Patriarchal Order of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem

(right), together with David Ben-Gurion, first Prime Minister of Israel, 1960. The order was founded by Patriarch Maximos V Hakim of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church on 14 September 1979, originally based in Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome, Italy. Ever since, it has enjoyed the protection of the subsequent Patriarchs of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church as Grand Masters. In 1997, new statutes were introduced and the seat was moved to Damascus, Syria. == Organisation ==

Patriarch Gregory III Laham (left) with the former Grand Prior of the order, Archbishop Joseph Jules Zerey, Vicar Apostolic of Jerusalem, 2009. Under the Melkite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East as Grand Master, the order is organised by a Governor International and served by a Grand Prior, the Vicar Apostolic of Jerusalem. In consequence, local provinces are governed by Deputy Governors and served by Priors National. The order has a seat in the Old City of Jerusalem, at the seat of the Melkite Patriarchate, yet the seat of the Grand Master is situated in Damascus, Syria, along with the seat of the Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. Apart from the Middle East, the order is active in Italy (2006), Germany (1988), Belgium (1986), France (2014), United States and Canada. Among its charitable endeavours, in the United States, it runs a project called "Friend of the Holy Land" in support of Christians of the Holy Land. Grades • Knight or Dame Grand Cross • Knight or Dame Grand Officer • Knight or Dame Commander • Knight or Dame == Status ==

The Patriarchal Order of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem, while completely independent of the Holy See, is under "ecclesiastical patronage" sui iuris by the Melkite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East in accordance with the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. As such, it is recognised as a legitimate ecclesiastical decoration by the International Commission on Orders of Chivalry. In addition, it is a registered charity in multiple countries, including Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Canada. Although recognised as a legitimate ecclesiastical decoration, part of the order's terminology has been a subject of criticism by the ICOC: == Gallery ==

File:Bishop Patriarch Youssef Absi june 7th 2018.jpg|Patriarch Youssef Absi, Grand Master of the order, in June 2018. File:Gro%C3%9Fmeister_Patriarch_Gregor_III._Laham_in_Trier,_2012.JPG|Former Patriarch Gregory III Laham in Trier, Germany, 2012. File:POHCG - Knight cross - recto.jpg|Frontside of the decoration for knights. File:POHCG - Knight cross - verso.jpg|Backside: relic in shape of a rock from Calvary, including the seal of the Patriarch. File:Santa-croce-gerusalemme-mantello.JPG|Ceremonial robe of the order in Italy. File:Ordensmantel_(in_Deutschland_blau).jpg|Ceremonial robe of the order in Germany. == See also ==