5. The Order of the Holy Sepulchre: Survival by Transformation
Established in 1099 to protect the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the Order of the Holy Sepulchre’s military role diminished after the Crusades. Following the loss of Jerusalem, the order reinvented itself as a purely honorific Catholic institution. Today, it focuses on supporting the Christian presence in the Holy Land through charitable works and spiritual activities. Its headquarters are in Rome, with the Church of St. Onofrio al Gianicolo serving as its center of spiritual activity (vatican.va). The order’s mission includes assisting the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and other Christian communities in the region.
