Report on the Conferring Ceremony of the International Knightly Order of St. George 25th April 2004, Székesfehérvár / HUNGARY

On the 25th April 2004 the International Knightly Order of St. George was conferring new Dames and Knights in Székesfehérvár / HUNGARY during a public Investiture.

The Order of St George was founded over 675 years ago on 23rd April 1326 in Vis egrád / 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 nonecclesiastic 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, as a form of recognition for significant contributions to national life:

• Dr. Anna POPPER (HUN) Chairman of Event Management and Protocol Department
• Mrs. Ilona NÉMETH (HUN) Corporate Member of IBSSA
• Mrs. Barbara FEJES (HUN) Corporate Member of IBSSA
• Dr. Joseph POLYÁK (AUS) Honorary Founding Member of IBSSA
• Prof. Giacomo S. BERTOLETTI (ITA) Honorary Member, Country Representative of IBSSA for Italy
• Dr. István ELEK (HUN) Honorary Member of IBSSA
• Dr. Eric Van De WALL (NED) Chairman of IBSSA Board of Directors
• Mr. Gyozo ENGAMBE (HUN) International Coordinator of IBSSA for Congo Brazzaville
• Mr. István MACSÁRI (HUN) Associated Organisation Member
• Dr. Olivér L. RÓZSA (USA) Instructor
• Dr. György KISS (HUN) Regional Representative of IBSSA for Western Hungary
• Dr. László KOVÁCS (HUN) Security Manager
• Dr. Sándor BERÉNYI (HUN) Full Member of IBSSA
• Dr. László SZABÓ (HUN) Full Member of IBSSA
• Mr. Zsolt SZENDREI (HUN) Corporate Member of IBSSA
• Mr. Lajos TÖRÖK (HUN) Corporate Member of IBSSA

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.

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 awarded the following IBSSA officials and handed over

Honorary Sword to

• Prof. George POPPER, KStG (HUN) - President of IBSSA, civil guard brigadier general

Crown-adorned Cross to

• Mr. István MACSÁRI, KStG (HUN) - Associated Organisation Member, police colonel
• Mr. István LÁSZLÓ, KStG (HUN) - Corporate Member of IBSSA, civil guard colonel

Honorary Cross to

• Mrs. Ilona NÉMETH, DStG (HUN)
• Mrs. Barbara FEJES, DStG (HUN)
• Dr. Ferenc VALU, KStG (HUN)
• Mr. István FEJES, KStG (HUN)

Honorary Knife to

• Dr. István NÉMETH, KStG (HUN)

General Dr. László CSEREKLEI, KStG (HUN) - Vice President of the Hungarian Fire-Brigade Union was awarded with a Crownadorned Cross on the sash of the International Knightly Order of St. George.

The Hungarian and United Kingdom Grand Priories are expanding rapidly with many members being added at each annual investiture. The Canadian Priory was formally established at a ceremony in Christ Church, Niagara Falls on 1st March 2003. Members in the USA and Ireland are likely to have their own national jurisdictions in the near future.

The Grand Master of The Order is His Excellency Major General Dr. v. J.D. Karaszy-Kulin, MVO, GCStG., GCLJ., LL.D (Hon). He is a patriot and hero of the Hungarian people, remembered for his courage during the 1956 uprising against the Communist regime. The Grand Master resides in the United Kingdom and Governs The Order, assisted by Deputy Grand Masters together with the International Grand Chancellor, Secretary General, a Grand Prior and Priors and supporting officers in each of the Priories. Priories of The Order are established in Canada, Hungary and the United Kingdom. Future Priories are to be established in Ireland, Europe and North America (USA).

The Mayor of Székesfehérvár 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 St. Stephen Community Centre. The Hungarian TV and media publicised the event in significant extent.

29th April 2004
IBSSA HQ