Dame Yana Zakharchenko
7 Oct 2023
On 7th and 8th of October, the annual General Chapter of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy was hosted in Geneva
THIS IS THE HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR FOR THE DAMES AND KNIGHTS, MEMBERS OF THE HISTORIC AND CONSTANTLY EVOLVING KNIGHTLY FORCES OF THE ITALIAN ROYAL FAMILY. THIS OCCASION GATHERED MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY MEMBERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
The General Chapter of the Dynastic Orders of the House of Savoy is the annual meeting of all the Dames and Knights of the Dynastic Orders of the House of Savoy, who gather in the spirit of the glorious motto “Savoye, bonnes nouvelles”.
Thanks to the generosity and presence of many distinguished members, the Grand Chancellery, at the request of HRH the Grand Master Prince, was able to make a generous donation to support the paediatric surgery project of Mercy Ships, which is currently running in Sierra Leone.
On 7 October, the day began with the handing out of the diplomas of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus and the Order of Merit of Savoy. The ceremony took place in the hall of the President Wilson Hotel in the presence of a large number of honorees and their families and friends.
TT.RR.HH. Princes of Piedmont and Venice, Emmanuel Philibert and Clotilde of Savoy, entered the hall to the sound of the Royal March and was greeted with expressions of affection and devotion to the Dynasty. For the first time on such an occasion, he was accompanied by his eldest daughter, HRH Princess Vittoria of Savoy, Princess of Carignano. HE the Grand Chancellor and Knight of the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation, Johannes Theo Niederhauser, was also present and delivered a warm welcome speech.
At the end of the diploma ceremony, HRH Prince Emanuele Filiberto presided over the General Assembly of A.I.C.O.D.S., during which the milestones achieved by the Orders were highlighted, with over three million euros of value donated to charitable projects.
Later in the evening, the honoured guests and their families gathered again for the traditional gala dinner, which was held in the magnificent setting of the hall of the President Wilson Hotel. In addition to the above mentioned RR HH, TT RR HH Princess Maria Pia of Savoy Bourbon-Parma, Princess Elena of Yugoslavia and Prince Sergio of Yugoslavia, Knight of the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation, were present.
Proceeds from the gala were used to support for the fifth consecutive year a major paediatric surgery project in Africa run by Mercy Ships, a Swiss charity operating in more than 50 countries around the world, whose representatives took part in the gala to illustrate the organisation’s work.
Proceeds from the gala were used to support for the fifth consecutive year a major paediatric surgery project in Africa run by Mercy Ships, a Swiss charity operating in more than 50 countries around the world, whose representatives took part in the gala to illustrate the organisation’s work.
The flowers used for the gala evening were donated to the palliative oncology ward of the Belle Vue hospital in Collonge-Belle Rive, Geneva, by the volunteers of the Lovetherapyzero association.
On Sunday 8 October, a solemn Eucharistic celebration was held at the Abbey of St. Maurice d’Agaune in the Valais, which was presided over by the parish priest of the Congrégation des chanoines réguliers des saints Nicolas et Bernard de Mont-Joux, Mgr. Jean Pierre Voutaz. The service saw the participation of about 500 people.
Also present at the Abbey were HRH Prince Vittorio Emanuele, Grand Master of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy, and Princess Marina, who were warmly welcomed by everyone attending.
Following the eucharist, HE the Grand Chancellor announced the provisions by which HRH the Grand Master, in keeping with a long tradition and recognising the changing spirit of the times, has introduced women in the prestigious ranks of the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation.
After this, HRH the Grand Master personally presented the insignia of the Order to H.R.H. Princess Vittoria.
After the Holy Service, a charitable reception was held in the adjacent rooms of the Abbey’s collegiate building.
The Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy continue to reaffirm their global commitment, allocating more than three million euros to charitable causes. The goals the Orders have set themselves for next year are even more important and include the creation of additional Delegations and Vicariates and a strengthened communication strategy.
As we move forward, we are faced with many challenges in the pursuit of new charitable goals, striving to bring hope and dignity to those who need it the most.
PHOTO GALLERY Photographer Ave Kuluki ave_kuluki@hotmail.com