Order of Malta

December 2, 2025 The Sovereign Order of Malta established the Terra Santa Medal of Merit for Service in the Holy Land, for those who have done outstanding work for persecuted Christians in the Holy Land. Loránd Erőss, Grand Hospitaller of the Hungarian Association of the Knights of Malta, presented the award to fifteen Hungarian recipients, including two members of the Association, in the ceremonial hall of the national headquarters of the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order.

"During the Advent season, we are perhaps even more sensitive to vulnerability, and we strive to do good so that we can somehow contribute to alleviating the suffering of others and improving the living conditions of those in need. When else would be a more appropriate time to remember those people who work tirelessly, not only during Advent but throughout the year, to alleviate the plight of our brothers and sisters who live their faith as persecuted people in the Holy Land," said Loránd Erőss in his ceremonial speech. "Among our award winners are state secretaries, CEOs, priests, but also journalists, logisticians, even an archaeologist. This shows that, regardless of their field of expertise, everyone can contribute to helping their fellow human beings."

The Sovereign Order of Malta awarded the Terra Santa Medal of Merit for services to the Holy Land to:

• Tristan Azbej, State Secretary responsible for helping persecuted Christians and implementing the Hungary Helps Program; the award was accepted in his absence by his father, Kristóf Azbej;

• Csaba Bisztriczki, Head of Transport, Logistics, and Warehousing at the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta;

• Csaba Czibere, senior government advisor, former ambassador to Amman and Damascus, and head of the Hungarian mission in Ramallah;

• Cirill Hortobágyi, abbot of Pannonhalma (to receive the award at a later date due to his absence);

• György Hölvényi, Member of the European Parliament, Christian Democrat politician (will receive the award at a later date due to his absence);

• Béla Jungbert, retired ambassador (Ramallah, Amman), Lieutenant of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre in Hungary;

• Péter Kovács, CEO of the Hungary Helps Program (will receive the award at a later date due to his absence);

• Csaba Latorcai, Parliamentary State Secretary and Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Public Administration and Regional Development;

• Alpár Lázár, Executive Director of the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta;

• Balázs Major, archaeologist, lecturer at the Institute of Archaeology at Eötvös Loránd University;

• Tamás Pallós, journalist, television editor and reporter;

• Eszter Parák, journalist, deputy head of communications at the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Maltae;

• Tamás Soltész, warehouse manager of the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Maltae;

• Csongor Tóth, operations manager of the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta;

• Tamás Wetzel, ministerial commissioner responsible for citizenship issues.

"The work of the honorees went far beyond individual involvement. They have all done something that has made them custodians of Hungarian-Middle Eastern relations," emphasized Dániel Solymári, extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of the Hungary Helps Program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, former head of international relations at the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta. "The award winners did not just view Middle Eastern relations from the ivory tower of their own field of expertise, but were able and willing to get close to other people. To quote Pope Francis, they had the courage to touch the wounds of others. This award is a visible sign of recognition, and those who deservedly receive it today have become visible signs of encounter, raising Hungarian relations with the Middle East to new heights."

We sincerely congratulate the recipients!

A more detailed photo gallery can be found in the original article (in Hungarian only) published on the website of the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta.

Text: Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta

Photos: Bence Kovács, MMSZ