Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius

Last updated

The Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius is an award conferred by the Republic of Bulgaria.

Contents

History

It has had three incarnations :

The Royal Order

Royal Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius
Царски Орден на Кирил и Методий
Order of Saints Equal to Apostles Cyril and Methodius badge (Bulgaria 1920-1930) - Tallinn Museum of Orders.jpg
The badge of the Order
Awarded by Tsar of Bulgaria standard.svg The King of the Bulgarians
Type Dynastic Order
Royal house House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha-Koháry
Religious affiliation Bulgarian Orthodox
RibbonLight Orange.
EligibilityThe Bulgarian Monarch and Heir
Foreign Heads of State
StatusCurrently constituted, rarely granted
Grand Master [1] King Simeon II
GradesKnight [2]
Precedence
Next (higher)None (Highest)
Next (lower) Royal Order of Saint Alexander
Order of SS. Cyril and Methodius ribbon.png
The ribbon of the Order

History

The Order was established on 18 May 1909 by Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria (grandfather of former Tsar Simeon II), the first Grand Cross of this order to be awarded to the highest state officials.

Grades

It consisted of one class: Knight, represented by a collar, sash and breast-star.

Insignia

The collar of the members is gilded-silver and alternately shows a standing, crowned lion facing left and a fleur-de-lis.

The ribbon of the Order is pale orange. [3]

The badge of the Order is a gilded Byzantine cross enameled in light blue. In the cross angles, green enameled beams are mounted, on each of which is a stylized lily. In the medallion resting figures of Saints Cyril and Methodius are seen standing side by side. The medallion is edged with a golden ring on the blue enameled inscription "EX ORIENTE LUX" (light coming from the east).

The breast star has the shape of a Maltese cross and is made of silver. In the cross angles blazing flames are seen with applied lily. In the centre of the cross is a representation of a seraph.

Royal House

Former King Simeon II of Bulgaria considers this version of the order to be his dynastic order and wears it - from left shoulder to right hip - on official occasions such as the wedding of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden and Daniel Westling [ citation needed ]

Order of Cyril and Methodius (1950)

Order of Cyril and Methodius
Orden ,,Kiril i Metodii" I st..jpg
1st Class Order of Cyril and Methodius
Awarded by People's Republic of Bulgaria
Type Order
StatusObsolete
GradesThree
St.AndrewOrder.png
The ribbon of the Order

The People's Republic of Bulgaria instituted the Order of Cyril and Methodius (the word Saints was dropped under the communist regime). It was awarded as an honour in the fields of science, culture, or painting

Grades

It consisted of three classes: First class, Second class and Third class

Insignia

The prize is a round medal with red, blue or white enamel background. It shows the image of the Saints in relief. In the left side, Cyril, who holds a scroll with the first four letters of the Cyrillic alphabet in the hands. Slightly offset to the right behind Methodius with a Bible under his arm. One five-pointed star is seen on the top of the medal, hanging from a light-blue ribbon.

The medal is worn on the left chest.

The Republic of Bulgaria (2003)

Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius
Awarded by President of Bulgaria
Type Order
Awarded formerits in the fields of art, science, education and culture.
StatusCurrently constituted
GradesThree
Precedence
Next (higher) Order of Stara Planina
Next (lower) Order of Civil Merit
Order of Military Merit
Order of SS. Cyril and Methodius ribbon.png
The ribbon of the Order

The Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius was reinstated on 29 May 2003 as the second order of the republic after the Order of Stara Planina and is awarded for merit in the fields of art, science, education and culture. [4]

Grades

There are three grades: Collar, 1st Class (Officer) and 2nd Class (Knight) [4]

Insignia

The order's insignia is inspired by the shape of the tsarist era:

The ribbon of the Order is orange [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferdinand I of Bulgaria</span> Prince/Tsar of Bulgaria from 1887 to 1918

Ferdinand I was Prince of Bulgaria from 1887 to 1908 and Tsar of Bulgaria from 1908 until his abdication in 1918. Under his rule, Bulgaria entered the First World War on the side of the Central Powers in 1915.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of the Dannebrog</span> Danish order of chivalry

The Order of the Dannebrog is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the Order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single class known as White Knights to distinguish them from the Blue Knights who were members of the Order of the Elephant. In 1808, the Order was reformed and divided into four classes. The statute of the Order was amended in 1951 by a Royal Ordinance so that both men and women could be members of the Order. Today, the Order of the Dannebrog is a means of honouring and rewarding the faithful servants of the modern Danish state for meritorious civil or military service, for a particular contribution to the arts, sciences or business life, or for working for Danish interests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of Orange-Nassau</span> Dutch order of chivalry

The Order of Orange-Nassau is a civil and military Dutch order of chivalry founded on 4 April 1892 by the queen regent, Emma of the Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of the Sword</span> Swedish order of chivalry and military decoration

The Royal Order of the Sword is a Swedish order of chivalry and military decoration created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Seraphim and the Order of the Polar Star. The motto of the order is in Latin: Pro Patria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of St. Olav</span> Norwegian chivalric order

The Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav is a Norwegian order of chivalry instituted by King Oscar I on 21 August 1847. It is named after King Olav II, known to posterity as St. Olav.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of Adolphe of Nassau</span> Luxembourgish order

The Order of Civil and Military Merit of Adolph of Nassau is an order of merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for meritorious service to the Grand Duke, the Grand-Ducal House and Luxembourg. It was founded in 1858 as a chivalric order of the Duchy of Nassau by Adolphe of Nassau in honor of his namesake and ancestor, Adolf, Count of Nassau, the only member of the House of Nassau to have been Roman King of Germany. After the Duchy of Nassau was annexed by Prussia in 1866 and Adolphe became Grand Duke of Luxembourg in 1890, he revived the order as an order of merit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of the Seraphim</span> Swedish order of chivalry

The Royal Order of the Seraphim is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Polar Star. The order has only one class with the dignity of Knight, and is the foremost order of Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Order of Saint George for the Defense of the Immaculate Conception</span>

The Royal Military Order of Saint George for the Defense of the Faith and the Immaculate Conception, also known as the Royal Bavarian House Equestrian Order of Saint George, was founded by Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria in 1729 to provide for a means of honouring the nobility and recognizing distinguished civil and military service.

Order of Beneficience is the name given to two different orders in Greece. One of them is conferred by the Greek royal family, and the other is conferred by the Greek government.

Orders, decorations and medals of Bulgaria are regulated by the law on the Orders and Medals of the Republic of Bulgaria of 29 May 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of Saint George of the Reunion</span>

The Order of Saint George of the Reunion is an order of knighthood of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. It was established to replace the Royal Order of the Two-Sicilies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Merit Order (Württemberg)</span> Award

The Military Merit Order (Militärverdienstorden) was a military order of the Kingdom of Württemberg, which joined the German Empire in 1871. The order was one of the older military orders of the states of the German Empire. It was founded on 11 February 1759 by Karl Eugen, Duke of Württemberg as the Militär-Carls-Orden, and was renamed the Militärverdienstorden on 11 November 1806 by King Friedrich I. The order underwent several more revisions over the course of the 19th and early 20th centuries. It became obsolete with the fall of the Württemberg monarchy in the wake of Germany's defeat in World War I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of Chula Chom Klao</span> Thai chivalric order

The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao was established on 16 November 1873 by King Rama V of The Kingdom of Siam to commemorate the 90th Jubilee of the Chakri Dynasty and bears his name. The pink colour reflects the Tuesday birthday colour for King Rama V.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of the Crown (Württemberg)</span>

The Order of the Württemberg Crown was an order of chivalry in Württemberg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of Saint Alexander</span> Bulgarian order during the Kingdom of Bulgaria

The Order of St Alexander was the second highest Bulgarian order during the Kingdom of Bulgaria. It was established by Knyaz Alexander I and named after his patron saint.

The Order of Military Merit is a Bulgarian order during the Kingdom of Bulgaria and the Republic of Bulgaria. It is the third highest order in the Republic of Bulgaria along with the Order of Civil Merit and the Order of the Madara Rider.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Order of Savoy</span> Award

The Military Order of Savoy was a military honorary order of the Kingdom of Sardinia first, and of the Kingdom of Italy later. Following the abolition of the Italian monarchy, the order became the Military Order of Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III</span>

The Most Illustrious Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III is a knighthood order of the Kingdom of Tonga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of Henry the Lion</span>

The House Order of Henry the Lion In German: Hausorden Heinrichs des Löwen, was the House Order of the Duchy of Brunswick. It was instituted by William VIII, Duke of Brunswick on 25 April 1834. The ribbon of the Order was red with yellow edges. It had five grades: Grand Cross, Grand Commander with Sash, Commander, Knight 1st Class, Knight 2nd Class, plus Medal of Merit for Science and Arts, the Cross of Merit and the Medal of Honour. The Order was named in honour of Henry the Lion, who remains a popular figure to this day.

The Order of Civil Merit was an Order of Merit of the Kingdom of Bulgaria. Established in 1891, it had six classes.

References

  1. The Grand Master of the Bulgarian Orders - official website of H.M. Simeon II
  2. Order of St. Cyril and Methodius Apostles - official website of H.M. Simeon II
  3. World Medals Index, Kingdom of Bulgaria, Order of SS. Cyril and Methodius
  4. 1 2 3 World Medals Index, Republic of Bulgaria, Order of SS. Cyril and Methodius