Knights of St John history uncovered! A letter sent in 1113AD by the Pope marks their official recognition
The letter was addressed to the first Grand Master of the order.
This letter uploaded to social media by the ‘Order of Malta New Jersey Area’ shows a vital part of the Knights of St John’s history.
The important document was sent by the pope at the time, Pope Paschal II on February 15th,1113 to the Order of St John, marking their official recognition as an order.
It was specifically sent to Fra’ Gerard, the founder of the order and its first Grand Master.
Before they became the Sovereign Order of Malta, the Knights were first founded in Jerusalem as a monastic community in 1099. Nonetheless, the year 1113 was the first time they were officially recognised by the Catholic Church.
They stayed in Jerusalem till 1291, before moving on to Cyprus, then Rhodes and then Malta.