IDTG

Like her sister churches in other countries, the Serbian Orthodox Church has a number of orders of merit it gives out to deserving people, in recognition for their services. Though there are a number of decorations the process for awarding them is similar across: the candidate needs to be recommended by a diocesan bishop to the Holy Synod that will, in turn, confer on the matter and decide.

For those who are not familiar with the Orthodox Communion, the highest authority within any particular Church is the Holy Synod and not any particular individual.

Order of St. Sava

The creation of these awards of merit started in 1985 with the 800th anniversary of the birth of St. Sava, the founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church and its first Archbishop. It was at this time that the Holy Synod decided to create the Order of St. Sava in three classes:

• The first class has the colors of the order being white
• The second class has the colors of the order being red
• The third class has the colors of the order being blue

To qualify for the next higher class, one must be in the previous one for at least three years. The brevet for the order is signed by either the Patriarch or his deputy.

Order of St. Simeon the Myrrh-streaming

This award was created in 2009 in honor of the Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja who lived in 12th century Serbia and was canonized under the name of St. Simeon the Myrrh-streaming due to the reported miracles attributed to him. The award is given to statesmen that have contributed to the improvement of relations between Church and state. This award is open to both Serbs and foreigners.

Order of St. Emperor Constantine

Honoring the life and enormous contributions to the Faith that St. Constantine the Great made, the Holy Synod of the Serbian Church created the Order of St. Emperor Constantine. This high distinction is reserved for thos that have made great contributions to the freedom of religion and the promotion of human rights. There aren’t any nationality restrictions for the award

Order of the Holy King Milutin

Stephen Uroš II Milutin of Serbia was king of Serbia between 1282 to 1321 and managed to elevate his country to one of the most powerful states in the region. He also introduced much of the Byzantine culture to the kingdom and founded a large number of monasteries. Since King Milutin was such a great benefactor for Serbia, it is in his honor that this particular order was created in 2009 and it is meant to reward great philanthropists.

Order of St. Peter of Cetinje

Named after Petar I Petrović-Njegoš, this order was created in 2009 by the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church. It should not be confused with the order of the same name that is under the Royal House of Petrović-Njegoš (Montenegro).

This distinction is awarded in recognition of missionary work, evangelism, promoting peace and personal sacrifice.

Order of the Holy Empress Milica – Venerable Jevgenija

Named after Empress (Tsaritsa) Milica, wife of Serbian Prince Lazar, who is most famous for her poem of mourning for her husband “My Widowhood’s Bridegroom”. After the death of her husband, she became a nun under the name of Jevgenija. This particular award is given to those who have made outstanding contributions for the improvement of the lives of the poor, the sick, and the helpless.

Order of the Holy Despot Stefan Lazarevic

Named after the ruler of the Serbian Despotate between 1389 and 1427, he was the son of Prince Lazar and Empress Milica. He was an enlightened ruler and can be considered the one to have brought the Renaissance to the realm.

This distinction is awarded to those individuals who have made significant contributions to culture, where it be literature, poetry, the arts, etc.

It should be noted here again that the Holy Synod reserves the right to revoke any honor previously bestowed if the awardee violates in some way the Serbian Orthodox Church. It should also be stressed that the awarding of any Church award is not a form of salvation as the awardee must remain committed to the path of Christ and be an example to others.

All awards by the Holy Synod are gazetted in the official journal of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Source: Very Reverend Protopresbyter Savo B. Jovic. “Ордени Српске Православне Цркве које додељује Свети Архијерејски Сабор, односно Свети Архијерејски Синод“. “Orthodoxy” newspaper of the Serbian Patriarchate.

The Acta Apostolicae Sedis or Acts of the Apostolic See (in English) is the official gazette of the Holy See, functioning like the official gazette of any government or state around the world. In here, one finds encyclicals, official decisions, appointments, etc. The gazette was established in 1908 by Pope Pius X and has been published every month since then.

Just on the face of it, this is very interesting to anyone that enjoys such things. However, what is particularly fascinating and an excellent source for those of us in the chivalric/heraldic world is that all those who have had the honor of being admitted into any of the papal orders are mentioned in the gazette. In other words, this resource is a quick and easy way to validate whether someone who claims to be a, say, Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester really is so.

As most of those that are involved in orders of chivalry, there are many (way too many) false orders and even more pretenders that claim to have more knighthoods than even the King of Spain! A very (un)healthy market has been the sales of false membership into papal orders. This has gone on for a long time and a few years ago was wildly popular. Naturally, this was completely false and many people were taken in as victims of these scams.

The availability of the Acta online is a veritable boon to all those who like to validate such claims.

The link to the online archive of every single publication of the Acta Apostolicae Sedis since 1909 is: http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/index_en.htm

I’d like to thank Dr. Charles Drake for alerting me to the existence of the archive!

Note: image from Wikipedia

I have written before about the Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara and its peculiar situation of being a fully legitimate kingdom located wholly within the borders of the Republic of Uganda, recognized by the constitution of Uganda.

The Kingdom has instituted 3 dynastic orders of chivalry with the senior most being the Royal Order of the Omujwaara Kondo, originally established some time in the 15th century and traditionally awarded to those who had won major military victories for the Kingdom. Over the centuries, it evolved and by the time of the early to mid 20th century, it had become an “Order of Distinction” as it was recognized in the treaties between Bunyoro-Kitara and the United Kingdom (1933 & 1955). This order, along with all others, continued to be granted until 1967 when the dictatorship of Uganda outlawed the royals and related institutions. It wasn’t until 1994 that the order was restored.

This order is a single grade order, split into two classes with Class I reserved for royals and heads of state while everyone else is admitted into the second class. Both classes have the exact same insignia, depicted above, except that Class I uses gold whereas Class I uses silver. The description of the insignia is:

An eight-pointed Azure star trimmed with stylized lilies with every other lily bearing a strip of lozenges radiating from the center of the insignia. In the circular center, the royal arms of the Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara surrounded by a circle trimmed in lozenges.

What is interesting about the Order of the Omujwaara Kondo is not just that it confers nobility to the admitted member, as there are several chivalric orders around the world that do so but, that this nobility is heritable as is the order itself! Perhaps it is more fair to compare it to a British baronetcy or hereditary knighthood rather than an order of chivalry.

However, as opposed to the rules of inheritance of baronetcies, the rule for the order is that it can only be inherited by the eldest child of the same gender as the bearer. In other words, if a female is awarded the order then only a daughter may inherit it and the nobility that goes with it. Conversely, if there are no children of the same gender, it becomes extinct.

The postnominal of the order is OOKB preceded by the generational number, much like any other title. Therefore, the 3rd to inherit the order would be the “John Q. Doe, 3rd OOKB“.

Another item that differentiates the Order of the Omujwaara Kondo from many other chivalric orders is that in the statutes one finds a set ratio of how many recipients may come from Bunyoro-Kitara (at least 20%) vs. how many from Uganda (at least 30%) vs how many from anywhere else in the world (no more than 50%).

“Omujwaara Kondo” translates to “Coronet Wearer” and this is depicted in the heraldic privileges of those honored to be admitted. All members of the order are permitted to use a coronet (if they already do not have one due to being a titled noble).

Other heraldic privileges:

• May petition for and be granted supporters
• May encircle their arms with a blue and red ribbon with the insignia of their class suspended from it

Those so honored, should also know that there are restrictions associated, namely:

• May not eat potatoes (revoked)
• May not eat beans (revoked)
• May not eat “common foods” (revoked)
• Must visit the Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara at least once

On a personal note, though not honored to have the Order of Omujwaraa Kondo, I am happy to know that the food restrictions have been lifted,in case I ever were awarded it

Related sites:

• The official site of the Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara is: http://www.bunyoro-kitara.org/
• The direct link to the Royal Order of Omujwaraa Kondo is: http://www.order-of-omujwaara-kondo.bunyoro-kitara.org/

The Royal and Hashemite Order of the Pearl is a recently founded dynastic order of the Royal House of Sulu, under the headship of HRH Raja Muda Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram.

At another time, I plan on writing a dedicated article on this particular Royal House, it’s fascinating history and its heraldid insignia & rules. This article is dedicated to the heraldic rules related to the Royal Order mentioned in the title.

However, before we get into the details, a brief introduction into the Order of the Pearl is necessary.

The Royal and Hashemite Order of the Pearl was founded in June of 2011. Membership into the Order is conferred only upon the approval of H.R.H. the Raja Muda (Crown Prince) in his capacity of the Grand Sayyid (Grand Master) of the Order. The Order is not literally an Order of Chivalry and its members are not formally called Knights, because specific noble ranks and definitions, equal to those of Knighthood but more appropriate for the Tausug context, are established for the members of the Order.

There are 6 total grades in the Order:

• The paramount class of the Pearl Collar
• Grand Cordon
• Distinguished Companion
• Companion
• Officer
• Member

A note should be made here that the Pearl Collar is highly restricted and limited to 24 Knights. This grade is also conferred upon members of the Royal Family of Sulu and foreign heads of royal families as well as heads of state but these are supernumerary knights and do not count towards the limit. The heir to the headship of the Royal House is a supernumerary knight by right of birth.

In reviewing the statutes of the Order, the following are the rules for each grade:

The paramount class of the Pearl Collar

• These knights may encircle their arms with the Pearl Collar of the Order.
• If, for some exceptional reasons, the specific oval badge and riband of this grade are displayed instead of the Collar, a golden flame may be added above the badge.
• Allows the petition for supporters from the Gateway Chronicler King of Arms.

Grand Cordon

• Adorn their shield with the Order’s crowned badge.
• Display the riband of the Order fastened with a bow from which the badge is suspended.
• The riband may encircle the shield either completely or partially.
• Allows the petition for supporters from the Gateway Chronicler King of Arms.

Distinguished Companion

• Adorn their shield with the Order’s crowned badge.
• Display the ribbon of the Order, each half displayed separately.
• The ribbon may encircle the shield either completely or partially.
• The ribbon may be shown with loose ends issuant from behind the shield
• May display a flame above the insignia and is entitled to the Order’s star.

Companion

• Adorn their shield with the Order’s crowned badge.
• Display the ribbon of the Order, each half displayed separately.
• The ribbon may encircle the shield either completely or partially.
• The ribbon may be shown with loose ends issuant from behind the shield.
• Membership in this grade does not entitle knights to supporters.

Officer

• Adorn their shield with the Order’s crowned badge.
• Display the ribbon of the Order, one half displayed covering the other (as seen above).
• The ribbon is issuant from beneath the shield with optionally loose ends shown issuant from behind the shield.
• Optionally, the buckle may be shown above the ribbon.
• Membership in this grade does not entitle knights to supporters.

Member

• Adorn their shield with the Order’s uncrowned badge.
• Display the ribbon of the Order, one half displayed covering the other.
• The ribbon is issuant from beneath the shield with optionally loose ends shown issuant from behind the shield.
• The ribbon may be shown with loose ends issuant from behind the shield.
• Optionally, the buckle may be shown above the ribbon.
• Membership in this grade does not entitle knights to supporters

Those in the two senior most ranks are entitled to supporters in a way of grant or of certification. A widow of a companion who did not obtain supporters but was entitled to them, may apply in his name.

Certain artistic liberties may be allowed; thus, if supporters with a compartment are included into the achievement of a member or an officer, the ribbon may pass behind the compartment rather than the shield. In any case of a doubt, the King of Arms’ consultation may be useful.

There is a honourable category of members jure sanguinis who are entitled to a special distinction, the olden representation of the Royal badge of kris and spear to be added either above the Order’s badge (Members, Officers) or as a part of the badge (Companions, Distinguished Companions, Grand Cordon). The paramount class is listed above this category, and the Royal badge forms a part of the collar.

The category of jure sanguinis is only open to those that are born as Datu of Sulu.

These rules apply to the members both sexes.

Although the heraldic images of the insignia of the Order must be recognizable, no photographic preciseness in reproduction of the original items is required; graphic liberties are allowed and even welcome to stress the symbolic value of the insignia’s elements. The liberty of display of the Collar already practiced by H.R.H. the Raja Muda is to be seen as an example.

 The ribbon of the Order is dark green, edged with two narrow stripes alternating blue and white on each side. The ribbon of the paramount class is plain green with colorfully ornamented ends, but typically this element is not included into achievements.

The Chronicler King of Arms, the senior most rank in the heraldic structure of the Sultanate of Sulu, is the principle herald of the Order of the Pearl.

Official site of the Royal Sultanate of Sulu: http://www.royalsultanateofsulu.org/

Direct link to the Order of the Pearl: http://www.royalsultanateofsulu.org/#!order-chancellery

Note: The above printed with the approval of the Chancellor  and the Gateway Chronicler King of Arms of the Royal and Hashemite Order of the Pearl, using images from the web site of the Royal House of Sulu and also specially provided by the Gateway Chronicler King of Arms.

Learning from the excellent publication of the Grand Priory of Spain of the Order of St. Lazarus I wrote about the other day, I decided to publish a concise list of heraldic privileges of the knights of the Order.

There are specific regulations that are applicable based on the rank as well as the specific office held by the knight.

Before going into the details, there are some rules that are applicable to all:

All knights may display the arms of the Order in either a chief or a canton. The arms of the Order are: Argent a cross Vert.

All knights may lay their shield on the cross of the order (a maltese cross vert).

Specific to the rank of the knight, the rules are:

• Knights: May suspend the insignia of the order from the bottom of their shield
• Commanders: May suspend the insignia from the flanks of their shield
• Grand Crosses: May have their shield encircled with the insignia
• Collared: Those who are either Grand Collars or have a collar of office may encircled their shield with the collar they are entitled too.

Specific to the office the knight may hold, the rules are:

• Grand Masters: May quarter the arms of the Order with their personal arms. They may display two scepters in saltire behind their shield
• Chancellors: May display a sword in pale behind their shield
• Heads of a Grand Chapter: May display a scepter in pale behind their shield
• Judges of Arms: May display a baton of office in pale and surmount their shield with the coronet of a king of arms
• Grand Marshals: May display two batons of office in saltire behind their shields
• Grand Auditors: May display a gold key in pale behind their shields
• Grand Treasurers: May display two gold keys in saltire behind their shields
• Grand Referendaries: May display a sword and a baton of office in saltire behind their shields
• Coadjutors: May display a scepter and baton office in saltire behind their shields

All high dignitaries and members of the Council have the additional right to display their arms in the pavillion of the Order. The pavillion is black, to denote the loss of the holy land to the muslims, and is charged with the cross of the order on the sinister side. The pavillion is surmounted with a closed eastern crown, showing the founding of the Order in the east.

Notes:

• Images by Fernando Martínez Larrañaga and Wikipedia
• I am not affiliated in any way with the Order of St. Lazarus