Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem

Equestrian Order of the
Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem

Ordo Equestris Sancti Sepulcri Hierosolymitani
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	Holy See
Membership	23,000 (est.)
Grand Master	Cardinal Edwin O'Brien
Grand Prior	vacant
Parent organization	Holy See
Affiliations	Kingdom of Jerusalem Custody of the Holy Land 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".