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Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem

Equestrian Order of the
Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
Ordo Equestris Sancti Sepulcri Hierosolymitani
GA Ordre du Saint-Sépulcre.svg
Abbreviation OESSH
Motto "Deus Lo Vult"
Formation Circa 1099
Founder Duke 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
Membership
23,000 (est.)
Cardinal Edwin O'Brien
vacant
Parent organization
Coat of arms Holy See.svg Holy See
Affiliations Armoiries de Jérusalem.svg Kingdom of Jerusalem
Coat of arms of the Custodian of the Holy Land.jpg Custody of the Holy Land
Coat of arms of Fouad Twal.svg Patriarchate of Jerusalem
Website Official website (English)
Formerly called
Milites Sancti Sepulcri
Canons Regular of the Holy Sepulchre
Sacred and Military Order of the Holy Sepulchre

The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (Latin: Ordo Equestris Sancti Sepulcri Hierosolymitani, OESSH), also called Order of the Holy Sepulchre or Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, is a Roman Catholic order of knighthood under the protection of the Holy See. The pope is sovereign of the order. Originally founded as Milites Sancti Sepulcri attached to the Augustinian Canons Regular of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, recognised in 1113 by Papal bull of Pope Paschal II and of Pope Calistus II in 1122. It traces its roots to circa 1099 under the Frankish Duke Godfrey of Bouillon, Advocatus Sancti Sepulchri, "Defender of the Holy Sepulchre", one of the leaders of the First Crusade and first ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Besides the Canons Regular (the Fratres), early members included secular canons (Confratres or Sergentes), Milites Sancti Sepulcri, armed knights of valour and dedication chosen from the crusader troops. Together they vowed to obey the Augustinian Rule of poverty and obedience, and undertook specifically to defend the Holy Sepulchre and the holy places under the command of the King of Jerusalem. Still today, the order bestows Canons as well as Knights, with the primary mission to "support the Christian presence in the Holy Land".


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Wikipedia

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