Sowing Seeds of Peace and Hope in the Holy Land

A message from the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem

By David Fofanoff

For the Equestrian Order of the

Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem

Recently all eyes have been fixed on the Middle East and the Holy Land. Once again war has consumed the land and its people which, for almost two millennia have been the central focal point of the Earth’s three major monotheistic religions; Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Yet, amidst this fatal backdrop of conflict there is operating around the world, a group of Catholics who have been given a special and unique mission by our Holy

David Fofanoff

Father, the Pope. Their mission for the past one thousand years has been to cultivate a peaceful coexistence among the peoples of the Holy Land, to support the often overlooked Christians who call that land their ancestral home, and to preserve the Holy Places at the heart of our faith.

This group is the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (EOHSJ), and it is the only surviving ancient Chivalric Order of Knighthood recognized by the Holy See. Our name describes our precious task – to ensure that the Gospel message of the Holy Sepulchre of our Lord Jesus in Jerusalem continues to be proclaimed and preserved for each generation.

Today’s EOHSJ has almost 30,000 members around the world who work together to fulfill this mission and to serve the Catholic Church in the Holy Land. These members are arranged geographically into Lieutenancies, and within the Northwestern Lieutenancy (which is responsible for the Pacific Northwest region) and living within the Diocese of Boise there are around 35 Knights and Dames. They are your fellow parishioners located across the state of Idaho from Coeur d’Alene in the northern panhandle, down to Boise, and the surrounding communities in the South, West, and East.

The Northwestern Lieutenancy has an additional special focus of providing support for the students, families, and staff of Bethlehem University, the only Catholic institution of higher education in Palestine. Recently Knights and Dames of our Lieutenancy had the honor of speaking via teleconference with current and former students at the University who benefit directly from the Order’s patronage. We found the students who are right in the heart of the war zone full of thanksgiving and a living faith, with hope for their futures. They are scared, yet they persevere in their hardship because for them, the Holy Land is not a news story, it is their home, and they are encouraged that other people genuinely care about them.

Bishop Jaime Soto, Grand Prior of the Northwestern Lieutenancy, formally creates a new Knight during the Solemn Investiture Mass of 2024. (Courtesy photo)

For us in America, it was both humbling and an inspirational conversation.

Most of the time you do not get a chance to visit directly with those you support and see and hear in real time how much of a difference your faithful service and sacrifices can make in improving just one person’s life. We take heart in knowing that these young adults are staying in the Holy Land to pass on their own gifts in faith to their neighbors, to keep Faith alive amid sadness, and I (along with my brother and sister Knights and Dames) am proud to be a part of their faith journey and their lives.

Being called to be a Knight or Dame of the Order is both a personal commitment of faithful service and a special honor of our Universal Church. Accepted members are knighted under authority delegated by the Pope, invested with a solemn and ancient charge, and expected to faithfully carry out their commitments to this calling.

They are to be of service to those who most need our help to live their own lives of faith in communion with their neighbors in God’s Holy Land.

Membership in the Order is open to all baptized and practicing Roman Catholics (clergy and lay persons) who feel called to undertake this mission and who meet other requirements for formation and admission.

I have been a Knight of the Order for 13 years and each day I give thanks to God that he has allowed me to serve His People in such a noble cause and with such a committed spiritual family.

If this message has awakened something in your spirit, I invite you to learn more about the Order in Idaho by visiting our website at https://eohsjnwusa.org or by reaching out to me directly via email at dafofanoff@eohsjnwusa.org or another Knight or Dame you may already know.

Whether or not you feel called, we invite you to pray with us and Holy Mary, Our Lady, Queen of Palestine for the full measure of Peace, Hope and Joy to return to the Holy Land.

A small group of Knights and Dames from the Northwestern Lieutenancy gather before the Solemn Investiture Mass at the 2024 Annual Meeting in Vancouver, Washington. (Courtesy photo)