Venerable Order of Saint John
British royal order of chivalry constituted in 1888 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (French: L'Ordre très vénérable de l'hôpital de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem),[n 1][3] is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations,[4] Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America.[5] Its world-wide mission is "to prevent and relieve sickness and injury, and to act to enhance the health and well-being of people anywhere in the world."[5] It is often simply called the Order of St. John,[3] or as the Venerable Order of Saint John (VOSJ) to distinguish it from other similarly named orders.
Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem | |
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Badge of a Member of the Venerable Order of St. John | |
Awarded by the sovereign of the Commonwealth realms | |
Type | Chivalric order |
Motto | PRO FIDE PRO UTILITATE HOMINUM[1] |
Day | 24 June[2] |
Eligibility | All living citizens of Commonwealth of Nations, the United States, and Hong Kong[source?] |
Status | Currently constituted |
Sovereign | Charles III |
Grand Prior | The Duke of Gloucester |
Grades (w/ post-nominals) | Bailiff or Dame Grand Cross (GCStJ) Knight or Dame of Justice or Grace (KStJ/DStJ) Chaplain Commander (CStJ) Officer (OStJ) Member (MStJ) Serving Brother or Sister Esquire |
Established | 1831 |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | Dependent on state |
Next (lower) | Dependent on state |
Ribbon of the order |
The order's approximately 25,000 confrères, supported by 4,000 employees and 250,000 volunteers,[4] are mainly Anglicans, though other Christian denominations or other religions are accepted into the order, and honorary membership is presented to distinguished people of other religions. Membership in the order is by invitation only, except via appointment to certain government or ecclesiastical offices in some places. People may not petition for admission. It is perhaps best known through its service organizations, St. John Ambulance and St John Eye Hospital Group, the memberships and work of which are not limited to any denomination or religion.