The Order, founded on the values and legacy of the old Order of Sion, was revived, in a completely independent manner, on July 11, 2014, the liturgical Feast of Saint Benedict of Nursia, in St. Gallen, in the Swiss Alps, thanks to the work of Bishop His Excellency Monsignor Rodolfo González Pérez, and the Witness Bishops, His Excellency Monsignor Alistair Bate and His Excellency Monsignor Bruno Pedrini.The lines of descent of a chivalric order can be of three types, namely Templar, Apostolic, and Monarchical.The continuity of the Order is based on the succession of at least one of the three lines of succession. The Monarchical line of succession, if possessed, can be handed down and transmitted within the Order directly from the Prince Regent and Grand Master (PRSGM) to his designated successor. This line, if not transmitted by the PRSGM, can be subsequently acquired from princely and noble houses. In the presence of a Monarchical line of descent, the Sovereign Grand Master (SGM) may, at his discretion, add the qualification of Prince Regent (PRSGM) to his title.The Templar line of succession, the patrimony of our Venerable Order, through the most precious concession of His Excellency Most Reverend Monsignor Alistair Bate, can be handed down and transmitted within the Order directly from the SGM (Sovereign Grand Master) to his designated successor.In the event of non-transmission by the SGM, it can be transmitted by the General Chapter of the Order through the life election of the new SGM.
The Apostolic line of succession can be transmitted and handed down through the Bishops of the Order or of another related Templar Chivalric Order.The Apostolic lineage transmitted from the Apostle James to all Bishops by divine succession has been recognized by the Council of Trent, according to which Bishops are the successors of the Apostles and their role is instituted directly by Jesus Christ.Through apostolic succession, which unites the Bishops of all times and places with the primitive Christian community of Jerusalem and with its founder Jesus, the depositum fidei (deposit of faith) is transmitted.As already highlighted, in 1804 several Frenchmen, including a former Catholic priest, Bernard Fabré-Palaprat (1777-1838), refounded the Order of the Temple, declaring that it was a continuation of the medieval Order of the Temple suppressed in 1312.Many former clerics joined the Order and the affiliated Church, the Eglise des Juanistas Chrétiens Primitifs (Church of the Primitive Christian Johannites), and it was influential in the revival of Catholicism and the Templar character.Several Churches and Orders, among which ours stands out, are proud to trace a pure apostolic and templar line of succession through this 19th-century neo-Templar movement, where Fabrè Palaprat assumed, in chronological order, the role of the 47th Grand Master of the Temple.
