The
Order of St. John,
commonly known as the Knights of Malta, has long stood as one of
history’s most revered chivalric orders, tracing its roots to the
medieval Crusades. Originally dedicated to the care of the sick and the
defense of Christendom, the order’s influence extended far beyond its
initial establishment in the late 11th century. After the loss of the
island of Malta in the 18th century, Russian Emperor Paul I gave
sanctuary to the largest contingent of knights. There it found a new
chapter in is history under the patronage of the Romanov dynasty. That
allowed its continued legacy to the modern era, where it is under the
leadership of His Highness Don Basilio Calě, Prince of Rhodes, Grand
Master.
Chain of the Order of
St. John as worn within the Roman-Ruthenian Church and State by His
Apostolic Highness the Roman-Ruthenian Pope, a hereditary Bailiff Grand Cross
of the Yugoslavian Order of St. John and Knight Commander of Justice of
the Russian Order of St. John. These honors descend with the office of
Prince-Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia.
The Knights of Malta in Russia:
The Era of Tsar Pavel I
The arrival of the Knights of Malta in Russia was largely shaped by the
vision of Tsar Pavel I, who ascended the throne in 1796. His deep
interest in the order—both politically and religiously—led him to
extend his protection to the knights after they were expelled from
Malta by Napoleon in 1798. Recognizing the strategic and symbolic value
of the order, Pavel I granted them refuge and established the Russian
Grand Priory, aligning Russian imperial interests with chivalric
traditions.
In a historic gesture, the Knights of Malta elected Pavel I as their
Grand Master—the first Orthodox Christian to hold this title.
He took this role extremely seriously, embedding the order within the Russian
imperial framework. Among those who held the order’s honors was the
legendary Admiral Fyodor Ushakov, a revered naval commander who never
lost a battle and was later canonized as a Holy Righteous Warrior of
God.
Holy Righteous Warrior of God Fyodr Fyodorovich Ushakov
The Order Under the Romanovs and Its Transition to Yugoslavia
Following the reign of Pavel I, the order’s activity in Russia
diminished, yet it remained part of the imperial patrimony. In the
turbulent era of Tsar Nikolai II, as the Russian Empire faced
revolution and upheaval, the tsar sought to safeguard the order’s
continuity. To ensure its survival, he transferred the responsibilities
and privileges of its Grand Mastership to the Royal House of Yugoslavia.
This transition, initiated as a means of preserving the order in the
face of Bolshevik rule, placed its leadership under King Peter II of
Yugoslavia. Even after his kingdom fell during World War II, King Peter
II remained dedicated to maintaining the order’s traditions while in
exile in Britain and the United States.
Insignia of the Yugoslavian Order of St. John, with "trophy"
(as it is called - in silver at the top of the medal) as a
Knight Bachelor of Yugoslavia given to and owned
by His Apostolic Highness Pope Radislav (Rutherford) I of Rome-Ruthenia.
The trophy contains the Yugoslavian/Serbian
double-headed eagle and the cypher of King Peter II
of Yugoslavia in the centered, rendered in Cyrillic (П II).
Challenges and the Order’s Continuation
The mid-20th century was a challenging period for the order. King Peter
II, as well as the order itself, became subjects of misrepresentation
and defamation. Despite this, the order persisted, with a branch later
recognized by Prince Trubetskoi, a prominent Russian noble who had also served as Lieutenant Grand Master of the Order.
Today, the rightful successor to the Russian-Yugoslavian Order of
Malta—and by extension, to the historical Knights of Malta—is the Order
of St. John, led by His Highness Don Basilio, Prince of Rhodes. Under
his Grand Mastership, the order continues to uphold its foundational
principles of charity, hospitality, and faith, ensuring its relevance
in the modern world.
His Highness Don Basilio Calě, Grand Master of the Order
The Order’s Royal Patronage
Carrying forward the traditions of imperial and royal protectorship,
the Order of St. John is today under the patronage of the Royal Merovingian
House, led by His Royal Highness Sire Rubén (Esteve IV). This patronage
reinforces the historical significance of the order and its rightful
place within the lineage of European chivalric traditions.
The Royal Patron of the Order,
H.R.H. Don Rubén Gavaldá (Esteve IV)
Head of the Merovingian Dynasty
The Legacy of the Order within the Roman-Ruthenian Church and State
Additionally, a strong connection exists between the Order of St. John and the
Roman-Ruthenian Church and State, which preserves important historical
records of King Peter II of Yugoslavia. The Church is among the few
institutions able to confer the rare title of
Knight Bachelor
of Yugoslavia
and maintains the Pontifical Order of Knights Bachelor of
Yugoslavia. Furthermore, the Roman-Ruthenian Pope, Prince Radislav (Rutherford) I, holds the rank of Bailiff Grand Cross of the
Russian/Yugoslavian Knights of Malta. He was also previously recognized
as a Knight Commander of Justice of Malta by the branch under Prince
Trubetskoi. These ranks, recognized as hereditary, descend with the office of Roman-Ruthenian Pope (Prince-Bishop), which
itself is semi-hereditary, semi-elective. The equivalent female rank is
also held by statute by H.A.H. the Apostolic Princess.
The Roman-Ruthenian Chuch and State does
not, however, confer the Order of St. John. Rather, it recognizes His
Highness Don Basilio Calě, Prince of Rhodes, as the Grand Master of the
Order of St. John in Russian-Yugoslavian succession.
H.A.H. Pope Radislav (Rutherford) I of Rome-Ruthenia,
then as a layman, in the church mantle of the
Royal Yugoslavian Order of St. John
Excerpt of brevet conferring
the rank of Knight Commander of Justice on H.A.H. Pope
Radislav I (then Marquis of Monte Titano).
This rank was recognized as hereditary by the Church and descends
specifically with the Prince-Bishop's office.
Excerpt of brevet conferring the Cross of Honor and Merit on H.A.H. Pope Radislav I (then Marquis of Monte Titano).
H.A.H. Pope Radislav (Rutherford) I , Roman-Ruthenian Pope
in the uniform of the Pontifical Ruthenian Naval Guard
(Pontifical Walsingham Guard), and the sash and cross of the
Royal Yugoslavian Order of St. John
Lapel rosette of a Bailiff of the Yugoslavian Order of St. John
as currently used within the Pontifical Imperial State.
Insignia as currently used by H.A.H. the Prince-Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia
as Bailiff Grand Cross of Justice of the Yugoslavian Order of St. John.
The Order of St. John otherwise is not conferred by the United
Roman-Ruthenian Church and Pontifical Imperial State.
A Legacy That Endures
The journey of the Knights of Malta—from their origins as a medieval
Crusader order to their integration into Russian sovereignty and
eventual transition into the modern Order of St. John—is a testament to
their resilience and historical continuity. Despite political upheavals
and shifting allegiances, the order has remained steadfast in its
dedication to the principles of chivalry, service, and faith.
