Portuguese Templars Gather in Tomar for National Convent
The National Convent of the Sovereign and Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem Universal (OSMTHU) was held in the city of Tomar on November 29 and 30. This major assembly — equivalent to a Convention — brought together the two branches of the Order, the Secular and the Sovereign, to review the year 2025 and plan the administrative and liturgical work for 2026. Members from across the country, mainland and islands, converged on Tomar, the spiritual seat of the Portuguese Templars and the central beacon of a mission that, in the current cycle of the Grand Priory of Portugal, spans more than three uninterrupted decades.
International developments have given the Lusitanian observance of the Palaprat branch of the Order an increasingly prominent role, highlighted by the Declaration of Confirmation promulgated during the Convent. At the same time, humanitarian work through the Templar Corps International has intensified, establishing ever higher standards for the Order’s service to the world.
During the Convent, eight new Secular Knights were armed, and new Grand Officers and Preceptors were appointed, extending the Order’s structures throughout national territory and establishing new nuclei beyond Portugal’s borders.
Liturgical ceremonies were held with great solemnity and strong participation. The Feast of Saint Andrew — patron of Scotland, and of deep biblical relevance as the figure who bridges the discipleship of the Old Testament and the New — was also remembered as the date of the passing of the poet Fernando Pessoa, an essential reference and source of meditation for the Lusitanian Templar observance. The spiritual support of the Convent was provided by Bishop Fr+ Luis Teixeira Cardoso, representing Patriarch Tau Vincent II, who sent the following message of greeting:
To the Grand Priory of Portugal and to all Brothers and Sisters of the Temple gathered in Tomar, grace and peace be with you.
On this Feast of Saint Andrew, the First Called, you gather at a place where history, devotion, and the living current of the Temple meet. Andrew stands at the threshold of the Gospel. He is the disciple who bridges what came before to what is yet to come. He is the one who carries the wisdom of the old faith into the dawn of the new covenant. For those who walk the Templar path, he is the Patron of transition, of exile, of survival, and of continuity.
The legends tell us that when the Order was attacked, part of the Templar fleet sailed from Normandy and survived upon the shores of Scotland and Portugal. Whether history or symbol, the spirit remains the same. The saltire of Saint Andrew became for many a sign that the work of the Temple could never be extinguished. It survived in the hearts of those who understood that the Temple is not merely stone or structure but a living flame. It survived through those who carried the Rule, the virtues, and the sacred charge into new lands and new generations.
In these days of your Convent, you enter into that same movement of continuation. The deliberations of the Magisterial Council, the decisions about the extended electoral period, the plans for renewed Preceptories and for work in England, all belong to this living current. You are preserving the stability of the Order while preparing space for its growth. This is precisely the vocation of Saint Andrew, who stood between one age and another with the clarity of one who listens for the call of the Master.
The octagon that joins the saltire of Saint Andrew to the Greek pattée of the Temple is not merely a geometric insight. It is the symbol of resurrection and renewal. It is the shape of the baptistery, the place where old life gives way to new life. It is the shape of the great chapter houses where vows were professed and lives were consecrated. It is the sign of the eighth day, the day beyond the cycle of time. This is the day on which the Temple rises again.
On Sunday, you will renew your faith in the liturgical celebration and honor Saint Andrew in the Mass. You will remember the exile of the Order and the fidelity of those who carried the work forward. You will receive new brothers into the Order and strengthen the chain of spiritual descent. May these rites deepen your identity as guardians of the Living Temple.
I also wish to express my joy that plans are underway for the formal registration of the Old Templar Church in Portugal and for the beginning of instruction to prepare new brethren for the service of the altar and the sacramental life. It will be an honor for the Church to walk beside you as shepherd and companion, strengthening the spiritual foundation that has always belonged to the Temple.
Now, receive this blessing:
May Christ the Eternal Master guide your steps in truth.
May the Holy Spirit fill you with wisdom, unity, and courage.
May Saint Andrew, the First Called, teach you to hear the voice of God with a ready heart.
May the memory of the Templar forebears who endured exile and preserved the flame of the Temple inspire your service in the present day.
May the saltire of Andrew and the cross of the Temple form the octagon of renewal within your hearts, so that the Light entrusted to you may shine without fear.
And may the Most High bless this Convent in Tomar, your deliberations, your celebrations, and all who will be received into the Order.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Tau Vincent II, Phillip Garver, Patriarch of the Old Templar Church
The two days of intense work concluded with a fraternal Gala Dinner held in the Study Hall of the Convent of Christ, adjacent to the Cloister of the Ravens. Joined by family and guests, the newly received Brothers and long-standing members of the Order shared old stories, recalled much of the intertwined history between the Grand Priory and the Convent of Christ and the city of Tomar, and extended the evening in warm fellowship.
The fact that the following day was a national holiday added to the celebration, as the Restoration was commemorated, naturally bringing to mind King Sebastian and the Sebastianist tradition that so deeply enriches the theme of Spiritual Chivalry.
A transformative gathering — two days of preparation for the years ahead — in which the projects presented consolidated the secure and innovative path that the Grand Priory of Portugal of the OSMTHU has imprinted upon Lusitanian observance over the last 30 years.
