A visible presence in Antioch and in any surrounding lands with a hospice. The knights Vigilants is a force consisting of a civilian wing and a militant wing originally conceived to defend pilgrims and those treating injured pilgrims. Now with a home in St. Simeon, the order's military wing is slowly overshadowing its more softer side, but continues to maintain capable hospices throughout the north of the holy lands. Fusing crude western medical techniques with newly (re)discovered sciences from the east, the Vigilants are intent on providing superb care for the injured and fighting for those in need.
Induction to the order is limited to men from Europe, to be a knight Vigilant is to be a premier warrior, a basic requirement for those seeking membership to its military wing requires a man to already be a knight. An interested knight must also have received permission from his former master to join the order. Lay and married people are also permitted to join but are relagated into a deferential rank below a knight. Married lay men must also have received permission from his wife and a local priest to join. Knights seeking to join, must not be married to anyone. Oath taking for everyone seeking to join is a public affair, made in a hospice in the midst of the ailing and the injured, to remind him of his duty.
Knights are further required to abstain from sex, or excessive contact with females. They are forbidden from sleeping in the same building and room, where there is a woman. Knights are also required to wear the order's color: Red and white at all times, special sleeping garments are provided.
Non Western European members of the order, are organized into Turkopole units; a Latin interpretation of the Greek auxiliary force. While foreign in element, the Turkopoles are required to be Christians and are either native Christians, Armenians, or half Turks brought up in the Latin right of Christianity.
Women and the Order
Female membership is permitted, but restricted to its civilian wing. The defense of the women caring for the injured was the primary impetus for the creation of the order, and remains at its heart. Lay women, married or otherwise are permitted to join, but in a contract basis agreed between a representative of the order; a mandatory nominal donation is required - a symbol of the expectation between the 'little sisters' of the order and the knights who must protect them.
|
Order of the Knights Vigilants in Antioch
Reply With Quote
