History of the Order

1222

The Council of Oxford (England) appointed the 23 April as the Feast Day of St. George

23 April 1326

Visograd, Hungary - The Knightly Order of St. George was founded in the presence of King Karoly Robert of Hungary (d. 1342), his Cardinals and Bishops, and the Laws of The Order where established.

(It may have been Edward III who was responsible for making St George the patron saint of England when he founded the Order of the Garter under his name in 1350).

It is evident that St. George was popular throughout Europe from the 14th Century onwards and The Knightly Order of St. George was replicated as follows:

1386-1714

The Order became active in Gerona, Spain

1371, 1441, 1602-1880

The Order became active in the Province of Catalan and throughout the North of Spain

1400

Montessa - The Orders of St. Michael and St. George are united. The Crown Prince becoming the Grand Master of The Order

1409

Zigismund of Luxembourg, King of Hungary, German Roman Emperor, returned to the Saint George name. (The First Dragon Slayer)

1442-1495

Emperor Frigyes (Frederic) appointed his Cardinal Siberhite Janos, as Grand Master of The Order and naming the Knights of Saint George above all other Knights as "Knights of the Crown"

1503

Emperor Miksa (1493-1519) took over The Order. Pope Paul III became the Grand Master and placed the Holy Crown of St Stephen above the Saint George Cross.

1659-1816

The Order became active in Italy, Palma and Sicily

1729

King Ludwig of Bavaria – became the Grand Master and held the position for 25 years.

1829-1936

The Order became active in Greece. The King of Greece became the Grand Master. A branch of The Order still exists in Greece.

1919

King Karoly the last Hapsburg King was exiled and Admiral Horthy became Regent.

1920

The Regent, Admiral Horthy, created the Vitéz Order, this Order was based entirely on The Order of Saint George and was in fact, an extension of it but is now separate and autonomous.

1989

The communist regime in Hungary was overthrown and the same year witnessed a spectacular re-emergence of The Order, its continuation was officially ratified at a ceremony in Saint Stephen's Basilica, Budapest, in the presence of * the President's representative; the Prince Cardinal of Hungary and the Senior Protestant Bishop.

2001

Captain Gareth J. Green, CD was invested as a Knight in the International Knightly Order of St. George, in Rochester Cathedral, Kent, UK.  He was tasked to return to Canada and to commence the process of establishing the Order in Canada and the Americas.

2002

Canada - The process of establishing the Canadian Priory began.

03 March 2003

The Canadian Priory is consecrated at Christ Church – Niagara Falls – Ontario and The Chevalier Gareth J. Green, CD, KCStG is created the Prior of Canada. A ceremony of Investiture followed and 16 Knights and Dames were made members of the Canadian Priory.

28 May 2005

Canadian Grand Priory is created.

29 Oct 2005

Toronto Priory formally inaugurated and Priory Officers invested under the Priorship of The Chevalier Charles R. Hill, KCStG.

20 Oct 2006

The International Knightly Order of St. George-Canadian Corporation is granted charity status by the Canada Revenue Agency - Reg. # 81106 0672 RR0001.

02 June 2006

The Magisterial Council of The Order adopts The Chief Of The Defence Staff Military Families Fund as one of its main charities recipients.

02 Sept 2007

Presentation of first annual cheque to the Chief of the Defence Staff of Canada in support of the CDSMFF.

18 Sept 2007

Inaugural meeting of the Board of Trustees of The International Knightly Order of St. George Charitable Foundation.

02 Feb 2008

The Order in North America becomes independent from European Governance.

04 Oct 2008

Inauguration and Investiture Ceremony of Wainwright-Alberta Commandarie

13 Nov 2008

General Rick Hillier formerly appointed Patron of The Order

Establishment of the Order in Canada and the United States of America

The History of The Order in Canada begins in 2000 at a ceremony held in the Palace of Westminster in London. During a dinner in the Peer’s dining room of the House of Lords, Captain (His Canadian armed forces rank at that time) Gareth Green was introduced to the Grand Master of The International Knightly Order of Saint George. From this meeting, Captain Green was then invited to become a member of The Order and was invested at Rochester Cathedral, Kent UK. in absentia in 2001.

The following year at the investiture ceremony in Rochester Cathedral in Kent, in 2002, Captain Green was commissioned as an Honourary Lieutenant Colonel in the Hungarian National Guard (Nato Forces) and was tasked by the Grand Master, to begin the process of opening a Priory of The Order, in Canada. The process of establishing the Canadian Priory began in June of 2002, and culminated in a consecration and investiture ceremony that was held in Christ Church, Niagara Falls, Ontario on March 1st, 2003. At this time, Christ Church is the Spiritual Home of The Order in Canada under the protection of the Chaplain of The Order in Canada, The Reverend The Chevalier Duncan A. Lyon, GCStG.

The Priory was officially consecrated by Brigadier General, Dr. The Chevalier David C. Mills, MKNL, GCStG, LL.D (Hon), the Deputy Grand Master and International Grand Chancellor of The Order. Lieutenant Colonel Gareth Green, MKN, KCStG, CD was appointed and officially mandated as the Prior of The Order in Canada, and he and General Mills installed the first postulants from Canada into the Canadian Priory. These numbered 16 ladies and gentlemen, from various walks of life, who were invested as Knights and Dames of The Order.

6 additional ceremonies of investiture have been held in Niagara Falls since 2003. On the 28 May 2005, at Rochester Cathedral in Kent – UK, the Grand Master of the Order declared that he had authorized the formation of the Canadian Grand Priory and that the Grand Prior of Canada, Brigadier General The Chevalier Gareth J. Green, MKN, CD, GCStG was also to be elevated to the office of Deputy Grand Master of The Order.

On 29 October 2005, the Grand Prior of Canada officiated at the Inauguration and Investiture ceremony of the opening of the Toronto Priory. Lieutenant Colonel The Chevalier Charles R. Hill, MKN, KCStG was invested as the Prior of Toronto during a magnificent ceremony held at St. George’s Eglinton United Church.

On the 4th of October 2008, Captain the Reverend Dana Dean, KCStG was invested as the Commander of the Wainwright- Alberta Commandrie.

On 29th of January, 2009, General Rick Hillier agreed to become the Patron of the International Knightly Order of St. George – Grand Priory of Canada and The Americas