The Supreme Grand Priory is the governing body of the United Grand Priories of the Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus. It ensures the continuous growth of the Order and the operational logistics of its organisation. All its Grand Officers work within the Order on a voluntary basis and receive no remuneration. The Supreme Grand Priory mirrors and represents the consecrated jurisdictions of the Order worldwide. It is presided by its Supreme Grand Prior, HIRH Sandor Habsburg-Lothringen GCLJ GCMLJ, Archduke of Austria and Prince of Tuscany. He chairs the meetings of the Grand Officers of the Order in his offices in Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria.
The Past (and first) Supreme Grand Prior was H.E. Richard Comyns of Ludston GCLJ GCMLJ. A true Scottish firebrand, Richard was a solicitor by profession and headed a number of companies in the financial sector. He was the one of the two main instigators of the founding of the United Grand Priories in 1995, as the head of the Scottish Grand Priory of the Order. He passed away in 2020
The international operations of the United Grand Priories are directed from the office of the Grand Chancellery, which is based in Malta, under the auspices of the Grand Chancellor, the Chev. Massimo J Ellul GCLJ GCMLJ. Its administrative and legal operations are administered by the Grand Secretary of the United Grand Priories, the Chevalier Steven Groeneveld GCLJ GCMLJ, one of the founding officers of the United Grand Priories and a retired Commander of the South African Navy.
The Constitution of the Order
The Constitution of the Order was thoroughly overhauled and upgraded in 2008, the year when the United Grand Priories embarked on its extensive expansionist initiatives in various geographical zones. The composition and function of the Supreme Grand Priory was redefined and remodelled in such a manner as to represent more fully the various jurisdictions of the Order.
Apart from the constitutional necessity of representation of the Grand Priories of the Order, the Supreme Grand Priory is also composed of and led by the Grand Officers of the Order, who together form the Grand Council of the Order.
As per the Constitution of the United Grand Priories of the Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, the Supreme Grand Priory is required to meet and elect its peers at least once every two years. In the International Lazarite Congress of 2016, the constitution was changed and the timeframe was altered to five years. Due to the rapid growth of the Order in these last years, there were various instances wherein the Supreme Grand Priory met yearly, by means of International Lazarite Congresses, in order to offer the heads of jurisdictions the possibility to meet up more frequently and discuss the needs of such a growing international Lazarite confraternity.
The International Lazarite Symposium
In 2012, the meeting of the Supreme Grand Priory also evolved into the First International Lazarite Symposium, which was held at the Sacra Infermeria of the Knights of Malta in Valletta. This proved to be the biggest congregation of Lazarites world-wide in these last decades.
In June 2014, the Second International Lazarite Symposium was held in the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, located in the Leeward Islands, which is a federal two-island state in the West Indies.
In 2016, two conventions were successfully executed for the year, the first one in Tampa, Florida (January) and the other in Malta (April/May). In June 2017, the International Lazarite Congress was again held in the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. In 2018, the Order organised a European Convention for its European jurisdictions.
The International Lazarite Symposium commemorating the 25th anniversary of the founding of the United Grand Priories was scheduled to be held in Malta in April 2020. Covid 19 restrictions world wide unfortunately dictated the postponement of the event till October of 2022. In October 2026, the Order organised another edition of the International Lazarite Symposium, which was officially opened by Her Excellency the President of the Republic of Malta.
The Grand Officers
The Grand Officers of the Supreme Grand Priory of the United Grand Priories of the Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus are as follows:
The Supreme Grand Prior, who is the chairman and chief executive officer of The Grand Council, who shall hold office for a period of five years after The Grand Council votes for his election. There is no term limit for the position and the incumbent may offer himself for re-election at the end of his term.
HIRH Sandor Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduke of Austria and Prince of Tuscany
The Supreme Grand Prior is the elder son of Dominic Habsburg-Lothringen, also known as Dominic von Habsburg (born 4 July 1937, Sonnberg, Lower Austria). Both are members of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, with the father also known by his ancestral titles as Archduke Dominic of Austria, Prince of Hungary, Bohemia, and Tuscany. Sandor Habsburg-Lothringen gained the title of Prinz von Toskana on the 7th January 2008 and the title of Erzherzog von Österreich on the 21st of March 2010. Sandor’s grandparents from his father’s lineage were Archduke Anton of Austria (1901-1987) and Princess Ileana of Romania (1909-1991). He was born in Vienna, Austria, on the 13th February, 1965 and is a direct descendent of Maria Theresa - Empress of Austria, Catherine the Great – Empress of Russia, and of Queen Victoria of Great Britain. The House of Habsburg-Lothringen, also known as Habsburg-Lorraine (originally Austria-Lorraine), was founded in 1736 with the love marriage of Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria (1717-1780) with Duke Francis Stephen of Lorraine (1708-1765) from the House of Châtenois (Vaudémont Branch). This inheritance thus came on the basis of a constitutional treaty, known as the Pragmatic Sanction, through Emperor Charles the Sixth's eldest daughter Maria Theresa and her marriage to Franz Stephan of Lorraine. Primarily due to the claims of the House of Austria, especially to the kingdoms of Hungary and Bohemia as well as the ability to enforce the imperial title, the new dynasty received the designation Austria-Lorraine (later Habsburg-Austria-Lorraine and Habsburg-Lorraine).
In the Austrian War of Succession, Maria Theresa was largely able to enforce her claims, but the Duchy of Silesia was annexed by Frederick II of Prussia. The inherited Duchy of Lorraine had to be exchanged by Franz Stephan on his marriage due to pressure from France against the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Nevertheless, he was able to become Emperor Franz I in 1745, because he still had the small county of Falkenstein within the Reich. Interestingly for us, as modern day emulators of medieval Order of St. Lazarus, his legacy also included the obsolete title of King of Jerusalem. Sandor Habsburg spent his youth in Austria and later graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in the USA with a focus on environmental protection and alternative Energy. He sits on the Board of several companies and organizations worldwide. He is the head of the Association for the Furtherance of Peace, also headquartered in Vienna, responsible for the coordination of peace related activities in more than 70 countries.
The Grand Vicar, who is appointed by the Supreme Grand Prior, on behalf of The Grand Council, and holds office during the pleasure of The Grand Council or until resignation, and is responsible for the spiritual and ethical harmonisation of initiatives, specifically initiatives related to the enhancement of world peace, social and economic inclusion and anti-racism in all its forms.
James de Balliol-Cavendish of Buittle - 32nd Baron of Buittle
Of mixed British & Austrian/German heritage, James has spent significant parts of his life in the UK and the States. He owns Buittle Castle in Scotland and is involved in sevaral charitable initiatives, and has an active role in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of the British Isles and Ireland.
He read Theology and Classics at St. Andrews, and has a keen interest in Medieval and Early Modern History, Theology, cultural activities, heritage architecture and restoration. He serves on the governing bodies of several charities/ philanthropic initiatives, is a member of the Incorporated Trades of Kirkcudbright, the de Vere Society, Scottish Delegate for the charity Vereins zur Förderung des Friedens (Association for the Furtherance of Peace), and Scottish Prior for the Order of St. Stanislas.
The Grand Chancellor, who is appointed by the Supreme Grand Prior, on behalf of The Grand Council, and holds office during the pleasure of The Grand Council or until resignation, and shall in all things act for and on behalf of the Supreme Grand Prior if the latter is unable to perform the functions of his office by reason of absence or ill-health.
H. E. Massimo J. Ellul GCLJ GCMLJ
The Grand Chancellor is a Cambridge alumnus and a marketing and management consultant by profession. He heads his own consultancy operations and is also very active within the hospitality business. He has, and still holds, several executive and non-executive directorships and has also been appointed as advisor to a number of governments and public agencies in countries such as Malta, Slovenia, Hungary and the United Arab Emirates.
He was also an elected official of the Executive Committee of the European Forum for Urban Security under the aegis of the Council of Europe and was a delegate of the European Disability Forum and the European Union of Supported Employment. In Scotland, Ellul was very much involved with the Friends of Rosslyn [Chapel], and has lectured extensively in the region. He was admitted as Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Marketors of the City of London and in 2005 was granted the Freedom of the City of London. Ellul has been awarded a number of accolades from various countries for his philanthropic and Hospitaller initiatives worldwide. These include accolades from US President Barak Obama, from King Kigeli V of Rwanda and from the Rajah of Kupang (Indonesia). He is the Chairman of the St. Lazarus Foundation.
The Grand Secretary, appointed by the Supreme Grand Prior, on behalf of The Grand Council, and shall hold office during the pleasure of The Grand Council or until resignation. It is the responsibility of the Grand Secretary to ensure the proper administration of this international organisation and deal with any possible disputes that may arise between Members of The Grand Council and members of the Order, or members of the public.
H.E. Steven Groeneveld GCLJ GCMLJ
The Grand Secretary is a retired Commander of the South African Navy and runs his own philanthropic non-governmental organisations in South Africa. He was one of the founding officers of the United Grand Priories in 1995 and has been active within the Order ever since, previously occupying the office of Grand Marshal of the Order.
The Grand Marshal, appointed by the Supreme Grand Prior, on behalf of The Grand Council, shall hold office during the pleasure of The Grand Council or until resignation, and shall prescribe and regulate the arrangements for all ceremonies of the Order in accordance with the wishes of The Grand Council.
Chev. Peter Neuen GCLJ KMLJ
The Grand Marshal has an extensive background of management and real estate operations in the private sector and has held senior positions in a number of established German commercial enterprises. He was responsible for the growth of the Order in German speaking countries and communities in central Europe.
The Grand Treasurer, is appointed by the Supreme Grand Prior, on behalf of The Grand Council, and shall hold office during the pleasure of The Grand Council or until resignation, shall preside over the financial affairs of The Grand Council and shall be responsible, to the Grand Council, for the receipt of Registration Fees, Fees of Honour and all matters relating to the procuring of income for the administration of The Grand Council.
Chev. Thomas Nash KCLJ CMLJ
Canadian born Thomas Nash is the Chairman and CEO of Xalles Holdings Inc., a publicly listed holding company that owns operating subsidiaries in financial services and Fintech. He is an international public speaker and is on the board of a number of global companies in addition to being the strategic advisor to a number of Fortune 500 clients.
The Grand Almoner, is appointed by the Supreme Grand Prior, on behalf of The Grand Council, and shall hold office during the pleasure of The Grand Council or until resignation, is responsible for the collective Hospitaller initiatives throughout the various jurisdictions of the Order.
Chev. John Ogden KLJ
Dr. John Ogden has a proven track record as a Harley Street and Cottingley Manor Consulting Rooms medical doctor and was and still is entrusted with a number of very influential and high ranking patients in the United Kingdom. Based in the Isle of Man, Dr. Ogden has been an active member of the Sacred and Medical Order of the Knights of Hope, which are part of our international confraternity of Lazarites. He later specialized in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, then progressed to achieving his Doctorate in Natural Medicine
The Grand Hospitaller, holds office during the pleasure of The Grand Council or until resignation, shall, when required, be responsible to The Grand Council for supervising the general direction, organisation and technical administration of the humanitarian projects undertaken by the constituent Grand Priories and their associated activities.
Chev. Benjamin Angueira GCLJ
Benjamin Angueira is based in Puerto Rico and is an established financial consultant and legal counsel. He has been in the forefront of civil society initiatives on the island and has been appointed as Director and Non-Executive Director to a number of organisations and specialised firms. Dr. Angueira is also the Grand Lieutenant of the Sacred Medical Order of the Knights of Hope.
The Grand Registrar, is appointed by the Supreme Grand Prior, on behalf of The Grand Council, and shall hold office during the pleasure of The Grand Council or until resignation, shall preside over the registration of the works and jurisdictions of The Grand Council and shall be responsible, to the Grand Council, for the receipt of such.
Grand Registrar: Chev. James Schutz GCLJ KMLJ
The Grand Registrar is an accomplished and published medical practitioner, highly active in the voluntary and philanthropic sector. Residing in the Dominican Republic, he has patented a number of medical breakthroughs in the US and has specialised his medical attention to persons with special needs.
The Genealogist is the Officer appointed by the Grand Chancellor, on behalf of the Supreme Grand Priory, to confirm and ascertain claims of membership of grace and justice within the Order and to supervise the heraldic uniformity of the various jurisdictions of the Order.
Genealogist: Chev. Daniel Bugeja GCLJ KMLJ
Dr. Daniel Bugeja specialises in law and occupied the position of President of the Notarial Council of Malta. He is licensed by the President of Malta as a Notary Public and is also the Grand Prior of Malta of the Order. He is also an artist in his own right, specialising in medieval research and projections. His works have been exhibited in a number of prestigious venues.
Aides de Camp to the Office of the Grand Chancellor
Due to the strenuous voluntary work related to the foreign affairs of the Order by means of the Office of the Grand Chancellor, the Supreme Grand Priory in 2010 decreed (decree 56/10) the appointment of a number of Aides de Camp to the Office of the Grand Chancellor. These officers of the Order are given specific tasks by the Grand Chancellor, enabling the harmonious and smooth growth of the Order in its various regions. To date, the Office of the Grand Chancellor has appointed the following Aides de Camp:
2010: Chevalier Robert Vella KCLJ
Responsible for liaison related to operations within the jurisdictions of the Grand Priories of Malta and Gozo. Robert Vella is an established hospitality professional in the tourism industry.
2011: Chevalier Stefan Andras KCLJ CMLJ
Responsible for the growth of the Order in Eastern Europe. Stefan Andras is a business operator and a keen pilot.