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Picture of St. Blaze, their Patron.^ This Order was atthe height, when the Armenian Kings of the Houfe ofLnzignan kept their Court in Aeon.
io. Knights of the Martyrs in Paleftine.
These took their Denomination from an Hofpital inPalefine, dedicated to St. Cofmus and St. Damianus,Martyrs ; where Acts of Charity were exercifed towardsSick Strangers. Their Profeffion obliged them to o-ther Works of Mercy, viz. to redeem Captives, andbury their Dead. They followed the Rule of St. Bafil,which was confirmed to them by Pope John XXII.There Badge was a Red Crofs, in the middle whereof,within a Circle, was the aforefaid Two Saints. Whenthey retir’d into Europe they changed into a Red Crofs,and St. Augnjlin's Rule.
ii. Knights of St. Catherine at Mount Sinai.
This Order was inftituted, A. D. io<53. under thePatronage of St. Catherine, whofe Body was there de-pofited in the Church of the Monaftery erected and de-dicated to her Name. Their firft Inftitution was toguard the faid Sepulchre, to fecure Travellers, defendthe Grecian Pilgrims, and to relieve them with Hofpita-lity. Their Habit was White, and they lived under theRule of St. Baft the Great, vowing conjugal Chaftity,and Obedience to the Abbot of this Monaftery, whowas their Superior. But when the Turly obtained thefeCountries, thefe Knights were ill treated and driven a-way, and the Order almoft abolished ; neverthelefsfome Shadow remains for fuch as travel to vifit theHoly Sepulchre at Jerufalem , do now and then pals tothis Monaftery at Mount Sinai, where in imitation ofthe Padre Guardian of Jerufalem, the principal Monk inthis Covent makes them Knights of St. Catherine overher Tomb, with the lik'e Queftions and Formulary asufed at the Holy Sepulchre. Thefe Knights now wearupon the left fide of their White Habit the Crofs of Je-nifalem, and Inftrument of St. Catherine's Martyrdom;but according to others, the middle of the Wheel ispierced with a Sword. i z.