Report on the Knight Investiture 15th – 17th November 2007, Budapest / Hungary


Report on the Knight Investiture
15th – 17th November 2007, Budapest / Hungary

The Hungarian Grand Priory of the „Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta, Federation of the Autonomous Priories” organised its 10th spectacular Knight Ceremony on the 16th November 2007 at the Royal Palace in Gödöllő / Hungary.

Prior to the Knight Investiture on the 15th November (Thursday) the Order organised an official meeting of the Grand Magisterial Council. The forthcoming program was the “General Chapter of Knights and Postulants” – where Knights, Dames and the new Candidates participated together with their guests and it started at 6.00 PM.

His Most Eminent Highness Prince José Manuel Costa da Veiga COSMELLI – the Grand Master – Regent of the Knight Order greeted everybody and spoke a little about the history of Knighthood. Then he summarised the activity of the Government in the last months as well as the decisions of the Grand Magisterial Council and announced the program for the next year. At 7.30 PM a special event was organised, the “Watch of the Arms”, which was held especially for Postulants but all the existing Knights could attend. In the evening at 8 PM the official banquet was organised for welcoming the Postulants.

All official programs of the Knight Order and the banquet took place at the Casa de la Música Cultural Entertaining Centre.

The next day, on the 16th November, the Knight Ceremony started at 15.30 and was organised – as usual – in the Royal Palace of Gödöllő.

During the Knight Investiture the following high-ranking leaders of international and national organisations, successful businessmen were conferred Knight of Malta by His Most Eminent Highness Prince José Manuel Costa da Veiga COSMELLI – the Grand Master – Regent of the „Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta, Federation of the Autonomous Priories”:

S.D. Prince Wolfgang Samuel Conrad von HEIDENDORF-MOHNSSEN (GER), GCKM
Dr. Attila CSENGERY (HUN)
Mr. Sándor István FEKETE (HUN)
Mr. János FERGER (HUN)
Mr. András FISCHL (HUN)
Ms. Linda KRENOVSKA (CZE)
Ms. Ágnes KRIZSÓ (HUN)
Mr. István PETRÁS (HUN)
Mr. Joachim Ferdinand SCHWARZ (GER)
Mr. Csaba SZAMOSVÖLGYI (HUN)
Mr. Martin ZSARNÓCZKY (HUN)
Mr. Bertalan ZSÁMBOKI (HUN)

Appointments:

Sir Zoltán MÁGA, KM Good-Will Ambassador of The Federation
Lady Erika DEBRECENI, DM Chief of Security of the Magisterial House of the Federation

Advancements of grade:
Sir Tiberiu DEKANY (ROM) was promoted to Grand Cross Knight of Malta (GCKM)
Sir József PINTÉR (HUN) was promoted to Grand Cross Knight of Malta (GCKM)
Sir Gyula DÉVAI KOVÁCS (HUN) was promoted to Knight Commander (KCM)
Sir Csaba KERTÉSZ (HUN) was promoted to Knight Commander (KCM)
Sir Zoltán SCHVÁB (HUN) was promoted to Knight Commander (KCM)

Public recognition for valuable services rendered to the Federation by various persons:
Mr. Zoltán BÖSZÖRMÉNYI Medal of Merit from the Hungarian Grand Priory

SOVEREIGN ORDER OF CYPRUS – CEREMONY

The Grand Master – Regent gave a short explanation about the Sovereign Order of Cyprus – Knights of Sword and Silence, and then invited His Grace Sir Prof. George POPPER – Grand Executive Chancellor of the Order of Cyprus to conduct the Knighthood Ceremony.

The following people became the new Knights and Dame of the Order of Cyprus:

Sir Abel de LACERDA BOTELHO, GCKM (POR)
Sir Eriks GRINBERGS, KCM (LAT)
Lady Erika DEBRECENI, DM (HUN)
Dr. István FODROS (HUN)
Dr. Fritz WENDLAND (GER)

On the Knight Ceremony and during all official programs the following high-ranking personalities supported and stood by the Grand Master – Regent of the Order:
His Grace Count Sir George POPPER, KGC (HUN) – Lieutenant General, Grand Prior of the Hungarian Langue
His Excellency Count Fra. Abel de LACERDA BOTELHO, GCKM (POR) – President of the Magisterial Court, Grand Prior of the Lusitan Langue
His Excellency Baron Sir Eric Van de WALL, GCKM (NED) – Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Bailiff
His Excellency Sir Gyula BRAUN, GCKM (HUN) – Minister of Foreign Affairs
His Excellency Sir József PINTÉR, GOKM (HUN) – Minister of Technological Innovations
His Excellency Sir Paolo CUPIDO, KM (ITA) – Minister of Social Infrastructures

Honorary Guests:
  • Prince Peter Maximilian HEIDENDORF – Grand Chancellor of the Sovereign Order Bene Merenti
  • His Excellency Csaba KIRÁLY, KCM – Grand Master of the “Hungarian Order”
  • Dame Zsuzsanna KOVÁCS VÉRTES – Hungarian Grand Prior of International Knightly Order of St. George
  • Sir Andrej SCHLEINING – Grand Chancellor of the Pro Concordatia Populórum International Order
  • Dr. László LIPP – priest of the Roman Catholic Church 
  • Rev. Levente B. JUHÁSZ – hon. provost bishop of the Protestant Church 
  • Mr. Ernő LAZAROVITS – foreign affairs leader of the Hungarian Jewish Religious Community
  • I. ANKH – leader of the “ANKH” Church of Eternal Life
Closing the Ceremony the newly inaugurated Knights, Dames, all other officials of the Order and the guests attended the Gala Banquet at the “FORTUNA” Restaurant in Budapest.

As the result of the cooperation among several entities the International Conference on Family and Urban Security took place after the Knighthood Ceremony, on the 17th November at the Teleki-Dégenfeld Castle in Szirák.
During the conference the following events were organised as well:
  • PRO-DEO State University and IBA Ceremony
  • Signing of Agreements on Cooperation

After the all-day conference program at 7.30 PM the „II. International SOIRÉE-BALL of Knights and Bodyguards” took place in the Ballroom of MARRIOTT Hotel in Budapest, where all the newly inaugurated Knights and Dames as well as our honorary guests and all members of the Knight Order had the possibility to get acquainted with each other and dance all night long.

20th December 2007

IBSSA HQ