The Order of
Saints Cyril and Methodius
Cyril (born Constantine, 826–869) and Methodius (815–885) were two brothers and Byzantine Christian theologians and missionaries. For their work evangelizing the Slavs, they are known as the "Apostles to the Slavs".
They are credited wi ...
is an award conferred by the Republic of Bulgaria.
History
It has had three incarnations :
* first on 18 May 1909 by the
Kingdom of Bulgaria
The Tsardom of Bulgaria ( bg, Царство България, translit=Tsarstvo Balgariya), also referred to as the Third Bulgarian Tsardom ( bg, Трето Българско Царство, translit=Treto Balgarsko Tsarstvo, links=no), someti ...
,
* second on 13 December 1950 by the
People's Republic of Bulgaria
The People's Republic of Bulgaria (PRB; bg, Народна Република България (НРБ), ''Narodna Republika Balgariya, NRB'') was the official name of Bulgaria, when it was a socialist republic from 1946 to 1990, ruled by the ...
(but called the Order of Cyril and Methodius),
* finally on 29 May 2003 by the current
Republic of Bulgaria.
The Royal Order
History
The Order was established on 18 May 1909 by Tsar
Ferdinand I of Bulgaria
, image = Zar Ferdinand Bulgarien.jpg
, caption = Ferdinand in 1912
, reign = 5 October 1908 –
, coronation =
, succession = Tsar of Bulgaria
, predecessor = Himself as Prince
, successor = Boris III
, rei ...
(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 fleur-de-lis, also spelled fleur-de-lys (plural ''fleurs-de-lis'' or ''fleurs-de-lys''), is a lily (in French, and mean 'flower' and 'lily' respectively) that is used as a decorative design or symbol.
The fleur-de-lis has been used in the ...
.
The ribbon of the Order is pale orange.
[World Medals Index, Kingdom of Bulgaria]
Order of SS. Cyril and Methodius
/ref>
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
The Maltese cross is a cross symbol, consisting of four " V" or arrowhead shaped concave quadrilaterals converging at a central vertex at right angles, two tips pointing outward symmetrically.
It is a heraldic cross variant which develope ...
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
A seraph (, "burning one"; plural seraphim ) is a type of celestial or heavenly being originating in Ancient Judaism. The term plays a role in subsequent Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Tradition places seraphim in the highest rank in Christ ...
.
Royal House
Former King Simeon II of Bulgaria considers this version of the order to be his dynastic order
A dynastic order, monarchical order, or house order is an order under royal patronage. Such an order is bestowed by, as a legitimate , a sovereign or the head of a once-sovereign ruling family. These are often considered part of the cultural p ...
and wears it - from left shoulder to right hip - on official occasions such as the wedding of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden
Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Västergötland (Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée; born 14 July 1977) is the heir apparent to the Swedish throne, as the eldest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf. If she ascends to the throne as expec ...
and Daniel Westling
Order of Cyril and Methodius (1950)
The People's Republic of Bulgaria instituted the Order of Cyril and Methodius (the word ''Saints'' was dropped under the communist
Communism (from Latin la, communis, lit=common, universal, label=none) is a far-left sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology and current within the socialist movement whose goal is the establishment of a communist society, ...
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.
* First class: gold medal with red enamel.
* Second class: silver medal with blue enamel.
* Third class: silver medal with white enamel.
The medal is worn on the left chest.
The Republic of Bulgaria (2003)
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.[World Medals Index, Republic of Bulgaria]
Order of SS. Cyril and Methodius
/ref>
Grades
There are three grades: Collar, 1st Class (Officer) and 2nd Class (Knight)
Insignia
The order's insignia is inspired by the shape of the tsarist era:
* The medal of the first two grades is a silver-plated Byzantine cross with gilded-silver edges, the 3rd grade is only totally silver-plated.
** The flames in the cross angle are no longer subject to a lily
** On the reverse, instead of the crowned cipher names, the national colors of the country can be found.
The ribbon of the Order is orange
See also
* Orders, decorations, and medals of Bulgaria
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius
Orders, decorations, and medals of Bulgaria
ru:Орден «Святые Кирилл и Мефодий»