Oklevueha Native American Church and the Priory of Indigenous People, Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem

 

The Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem was a medieval military, religious and Hospitaller Order of Chivalry. The Hospitaller Order stems from a leper hospice founded in Jerusalem in the 4th or 5th century. The Order, according to some historians, was first established during the time of Saint Basil, with the founding of its first hospital in the city of Ptolemais (Acre), and that their work was primarily to look after lepers. Due to this very contagious work, these monks were given quarters outside the walls of Jerusalem and their ‘hospice’ was established near to the Gate of Saint Lazarus, or, as it was referred to, the postern of Saint Lazarus. It is thus due to this geographical location that they became known as the Order of Saint Lazarus.

In more recent times, the various incarnations of the Order were at the forefront of manning and assisting medical centers, hospices, ambulance units, and various other humanitarian institutions throughout the world.

The United Grand Priories of the Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem conducts itself according to the laws and statutes of the countries where it operates as a fully registered chivalric institution. Its primary aim is Hospitaller and philanthropic work throughout the continents. Such Hospitaller work is evident and constant in the continents of the Americas, Europe, Africa, Australasia, and Asia.

During the 2012 investiture of the Grand Priory of the US which was held in Idyllwild, CA, the United Grand Priories welcomed a particular postulant within its Grand Priory who promised that he would work hard to get more like-minded individuals into our Lazarite fold.

One year later, at the 2013 investiture in Benedict Castle, true to his word, Pastor James Flaming Eagle Mooney, one of the founding members and leader of the Native American church, brought into the Order a significant number of fellow indigenous confreres and consoeurs, all of whom are particularly active in the voluntary and philanthropic sphere of activities.

As Oklevueha Native American Church and as Priory of Indigenous People, Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, we proclaim the freedom to choose and practice for ourselves the sacred ceremonies and sacraments best for achieving and maintaining optimum wellness of our bodies, minds, spirits, and emotions. We proclaim and reserve the right to include spiritual options that include but are not limited to sacred plant medicines, energy work, shamanic work or any modality practiced or used by any type of healer or practitioner the world over, whether traditional or nontraditional, conventional, or unconventional. We believe and it is our sincere and firmly held conviction that it is a Human Right, given to us by the Creator to have access to and to be able to practice our sacred ceremonies and healing practices for ourselves, our families, and the community of fellow human beings.

The Priory of the Indigenous People (Oklevueha Native American Church) falls under the murisdiction of The Grand Priory of the United States, known as The Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem. The International headquarters are in Zebbug, Malta.

You can read more information about the Priory of Indigenous People here:

The Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem was a medieval military, religious and Hospitaller Order of Chivalry. The Order was chivalric in that it became a monastic Order of Knighthood in the early 12th century. Its ranks held those who were already knights or those of noble birth who received knighthood after entry into the Order.

The Sovereign Ecclesiastical Principality of the Oklevueha Native American Church authorizes the Grand Priory of the Indigenous People to set up Priories (branches/healing centers/educational centers) across the U.S., under Monastic, Indigenous, Holistic and Dynastic exceptions.

All priories, and faith-based organizations, healing and/or education centers are protected under Knights of the Grand Priory of the Indigenous People under the Grand Priory of the United States.