News
Gaza and the Templars
Peace Between the West and the Orthodox World!
Pray for Peace! With the decision of the outgoing Biden regime to use US weapons and experts to help Ukraine strike targets in Russia, we are nearer to nuclear Armageddon than ever in the past.
Politics is not our mission, but it is not political to observe that war between the still nominally Christian West and the Orthodox civilisation of Russia and her Slavic allies would be an unmitigated catastrophe.
This Order makes a point of working to establish good relations with Orthodox patriots. This is done at all levels, from behind the scenes work to practical aid, and indeed simply by encouraging personal visits and friendships.
Our picture shows Templar Sergeant-at-Arms Iwan Egerstrom (wearing cap) with a leading Serbian Christian nationalist on the steps of the magnificent Cathedral in Belgrade.
We pray that common sense prevails and that this current crisis blows over. Alternatively, if nuclear missiles are to be the instrument of God's chastisement of liberal Sodom, and of the abortionist states of the world (sadly, despite huge strides towards reChristianisation, that still includes Russia), we pray that He will provide ways in which faithful remnants may survive and rebuild a better world. Amen!
Searching for New Recruits
While the majority of new members find us online or join after buying and reading one of our Deus Vult books, a significant minority are recruited by contact with existing brethren.
This process is helped by Sir Knights who make a regular outreach effort. Brother Wes Stover is one of our stalwarts when it comes to this, making regular use of these ingeneous recruitment posters with multiple contact info tear-off slips, which can be found and downloaded for home printing on our members-only Discord page.
Thank you, Sir, and keep at it!
Key Templar Sites in the Holy Land
ACRE
This strategic Holy Land port came under Western control during the First Crusade—but changed hands several times after. In 1291 it was the last Christian-held fortress in the Holy Land when it fell to the Mamluks—one of the most devastating events in Templar, and Western, history.
ANTIOCH
One of the four Crusader states established following the success of the First Crusade. Antioch (located near modern-day Antakya, Turkey) and its surrounding areas were the site of crucial early Templar holdings, including the castles of Baghras, Darbask, La Roche de Roussel and La Roche de Guillaume. The latter, Antioch’s last Templar stronghold, fell to the Muslims around 1299.
ARWAD
Lying just off the coast of the one-time crusader town of Tortosa, this tiny island (also known as Ru’ad) was the site of one of the Templars’ last major battles. In 1300-1302 they occupied the fortress here, trying to launch a counter-strike against the Mamluks on the mainland. The offensive failed and the Templars on Ru’ad were captured and taken to Egypt for sale as slaves.
CHASTEL BLANC
"The White Castle". Templars built this stronghold, located in the northwest of modern-day Syria, on the central of the region’s three hills, providing a key vantage point for nearby fortresses. The 91-foot-tall square tower, erected in 1202, is one of the better-preserved Templar sites in the region.
Château Pèlerin
One of the most successful Crusader fortresses constructed, Château Pèlerin (meaning Castle Pilgrim, a.k.a. ‘Atlit) supported some 4,000 troops. Its prime coastal location allowed it to be resupplied by land and sea. And its unique double-wall design—with a taller inner wall that allowed defenders to shoot down and over a shorter outer wall—withstood many sieges.
CYPRUS
Following the fall of Acre in 1291, the Templars moved their Eastern headquarters (including their treasury and archives) to Cyprus. There, they fought with other Crusader-era orders, including the Hospitallers, over control of the island’s stronghold fortresses. One of them, Famagusta, the island’s only deep-water port, saw a huge influx of refugees from elsewhere in the Holy Land after Acre fell.
TEMPLE MOUNT
In 1119-20, when the King of Jerusalem officially tasked the Templars with defending the city and protecting Christian pilgrims who came there, he granted them quarters in the al-Aqsa mosque, then his palace. It would go on to become the first Templar headquarters in the Holy Land. The mosque, which stood atop Temple Mount, a hill overlooking the city, was built on the site of the Jewish Temple of Solomon, inspiring the Order’s name, “The Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon.”
La Féve
A key Templar castle guarding the intersection of the roads leading from Jerusalem to Tiberias and from Baisan to Acre. The fortress, built atop a Bronze-Age mound, could accommodate more than 50 knights.
Templars in this small castle could patrol and stand watch over the road between Jerusalem and Jericho, along which pilgrims traveled on their way to bathe in the river Jordan. It was also known as the Red Cistern, because it was built in an area famous for its striking red-coloured rock, not far from an underground reservoir which collected rainwater.
TORTOSA
In 1105, Crusaders captured the area known as Antartus (modern-day Tartus, Syria) and built the Cathedral of our Lady of Tortosa, now one of the region’s best-preserved religious structures. Templars took control in 1152, building a military keep with double walls and chapel, which they held until the city fell to the Mamluks in 1291.
Tinfoil House Project?
No, we haven't gone tinfoil hat conspiracy mad! But we are making sure that our Priory House is going to end up insulated to the highest possible standard.
The energy suicide policies of the UK's liberal elite mean that the price of electricity is only going to keep going up, while its suplly is only going to become more and more unreliable. Especially with the less than tropical climate of Northern Ireland, that means that money and effort invested in insulation now will be repaid many times over in the years to come.
That said, we had no choice but to replace all the old (and actually dangerous) electrical wiring, so while doing that we've taken the opportunity to upgrade the supply to every room.
As you can see, the first fix of the rewiring job is finished - and, we're pleased to say, all paid for.
Pastor Jim lends a hand!
Can you help too? We urgently need $1,500 for 'minor' but important additional costs which are now foreseen as necessary to keep the work going right up until Christmas. Our loyal hardcore brethren and supporters have been extraordinarily generous again recently. Are there a few new people reading this who haven't yet contributed? Please do what you can to help - let's power the Priory House renovation forward! Many thanks.
Remembrance Wreath Laid in Templar Chapel
Remembrance Day saw a poppy wreath hung on the wall of our ancient St. Mary Magdalene Chapel beneath the WW1 memorial plaque.
The plaque came from the now demolished base camp of the Pioneers batallion on the edge of the town of Newtownards. The flags hanging to either side of it are those of the 36th (Ulster) Division and the 16th (Irish) Division, and symbolise reconciliation between the Protestant and Catholic traditions on the island of Ireland.
"We will remember them!"
Today, As Always, We WILL Remember Them
Renovation Reaches the Ceiling!
Another week, another step forward in our Priory House renovation. Since Monday, our builder and his mate have been busy not just tearing old partitions down upstairs, but also with the first stage of the key job of boarding out with new plasterboards.
As you'll se from the pictures, this means that the rooms are getting new ceilings. Boards have been nailed up and joints taped, ready for the plasterers who will come in once the walls are all finished too.
