Report on the Knight Investiture 25th -28th April 2008, Budapest / Hungary



Report on the Knight Investiture

25th – 28th April 2008, Budapest / Hungary

The Hungarian Grand Priory of the „Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta, Federation of the Autonomous Priories” organised its 11th spectacular Knight Ceremony on the 26th April 2008 in the historical Royal Palace of Gödöllő.

The Ceremony started at 13.30 on a sunny Saturday afternoon and 20 countries were present at the event – being represented by Knights, Dames, high-ranking personalities, diplomats, and guests.

His Eminent Highness Prince José Manuel Costa da Veiga COSMELLI – the Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta, Federation of the Autonomous Priories greeted the postulants and all present Knights, Dames of the Federation and also our dear guests, present diplomats and representatives of the media.
The following diplomats honoured the event with their participation:
- His Excellency Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ladislav LIPIČ of the Republic of Slovenia
- His Excellency Ambassador Extraordinary, Minister Plenipotentiary Smiljan ŠIMAC of the Republic of Croatia
- Counsellor Mr. Luka DŽOLAN of the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Budapest, and his wife, Mrs. Marica DŽOLAN

During the Knight Investiture 12 postulants – high-ranking leaders of international and national organisations, most of them members of the IBSSA and also successful businessmen – from 5 countries were conferred Knight of Malta by the Grand Master:

Sir István András FERENCZI
Sir Robert Rauf HERCEG (Libya)
Sir József KISS
Sir Tibor KLEMENT
Sir László KÓBOR
Sir Rade MARKOVIC (Serbia)
Sir András MELLES
Sir Vojislav MILOSEVIC (Serbia)
Sir Zoltán Tibor PÁNCZÉL (Romania)
Sir Andor SCHMUCK
Sir Norbert SCHOBERT
Sir Gordan SIBIC (Slovenia)











The Grand Master spotted that “poverty in the 21st century and the diseases mean violence as well” and underlined the followings: the most important task of our Knights and Dames is to show that knights’ virtues are still actual in the modern world and with the help of them we can be able to change the world.

The speech was followed by advancements:

Advancements of grade:
Sir Attila HEGYI was promoted to Knight Commander of Malta (KCM)
Lady Ildikó SIKÓ was promoted to Dame Commander of Malta (DCM)
Sir Michele SPAMPANATO (ITA) was promoted to Grand Officer Knight of Malta (GOKM)

In the evening at 8 PM the “International Ball of Bodyguards and Knights” topped the day, which was organised in the Ballroom of MARRIOTT Hotel in Budapest, where the new knights received their diplomas vindicating their assignments. During the Ball all the present IBSSA members, Knights and Dames of the Federation as well as our honorary guests had the possibility to get acquainted with each other and spend a wonderful night together dancing till 3 AM.



In the name of the IBSSA Board of Directors hereby we would like to congratulate to all newly inaugurated Knights, especially to those people, who are active and full members of the International Bodyguard and Security Services Association!

28th May 2008
IBSSA HQ