206 Tours would like to congratulate Milanka Lachman, President and founder of 206 Tours, for being elevated to Lady Commander in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem!
This Roman Catholic Order of Knighthood has operated under the protection of the Pope since the Middle Ages. Its mission today is the strengthening Catholics’ beliefs and values; to sustain and aid the charitable, cultural and social works of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land; and to protect the rights of Christians in the Holy Land.
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| Milanka Lachman, Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Charlie Lachman (Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York) |
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| Sandra Lippold, Milanka Lachman, Archbishop Timothy Dolan, and Charlie Lachman, (Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York) |
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| Archbishop Edwin O'Brien & Charlie Lachman (Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, Pro-Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem) |
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| Archbishop Edwin O'Brien & Milanka Lachman (Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, Pro-Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem) |
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| Sandra Lippold, Milanka Lachman, Msgr. James McNamara, Bishop William Murphy, and Charlie Lachman |
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The origins of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem date back to the First Crusade when its leader, Godfrey de Bouillon, liberated Jerusalem. As part of his operations to organise the religious, military, and public bodies of the territories, he founded the Order of Canons of the Holy Sepulchre.
According to accounts of the Crusades, in 1103 the first King of Jerusalem, Baldwin I, assumed the leadership of this canonical order, and reserved the right for himself and his successors to appoint Knights to it, should the Patriarch be absent or unable to do so.
In 1496, Pope Alexander VI created the office of Grand Master of the Order, and the office vested in the papacy. The office of Grand Master remained vested in the papacy until 1949. Since then a cardinal has been grand master. The Pope is the Sovereign of the Order, and it enjoys the protection of the Holy See and has its legal seat at Vatican City.
Today, the Order is represented in almost every country in the world where there is a large Catholic community and appropriate conditions for activities that will allow it to achieve its objectives. To be granted membership into this prestigious order is an incredible honor! We hope you will join us in congratulating Milanka in this truly blessed induction!
For information about the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, visit both the Vatican's and their official webpage:
