Who we are

The origin of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem began in the 11th century when merchants from Amalfi in Italy opened a hospital around 1048 in Jerusalem dedicated to its Patron, St. John the Baptist. The hospital complex once covered some 3.7 acres (1.5 hectares). This ancient facility had separate wings dedicated to treating different conditions with up to 4 experienced doctors qualified to examine urine, to diagnosis diseases and to assist with the prescription and administration of medicines. Thus, the beginning of triage. Archaeologists say that the hospital could handle up to 2,000 patients in an emergency.

Staffed by Christian monks it ministered to the sick and poor of all origins and faiths, Christian, Jew, and Muslim alike. In every ward nine servants were appointed to wait upon the sick and the poor, wash their feet and heads, cleanse their garments and bed linens, prepare the food they required and to give them fluids to maintain their hydration levels. These things and more contributed to a superior survival rate. OSJ was also noted for its advancement in surgical and medical techniques over the centuries. Their charity also included receiving and supporting abandoned children and they provided food, clothing, and shelter to the elderly and homeless. The hospital’s original connection to Amalfi is reflected in the adoption of the eight-pointed Amalfi cross as the emblem of the Order. Today, the Knights and Dames of the Order have a strong sense of its history and Hospitaller traditions.