Celebrating Italia’s 20th Anniversary

establishing Christendom in the Mare Nostrum region (Mediterranean). At the same time, the Templars were transitioning gnosis (knowledge of spiritual mysteries) from the East (Al-Sharq) to the West (AlGharb). Such knowledge was both exoteric (science, finance, technology, architecture, etc.) and esoteric (Order of the Assassins, Jewish mystics, Sufism, Druze, etc.) in nature.

By early 14th Century, Europe was in a much better place. The process of translating the Islamic heritage into Latin, which began in the 11th century and continued unabated enabled the transfer of knowledge in the sciences of medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, veterinary medicine or zoology, botany, chemistry, astronomy, mathematics, geography, maritime science, and navigation. Furthermore, the Greek heritage translated by the Arabs and augmented by their advances and experimental approaches, which exceeded the scope of Aristotelian measurement, further revolutionized knowledge in Europe.

With the arrest of leadership of the Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307, and the burning at the stake of their Grand Master Jacques DeMolay in 1314, the Order went underground. The prevailing theory states that, the Knights Templar, using the knowledge and skills they acquired from the East (Al-Sharq), infiltrated Operative Stone Masons guilds in the West (AlGharb) to travel in foreign countries, spread knowledge outside the controls of the absolutist Church, and influence the organization of Speculative Lodges. The Renaissance, which came to be through the transfer of knowledge from Al-Sharq to Al-Gharb, caused the birth of modern Freemasonry and paved the way for the Age of Enlightenment. During the 18th & 19th Centuries, we saw the gradual ascendance of Al-Gharb and the gradual demise of Al-Sharq as the center of Gnosis. Al-Gharb became dominant in the areas of Governance, quest for knowledge, and scientific discovery.

Today, an eastern version of the Renaissance and Enlightenment is under high demand. The principal tenets and fundamental teachings of Freemasonry embody that immortal knowledge that enables the transformation from Darkness to Light. Al-Sharq Lodge No. 2020 is ideally positioned to be a bridge to light by playing an active role in facilitating the transfer of Gnosis from Al-Gharb to AlSharq for the betterment of the human condition universally.

Congratulations to Al-Sharq Lodge on its first successful Festive Board! Congratulations to all the fine men in our jurisdiction who came together in forming a Lodge with such a great vision! And, of course, congratulations to the Grand Jurisdiction in general, and to the current and past Grand Masters in particular, for continuously supporting such diversity in our Craft.

WB Marco Fiorante, Master

WB Giancarlo Oderda, PM

WB Carmelo Orazio Cicala, PM

Seeing Italia Lodge No. 2001 celebrate its twentieth birthday gives us great joy and a sense of pride. Proud to see how good the work that our Lodge has been doing since it raised the Columns.

The end of the First Decennial of the Foundation coincided with the years of the guidance of MV Giancarlo Oderda (2010, 2011), preceded by MV Michael Asch (2009), MV Andrea Sylos Labini (2008), MV Clark Misul (2007), MV Maximilian G. Ullmann (2006), MV Francesco Legaluppi (2005), MV Franco Bernazzani (2004), MV Oscar Bartoli (2003) and MV Riccardo Bellucci (2002).

The lodge’s activities continued under the stewardship the MV Melo Cicala (2012, 2013, 2019, 2020), followed by the workers of MV Sean Goliardi (2014), MV Enzo Letico (2015, 2016, 2017), MV Stefano Costanzi (2017), MV Alessandro Pescini (2021) and MV Marco Fiorante (2022), who has been elected to continue in the path established by his predecessors.

The link between the Grand Masters of the Grand Orient of Italy (GOI) and the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia has created a Masonic bridge between Washington and Italy, a bridge which over time has increasingly strengthened. as highlighted by the various “twinnings” with several GOI lodges. This distance between brothers separated by the great waters of the Atlantic Ocean has been shortened as witnessed by our brothers who whenever returning to Italy meet countless Brothers who in turn, when visiting the States have found in Italia Lodge a home away from home, as inspired by the true spirit of masonic fraternity.

They are Brothers who—for many years— have opened their hearts, and this has allowed us to know each other more deeply, to share joys and worries, to exchange ideas and impressions, to share doubts and hopes. desirous to continue to do so.

Thank you, Italia Lodge No. 2001, for offering the possibility to find what the Institution calls “Universal Brotherhood” best experienced as “Fraternal Friendship.”

The Brethren of Italia Lodge with visitors from the Grand Lodge and our constituent Lodges.