18. October 2014, Chateau Bela
Report by Chev. Josef-Maria Gebel | |
Pictures by Chev. Hannes Hochmuth Pressephotographer |
A delegation of the Lazarus Union Knighthood of Honour (Chev. Christoph Ptak, Chev. Hannes Hochmuth, Chev. Josef.Maria Gebel) led by Grand Master Senator h.c. Wolfgang Steinhardt followed an invitation from the “SOVEREIGN ORDER OF SAINT JOHN OF JERUSALEM, KNIGTS OF MALTA“.
After a leisurely trip through Hungary we arrived in best autumn weather at the location “Château Bela“ in Slovakia.
I want to mention at this place that Lady Ann Popper and Chev. George Popper are members of our Knighthood of Honour since its first investiture at the Wiener Hofburg.
After a jovial lunch the first agenda item was due, the “general chapter of the knights and postulants“.
Our president and Union Commander presented the Lazarus Union and its new status as an “NGO in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations“ after which a cooperation treaty was signed between the FEDERATION MEDICAL AID International and the LAZARUS UNION.
Then a Catholic mass was celebrated in the chapel of the Château Bela. Here it became apparent that when people from various nations come together speaking many different tongues, the Latin mass rites allow all participants to follow the celebration.
After the mass the investiture ceremony was held in the orangery of Château Bela. In the course of this investiture our Grand Master Senator h.c. Wolfgang Steinhardt was appointed “Knight Commander“ of the “Sovereign Order of Cypros – Knights of Sword and Silence”.
Lady Ann Popper perfectly moderated the dignified ceremony.
To express the mourning for our departed comrade secretary general Chev. Erich Kadlec, we did not participate in the following gala dinner and ball but commenced our trip back home.