in English, this latest volume, and the six previous ones, can be purchased separately or together from Lulu.com or via this link https://www.lulu.com/shop/michael-ross-and-horatio-cr-vella-and-charles-savona-ventura/acta-historiae-sancti-lazari-ordinis-vol-7/paperback/product-7key58p.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Through this link you can also find and browse information about the other publications issued by the Academy. Earlier this year, the Academy also issued The Primitive Statutes of The Monks of War and the Rules of St Benedict and St Augustine.

More information can be obtained from the Academy's website http://www.lazarus-academy.com/