Members of the Order have a right to petition the Grand Knight to establish a local Commandery in their geographic area.
Local Commanderies are to be established with a minimum of five people. All members of the
Commandery must be Orthodox Christians, members of the Order, and an active member of a
local Orthodox parish in the region to which the Chapter is to be established.
Local Commanderies must have a clergy representative, preferably a Priest, but if not, a
Deacon who functions as Chaplain to the Commandery and swears in the Commandery Officers.
Each local Commandery is to establish a legally constituted not-for-profit
organization according to the laws of the country in which they exist.
A local Commandery and Grand Priory is to have its own statutes and/or bylaws for proper
governance. Such regulations need to be approved by the Grand Knight in consultation
with the Sovereign Council.
All statutes adopted must be consistent with the Constitution of the Order or any
Sovereign Decrees issued by the Grand Knight.
Local Commanderies are expected to do their absolute best to assist all local canonical
Orthodox missions, parishes, and monasteries in the region they operate regardless of
jurisdiction. Assistance can be financial, material, or donated time.
Commanderies of the Order must meet regularly, once per-month, or as often as may be
necessary to carry out Chapter business.
All Commandery meetings are to be opened with the Lord’s Prayer and Nicene Creed
and closed with the Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos and Troparion to the Holy and
Life Giving Cross.
Opening Prayers
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light; true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father; by Whom all things were made; Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from the heavens, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man; And was crucifird for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried; And arose again on the third day according to the Scriptures; And ascended into the heavens, and sits at the right hand of the Father; And shall come again with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life; Who proceeds from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spoke by the prophets.
In One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.
I look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen.
Closing Prayers
Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos
It is truly meet to bless you, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, without defilement you gave birth to God the Word. True Theotokos we magnify you!
Troparion to the Holy and Life Giving Cross
O Lord, save Your people, and bless Your inheritance. Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries. And by virtue of Your Cross, preserve Your habitation.
Further information please refer to the attached document: