Our History
The Order of St John traces its history back over 1,000 years. Here are a few important dates in that history:
In 600 A.D. Pope Gregory asks Abbey Probus to set up a hostel to house Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem. It provided a place not only for the pilgrims to shelter, but also to get attention on any injuries sustained. The hostel was burnt down in the year 1009 by Caliph El Hakim 'the ruthless'.
In 1099 A.D. Christian forces recaptured Jerusalem. The hostel was re-established, and Blessed Gerard (a Benedictine monk from Montague, France), was put in charge. The hostel now included a hospital for wounded crusaders and sick pilgrims, and Gerard received them, giving treatment for the wounded. It is in this year, to promote, maintain and perpetuate this work that Gerard founded the Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, or what we today simply know as the Order of St John.
1923 A.D. St John Ambulance is introduced in Kenya, with the first ‘Division' being formed within the Kenya Police in 1925.
1929 A.D. Kenya is formally recognized as a district of St John. Sir Cavendish is appointed commissioner, with Sir Rhodes as his deputy.
1959 A.D. St John Ambulance in Kenya is formally created by an Act of Parliament, Cap 259 of the Laws of Kenya.
The mottoes of the Order
The Order of St John has two mottoes that sum up its objects and purposes. They are Pro-Fide, for the faith and Pro Utilitate Hominum, for the service of mankind.
Pro-Fide, the first great principle of the Order, calls for all that makes for the spiritual and moral strengthening of mankind;
Pro-Utilitate Hominum, the second great principle, calls for the encouragement and promotion of all works of humanity and charity for the relief of persons in sickness, distress, suffering or danger without distinction of race, class or religion.
The Eight-pointed Cross:
Perhaps the most interesting and lasting connection to our history, the 8-pointed cross can be traced back to the very beginning of the Order of St John when Blessed Gerard founded the Order. Blessed Gerard and his Benedictine monks chose to have as their ‘uniform' the flag of a tiny republic south of Naples, Italy called Amalfi, in gratitude for having purchased land for a group of Benedictine monks.
Due to the Knights' long association with Malta, the cross came to be referred to as the Maltese Cross.
The lion and the unicorn were added to the Cross in 1888 when the Order was granted a royal Charter by Queen Victoria. This was mainly to differentiate it from the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, which, since we share a history with, we share the Cross with as well.