Did you know the Order of St John was originally founded to run a hospital in Jerusalem?
Long before the clash of swords and the echo of armour came to define its legacy, the Order of St John began as a humble brotherhood devoted to healing. In the early 11th century, amidst the narrow, incense-scented streets of Jerusalem, a group of monks and lay brethren established a hospital near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Their mission was not warfare, but mercy — offering food, shelter, and medical care to pilgrims of all faiths who had travelled perilous roads to reach the sacred city. This hospital, remarkable for its time, accepted the wounded, the ill, and the poor with open arms, embodying a code of compassion that would remain at the heart of the Order even as it evolved into a powerful military and naval force in later centuries.