In September 2014, Larisa Evans received the title of Lady of the Order of Saint Maurizio and Saint Lazaro at a ceremony in Rome for her work in reviving Russia’s cultural traditions.
The Order of Saints Maurizio and Lazarus is an Order founded by the royal House of Savoy, from which the former kings of Italy descended. The Order was founded in Piedmont as a union of two Orders: the Order of Saint Lazarus, which arose among Christian knights during the Crusades, and the Order of Saint Maurizio, founded in 1434 as a dynastic Order of the House of Savoy. The Order of Saint Lazarus and Saint Maurizio was approved by the Pope in 1572, and the Duke of Savoy became the Grand Master of the Order.
When the House of Savoy ceased to rule Italy (this occurred in the 19th century), the Order of Saint Lazarus and Saint Maurizio became the most prestigious Order in Italy, initiating sovereigns and aristocrats across Europe. Today, there are only 20,000 members of the Order worldwide.
The Order has 6 gradations for men and 3 for women.
Men initiated into the Order become Knights of the Order; women initiated into the Order become Dames of the Order and receive the title of Lady.
The initiation ceremony takes place once a year in Geneva or Rome and is presided over by the current head of the Order, the Grand Master, His Royal Highness Prince Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples and Duke of Savoy, son and heir of the last King of Italy. It was from his hands that Larisa Evans received the Order’s medal—a symbol of initiation.