Report on the Conferring Ceremony of the International Knightly Order of St. George 24th April 2005, Dunaújváros / HUNGARY

On the 24th April 2005 the International Knightly Order of St. George was conferring new Dames and Knights in Dunaújváros / HUNGARY during a public Investiture.

Prof. George POPPER, GCKM – Governor of the “Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta, F.A.P.” and Dr. Róbert HORVÁTH – Knight of Malta were present at the ceremony as Honorary Guests.

The Order of St George was founded 679 years ago on the 23rd April 1326 in Visegrád / Hungary by King Károly Róbert (Robert Charles), great-grandson of Charles of Anjou, as a royal and military order of chivalry and it was the first non-ecclesiastic established Knight Order in Europe. It is a lay order dedicated to the name of the Blessed Trinity under the particular patronage of St George (patron of chivalry). The original foundation documents are preserved in the Hungarian National Archives in Budapest.

The Order plays an important part in Hungarian State traditions and since the year 1989 an annual investiture ceremony is held each April in Hungary. The Insignia of The Order of Saint George incorporates the Crown of St. Stephen, surmounting a cross, centred with a depiction of St. George. The Crown is the highest legal symbol of Governmental authority used in modern day Hungary.

During the Ceremony the following IBSSA members were honoured to be conferred Dames and Knights by Grand Master: HE Major General Dr János v KARÁSZY-KULIN MVO GCStG GCLJ HonLLD HonHLD and Grand Prior of Hungary (Deputy Grand Master): HE Major Gen. Chev. György KELLER MKN GCStG, as a form of recognition for significant contributions to national life:

• Dr. Leif ALMÖ (Sweden) Chairman of Internet Department
• Dr. Alexandr CACH (Czech Republic) Country Representative of IBSSA for Czech Republic
• Dr. András CZAPÁRY-MARTINCSEVICS (HUN) Chairman of Technical Department
• Dr. Ferenc CSERI (HUN) Security Director
• Ms. Erika MACSÁRI (HUN) General Secretary of Central Administration Office
• Mr. Gyula MIKLÓS (HUN) Patronising Member of IBSSA
• Dr. Levente MOLNOS (HUN) Secretary of Chinological Department
• Mr. József MUJZER (HUN) Full Member of IBSSA
• Mrs. Éva NAGY BALOGH (HUN) Secretary of IBSSA Office for Hungary
• Mr. György PALÁSTHY (HUN) International Coordinator of IBSSA for CIS
• Dr. Jenõ PRÁTH (HUN) Full Member of IBSSA
• Mr. György B. RÓZSA (HUN) Secretary of Public Relations and Media Department

The appointed Knights and Dames were invested with the insignia and mantle indicating their state by the Grand Master. At investitures the traditional habit is worn, a hooded, long-sleeved black robe, which bears on the left breast a red shield emblazoned with a silver double-barred cross and the letters IVISHFS (In Veritate Iustus Sum Huic Fraternali Societati - In truth, I am faithful to this brotherly society). Within the Order, the title Chevalier or Dame and the postnominals KStG or DStG are adopted upon investiture.

The Mayor of Dunaújváros City gave an official reception in honour of the Dames and Knights and after the official ceremony all guests were invited to a Gala Dinner at the “Duna” Restaurant. The Hungarian TV and media publicised the event in significant extent.

26th April 2005

IBSSA HQ