Gerard Thom

Blessed Fra ' Gerhard Sasso ( his last name is also associated with Tum, Tune, Tunc, Tenque, Tonque or Thom specified) (* 1040, † September 3, 1120 ) was the founder of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. It can also be regarded as the first Grand Master of this Order.

Gerhard probably dates back to Martigues in Provence, other sources also give Amalfi or at Avesnes in Hainault. He organized the great pilgrims' hospital in Jerusalem new and made for effective military protection. In the church connected " Xenodochium " (guest house, guest quarters ), he practiced religious tolerance and took on both Jewish and Muslim sick and needy. On it goes back that those admitted " the sick men " were treated as, where the Brotherhood as servants had come up their worldly men. Even before the first crusade, he founded a religious community, which he headed to the rules of St. Augustine himself. During the siege of Jerusalem in 1099, all inhabitants of the city had been forced to defend the city walls. It was narrated that the Sel. Gerhard instead of stones small loaves of bread to the hungry besiegers threw down. After taking the city Gerhard served the masses of wounded, sick and dying. Many of the Crusaders took off the sword, to follow his example. Establishing time of the Order, the hospital in Jerusalem was already taking in around 2000 pilgrims.

Around 1048 the Order in Jerusalem from the Muristan, a company founded by merchants from Amalfi Hospital was built. The charge of the Hospital Monastery Brotherhood gained under the direction of Gerhard from about 1100 independence a religious Order. This was decreed by the judgment given by Pope Paschal II on February 15, 1113 Bulle Geraudo institutori ac praeposito Hirosolimitani Xenodochii. 1120, shortly before the death of Gerhard's, the bull was renewed and confirmed by Pope Calixtus II.