International Peace Conference

Excerpt from a letter from the International Chancellor OSMTHU, Fr+ Luis de Matos to the Knights in Conclave in Croatia, 2024]:

“During last year we have witnessed once again how fragile PEACE is in our current world. Nations are at war with each other, with little regard for civilians or the rules of Just War established long ago. The fire of rage and destruction tears flesh apart like pieces of a thin white flag, whose tatters lie on the ground, ripped to shreds.

Europe, Africa and the Middle East now follow a dangerous path that drags everyone in, that polarizes every discussion and turns every subject into an exercise in annihilation and zero-sum gains. Defeating the adversary is not enough. Blowing the enemy out of existence is the goal. Survival at the expense of somebody else’s death. One would think that very few lessons from the past were learned.

The Order does not meddle in politics. However, we do feel the pain and the sorrow caused by war. We do believe, like our historical Masters, the Knight Templars of Hugh de Payens, that war is only the imbalanced state of being between ever growing moments of peace. War always transitions to peace in the end. And, with that belief in mind, our Order should start working on the post-war rebuilding efforts, right NOW.

When the Lords of Rage retire, when the lethal forces subside and light opens its way through the dusty air and the dark thick smoke left behind starts to dissipate, there will be children, mothers, girls, boys, men and women whose shadowy shapes will emerge from the rubble, in need of help. We should start cleaning our boots, preparing our symbolic horses, dress in white and hold our Beauceant high. We should organize, despite our differences or lineages, Masters or disputes, as a sole Templar body and be ready to shine the light expected when the darkness retreats. And it WILL retreat.

So, my Brothers, seep from the chalice of brotherly bond, eat the bread of friendship that tightens our fraternal chains and keeps us together and safe, but prepare to be ready. Prepare the journey to the valleys of the Dnieper, to caravan to the plains of Gaza. When the mantle of peace descends upon the suffering souls, may the Templar mantle be the visible substance of God’s mercy.

The Magisterial Council of the OSMTHU will make its contribution.

Will you make yours?

Pax in Excelsis

Luis de Matos

Chancellor

Eques a Flamula Veritatis

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International Conference – Order of the Temple – Spiritual Chivalry – Templarism, November 2019 – 2024

This is the information page for the International Conference that takes place in Vila Nova da Barquinha (Almourol), Portugal, in accordance to the Protocol signed in October 2019 between the Municipality, the OSMTHU and the OSMTJ.

In 2021 the Conference took place in situ and online between November 13 and 14.

Check the news posts for the Conference: