Prostějov Commandry
A Saint Lazarus Commandry was established in Prostějov in late 2002 as the crucial organizational unit of the Order of Saint Lazarus headed by Commander PhDr. Jiří Pořízka, former secretary of the Czech Grand Priory abroad. He chose his home town, Prostějov, as the seat of the Commandry. The work of Prostějov Commandry followed up on the Swedish Mission charity, which Dr. Jiří Pořízka had headed. The newly-established Saint Lazarus Commandry found a home base in Prostějov’s Company of Saint Richard Pampuri, headed by MUDr. Jiří Štolpa. The Order found its spiritual base in St. Lazarus Chapel beside St. Peter and Paul’s Church.
Thanks to Commander Jiří Pořízka’s organizational abilities and enthusiasm for work, Prostějov Commandry took over all care and management of the generous humanitarian aid from Sweden. A medical supply storehouse had been operated in the old hospital building for nearly twenty years. Nowadays, the storehouse is inside the seniors’ home on Hacarova street.
In addition to the provision of medical supplies, Prostějov Commandry is also engaged in cultural work for the general public, focusing on psychological-social rehabilitation. Regular concerts featuring music performances by Jožka Černý and Hradišťan have taken place in the National House since 2005.
Over time, the work of the Order spread to Olomouc, and from there to South Moravia, especially Brno. That is why, in organizational and management terms, the Moravian-Silesian Bailiwick was established in 2009, after Olomouc Commandry was set up in addition to Prostějov Commandry. Suitable people who were willing to work for the Order were successfully approached in Olomouc, such as Prof. PhDr. Miloš Trapl, CSc., Libor Gašparovič, PhDr. Petr Pořízka, Ph.D., Prof. PhDr. Jana Burešová, CSc., and MUDr. Yvona Hrčková. In Brno, the Order’s work is done by a delegation headed by Rev. Jaroslav Kratka and Ludvík Korpa.
