The Maltese Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem held its Annual Solemn Investiture Ceremony on Saturday, 4th October 2025, at the majestic St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta. The ceremony, one of the most significant events in the Order’s calendar, was led by Ambassador Roberto Buontempo, Lieutenant of the Maltese Islands.
This year’s Investiture welcomed twelve new members who were formally admitted into the Order as Knights and Dames, including two ecclesiastical knights. Each pledged to uphold the Order’s spiritual mission and charitable work in support of the Holy Land.
The Investiture of Knights and Dames is a time-honoured ritual rooted in the medieval traditions of knighthood in the Holy Land. In those times, Christian pilgrims and defenders of the faith were received into the Order at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The ceremony, rich in symbolism and prayer, continues to uphold that same sacred tradition today.
The Eucharistic Celebration and Investiture Ceremony were presided over by His Grace Mgr Charles Jude Scicluna, Archbishop of Malta and Grand Prior of the Maltese Lieutenancy. In his homily, Archbishop Scicluna reflected on the values of faith, devotion, and service that unite members of the Order across the globe.
Distinguished guests included senior representatives of the Grand Magisterium — Their Excellencies Jean-Pierre Marie de Glutz-Ruchti, Vice Governor General for Europe, and Enric Mas, Vice Governor General for Latin America — as well as several Lieutenants from other European jurisdictions. During the ceremony, Dr Michael Grech, KM, President of the Maltese Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, was honoured with the Cross of Merit with Silver Star.
Dating back to the First Crusade, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is one of the oldest Catholic chivalric orders. Today, it is active within Catholic communities worldwide and organised into Lieutenancies across various regions. Its enduring mission is to protect the Holy Land, safeguard its sacred sites, and support the Christian communities who live there.
Christians in the Holy Land rely deeply on the Order’s continued support — both spiritual and financial — which helps sustain a living Christian presence in the region. Through the generosity and dedication of its members, the Order maintains hospitals, schools, and parishes across Jerusalem, Jordan, Palestine, and parts of Syria. Among its most notable initiatives is the Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem, which provides vital maternity and neonatal care to mothers and infants of all faiths.
The Order also ensures that 44 Catholic schools in the Holy Land remain open and accessible, offering quality education and hope to Christian families. Beyond education, it funds a range of medical, social, and pastoral projects that serve both Christian and non-Christian communities alike.
In Malta, the Lieutenancy continues to promote the Order’s mission through charitable fundraising, pilgrimages to the Holy Land, educational programmes, and spiritual formation. Members meet regularly for liturgical celebrations, talks, and community gatherings that strengthen their faith and solidarity with Christians in the Holy Land.
Guided by the principles of faith, charity, and service, the Maltese Lieutenancy remains steadfast in upholding the centuries-old tradition of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
