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THE MALTESE CROSS

For an excellent and complete "History of the Maltese Cross, as used by the Order of St John of Jerusalem," including clear graphics of different Seals and other Crosses, visit http://www.orderstjohn.org/osj/cross.htm.  Some briefer histories are included here for your reference and reading pleasure!  -ELG

From http://www.coatesvillefd.org/Sayings/maltese%20cross%20hx.htm (TX Fire Fighters)

The eight-point Maltese Cross is the international symbol of the fire service's willingness to make great sacrifices in order to protect others from the ravages of fire. It is a badge of courage and honor and it story is hundreds of years old.

This honored symbol originated with a group of eleventh century knights who were serving in a Jerusalem hospital. They became known as the Order of Knights Hospitaller and later became the Knights of St. John. This charitable organization cared for the ill with great compassion.

Later, they assisted the Knights of the Crusades in their effort to win back the Holy Land. As the Knights of St. John and Knights of the Crusades attacked the city walls, the Saracens first threw glass bombs containing highly flammable liquids and then flaming torches. Many knights were severely burned, some suffering agonizing deaths. Risking horrible death, those knights who were able struggled desperately to help their burning comrades, beating out the flames and dragging them to safety. In acknowledgment of their heroic deeds of rescuing fellow knights and fighting fires, the cross they wore was decorated and inscribed.

In 1530, the Island of Malta was given to the courageous knights. The symbol on their flag, the eight-point cross, became known as the "Maltese Cross." The cross, which had originally helped the knights distinguish between friend and foe, became the ultimate symbol of heroism and service. The cross, which is considered sacred, represents the principles of charity, loyalty, chivalry, gallantry, generosity to friend and foe, protection of the weak and dexterity in service.

Today, firefighters wear the Maltese Cross to symbolize their willingness to risk their lives to save others from the ravages of fire.

Maltese Cross research was compiled by Shirley Sheridan with the assistance of the following fire service chaplains: Denny Burris, Dallas Fire Department; Wayne Collins, Houston Fire Department; and Ed Stauffer, Retired, Fort Worth Fire Department.

From http://www.unitedfire.net/uf/ffoty/maltesecross.htm

The modern symbol of today’s firefighters has come down through the ages to us from the Knights of the Crusades. The history of fighting fire, and the honor with which those warriors of long ago fought, is the basis for the code and emblem displayed by today's fire service.

During the 11th century, an order of monks dedicated to St. John the Baptist, was founded in Jerusalem. The monks, who called themselves the brothers of St. John, or Hospitalers, were a charitable, non-military organization that existed to help the sick and poor by setting up hospices and hospitals. They ministered to any Christian, Jewish, or Muslim visitor to the Holy Land.

As the wars began for control of the Holy Land, they assisted the Knights of the Crusades through their goodwill, and finally through military assistance, becoming the Knights of St. John. These knights were to become greatly respected and admired for their willingness to risk their own lives to aid others.

The enemy in this war was the Saracens who invented a new weapon to use on the field of battle, unfamiliar to European strategy. They threw glass bombs containing naphtha that broke and showered the Crusaders with flammable liquid. Then the Saracens lobbed trees that had been set afire down on the drenched warriors. Needless to say, the result was a terrible, fiery death filled with agony. The Saracens also used this tactic on water as they sailed their vessels containing naphtha, rosin, sulfur, and flaming oil into the vessels of the Crusaders.

The Knights of St. John soon became known for risking their lives to rescue their comrades and extinguish the fires. But there was a problem -- in the heat of battle, and completely encased in body and facial armor for protection, the warriors could not see well enough to distinguish friend from foe. To solve the problem, an identifying emblem, a stylized Cross of Calvary, was created for the warriors to wear over their armor. This mantle, worn as a red surcoat with a white cross, identified their allegiance and showed that they fought for a holy cause.

Later, when the order moved to the Island of Malta and became known as the Knights of Malta, they continued to use their symbol, which then became known as the Maltese Cross.

From http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/fdny/html/history/maltese_cross.shtml (NY Fire Fighters)

When a courageous band of crusaders known as the Knights of St. John, fought the Saracens for possession of the holy land, they encountered a new weapon unknown to European warriors. It was a simple, but a horrible device of war, it wrought excruciating pain and agonizing death upon the brave fighters for the cross. The Saracen's weapon was, fire.

As the crusaders advanced on the walls of the city, they were struck by glass bombs containing naphtha. When they became saturated with the highly flammable liquid, the Saracens hurled a flaming torch into their midst. Hundreds of the knights were burned alive; others risked their lives to save their brothers-in-arms from dying painful, fiery deaths.

Thus, these men became our first firefighter and the first of a long list of courageous firefighters. Their heroic efforts were recognized by fellow crusaders who awarded each here a badge of honor - a cross similar to the one firefighter's wear today. Since the Knights of St. John lived for close to four centuries on a little island in the Mediterranean Sea named Malta, the cross came to be known as the Maltese Cross.

The Maltese Cross is your symbol of protection. It means that the firefighter who wears this cross is willing to lay down his life for you just as the crusaders sacrificed their lives for their fellow man so many years ago. The Maltese Cross is a firefighter's badge of honor, signifying that he works in courage - a ladder rung away from death.