"Helping those who can not help themselves"
Charitable Work
The Order of Saint Lazarus was originally created by the militarisation of an order of monks, who, as followers of St Basil, had chosen to work amongst those suffering from leprosy. During the time of the crusades all knights of the great military orders found to be suffering from the dreaded disease of leprosy were forced by their own rules to leave their order. As most were warrior monks, and still quite able to fight, they usually joined their confreres under the banner of Saint Lazarus. The early Grand Masters of the Order were themselves amongst those so afflicted. These knights, who classed themselves as "living dead", while never large in number, were ferocious in battle, always choosing to die rather than face surrender.
Today the Order is still heavily involved with the relief of leprosy. In Ireland. the Order works in conjunction with the Leprosy Mission Ireland to provide funds for the care of leprosy patients The World Health Organisation currently estimates that there are fifteen million sufferers today, of whom only three and a half million are receiving any form of treatment.
In addition to our work with the Leprosy Mission Ireland, the Grand Priory of Ireland may choose to support a local or International charity, such as a hospice or one benefitting children or the aged, or occasionally make a donation to an international charity with which its members may have a specific link.
The Christian foundation of the Order requires members to pray for its work and those it supports.
