As we announced previously, the Naples and Campania Delegation of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George held the third meeting of their Constantinian Formation Course on Thursday, July 3, 2025 at 6:30 pm in the meeting room of the former refectory of the convent of San Pasquale a Chiaia in Piazza San Pasquale 12 in Naples. It was led by Attorney Prof. Raffaele Strina, Knight of Merit, on the topic: The Orders of Chivalry. Civil Protection and Volunteering. The next meeting – a historical and informational one – of the Constantinian Formation Course will be on the history, religious spirit and purposes of the Order. It will take place on Thursday, September 25, 2025. The various formation lectures are divided into eleven Thursdays.
This third meeting – on the topic: The Orders of Chivalry. Civil Protection and Volunteering – was introduced by the Secretary General of the Delegation ad interim, Nob. Antonio Masselli, Knight of Jure Sanguinis, who introduced the speaker, conveyed greetings from the Delegate, and briefly recalled previous lectures. He then emphasized the need to make the Order increasingly operational, as HRH Prince Pedro of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria, Count of Caserta, and Grand Master of the Order, showed by his actions after the flood in Valencia in October 2024, following which he personally assisted the civil defense forces of the Kingdom of Spain.
The Course will conclude with the final lecture on April 2, 2026, close to the Pontifical Mass of St. George, which will be given by the Delegate for Naples and Campania, Count Gianluigi Gaetani dell’Aquila d’Aragona of the Dukes of Laurenzana, Neapolitan Patrician, Knight of Justice, who promoted this course, to provide an in-depth knowledge of the Sacred Constantinian Order. The Constantinian Formation Course is specifically designed for the new knights who will receive Investiture on September 12, 2025, during the Pontifical Mass in honor of Saint George, for the postulants who will receive it in 2026, and to those who wish to join the Order. This training is intended to ensure that they are “always ready to give an answer to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you. However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are spoken of badly, those who speak evil of your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame” (cf. 1 Peter 3:15-16). Participation in the Course is also recommended for all knights and dames already in the Order, who will find here ideas and information that may be of interest and useful to them.
The two previous presentations were (1) on the religious nature of the Order, given by the Chief Chaplain of the Delegation, Fra Sergio Galdi d’Aragona, OFM, Chaplain of Justice and (2) on the history of the Order, given by Attorney Nob. Giovanni Carlo Parente Zamparelli, Knight of Jure Sanguinis, and Attorney Stefano D’Ambrosio, Knight of Merit with Silver Star.
Lecture by Professor Raffaele Strina
The lecture began with a brief overview of the historical context of the birth of most Orders of Chivalry, especially the Crusades (which, by tradition, the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George predates by seven centuries). In this regard, it is useful to recall the duties the Orders have fulfilled since that time, which can be summarized in the expression tuitio fidei et obsequium pauperum. In particular, the values that distinguish the Orders are: defense of the faith, service to the needy, defense of the most vulnerable, sacrifice and dedication, and a spirit of solidarity and brotherhood.
This was followed by a discussion of the creation of the Civil Protection Department, which was established after its need was recognized following the damage caused by the 1980 Irpinia earthquake. This event highlighted the already widespread solidarity of fellow citizens, many of whom chose to travel independently to the affected areas to provide relief according to their capabilities. The Civil Protection Department’s fields of action are therefore: prevention, intervention, and restoration. Regarding this last phase, the speaker recalled his experience as a volunteer with the Order of Malta’s Italian Relief Corps (CISOM) in Amatrice, after the 2016 earthquake.
At the heart of Civil Protection and social solidarity is volunteerism, the foundations of which are: generosity, subsidiarity, and civic engagement aimed at social cohesion and community well-being.
In this regard, the speaker noted the shared values between the Orders of Chivalry and Civil Protection, noting that the former’s nature is not merely the preservation of the past, while emphasizing the importance of traditions and rituals for every chivalric family. Among the shared values, although sometimes expressed differently (especially considering that the Orders are religious in nature, while Civil Protection operates in a largely secular manner), the following are particularly noteworthy: service and altruism, sacrifice and dedication, protection of the most vulnerable, a spirit of solidarity and brotherhood, and a commitment to peace and justice.
Regarding the synergy between the two organizations, the speaker cited the aforementioned CISOM, which, founded by several Italian Knights of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, is composed of more than 3,000 volunteers, organized into various territorial divisions. The ability to establish themselves locally has allowed the groups to register on regional civil protection lists, thus gaining access to public funding.
The speaker concluded with a reminder of HRH the Grand Master’s assistance to the population following the Valencia floods in October 2024, images of which were shown.
The interim Secretary General, Nob. Antonio Masselli, concluded the meeting by proposing the title “An Ancient Order, a New Spirit,” with the hope that the Order would establish volunteer and civil defense organizations.
The training session was also attended by the interim Director of Legal Affairs, Father Francesco Procaccini di Montescaglioso, Knight of Justice, and the interim Director of Operational Activities, Attorney Valeria Pessetti, Dame of Merit with Silver Star.
Also taking part in the training session were Knight Grand Cross of Justice Don Manuel de Goyzueta di Toverena of the Marquises of Toverena and Trentinara, former Delegate for Naples and Campania; Knight of Jure Sanguinis Attorney Giovanni Carlo Parente Zamparelli; Knights of Merit with Silver Star Attorneys Stefano d’Ambrosio and Alessandro Franchi; Knights of Merit Dr. Maurizio Bava, Architect Carlo Iavazzo; Dr. Mario Quarantiello; Postulants Raffaele Anatriello, Antonio d’Ambrosio, Domenico Dente Gattola, Luigiantonio Galasso, Antonio Iannucci, Salvatore Mancino, Gennaro Napoletano, Massimo Ragno, Ciro Sommella, Dario Taranto, Giovanni Tartaglione, Antonio Virgili, and Adriano Zeni; and friends and supporters of the Constantinian Order Michelangelo Ambrunzo, Elena Barbato, Vincenzo Brescia, Enza Celotto, Andrea D’Aloia, Roberta Di Biase, Francesco Faella and Antonio Fittipaldi.
