The Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem is an international, ecumenical Christian organization of knights that traces its origins to the 11th-century Hospitaller foundation in Jerusalem. It claims direct descent from the Russian Priories established by Tsar Paul I after Napoleon's conquest of Malta in 1798. The order focuses on charitable works, aiding the sick and poor, and preserving chivalric traditions. Its modern structure is based on a 1964 constitution and it operates as a non-profit with an ecumenical Christian membership including both men (Knights) and women (Dames). The order is distinct from and not to be confused with the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM), the Roman Catholic order with which it shares historical roots but which is recognized as a sovereign entity under international law. Its legitimacy and continuity have been subject to dispute, particularly regarding its claims of succession from the original medieval order.