Ordo Sancti Constantini Magni
Ordo Sancti Constantini Magni (post-nominals: OCM) () is a international, ecumenical, and religious Christian Order and knighthood under the auspices of the Patriarch and Pope Theodoros II of Alexandria and all Africa. The Order was established in 1953 in Switzerland to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Fall of Constantinople with most original knights hailing from Finland and Greece. Later, due to growth, the Order began establishing smaller 'exarchates' in various countries. The first two were established in Finland and Greece in 1978 and held their 40th anniversary conclaves in 2018. It now operates in ten countries having members for example Russia and the United States. In the aftermath of World War II, the Order sought to mitigate hardship brought on by the war. Since then, it has focused for example on famine and children in Africa and on locations in North Karelia. Members tend to be of high in social standing. Honorary members include figures such as Finnish pre ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Saint Constantine The Great
During the reign of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great (306–337 AD), Christianity began to transition to the dominant religion of the Roman Empire. Historians remain uncertain about Constantine's reasons for favoring Christianity, and theologians and historians have often argued about which form of early Christianity he subscribed to. There is no consensus among scholars as to whether he adopted his mother Helena's Christianity in his youth, or, as claimed by Eusebius of Caesarea, encouraged her to convert to the faith he had adopted. Constantine ruled the Roman Empire as sole emperor for much of his reign. Some scholars allege that his main objective was to gain unanimous approval and submission to his authority from all classes, and therefore he chose Christianity to conduct his political propaganda, believing that it was the most appropriate religion that could fit with the imperial cult. Regardless, under the Constantinian dynasty Christianity expanded throughout ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Knighthood
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of a knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church, or the country, especially in a military capacity. The concept of a knighthood may have been inspired by the ancient Greek ''hippeis'' (ἱππεῖς) and Roman ''equites''. In the Early Middle Ages in Western Christian Europe, knighthoods were conferred upon mounted warriors. During the High Middle Ages, a knighthood was considered a class of petty nobility. By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior. Often, a knight was a vassal who served as an elite fighter or a bodyguard for a lord, with payment in the form of land holdings. The lords trusted the knights, who were skilled in battle on horseback. In the Middle Ages, a knighthood was closely linked with horsemanship (and especially the joust) from its origins ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Patriarch Theodore II Of Alexandria
Theodore (Theodoros) II (; born ''Nikolaos Khoreftakis'' (), November 25, 1954) is the Eastern Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa. He was previously a monk in the Agarathos Holy Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Early life and education He was born in the Greek island of Crete in 1954, where he completed his schooling. He is a graduate of the Rizarios Ecclesiastical School in Athens and holds a degree from the Theology Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He also studied History of Art, Literature and Philosophy in Odesa. He was ordained as Deacon in 1975 and Archbishop on 23 April 1978 by Metropolitan of Lambis and Sfakion Theodore Tzedakis. From 1975 to 1985, he served as Archdeacon and Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis of Lambis and Sfakion in Crete, where he developed significant Preaching and Philanthropic activities (hostels for needy youth, etc.). From 1985 to 1990 he served as Patriarchal Exarch in Russia, based in the ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Fall Of Constantinople
The Fall of Constantinople, also known as the Conquest of Constantinople, was the capture of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire by the Ottoman Empire. The city was captured on 29 May 1453 as part of the culmination of a 55-day siege which had begun on 6 April. The attacking Army of the classical Ottoman Empire, Ottoman Army, which significantly outnumbered Constantinople's defenders, was commanded by the 21-year-old List of sultans of the Ottoman Empire, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, Mehmed II (later nicknamed "the Conqueror"), while the Byzantine army (Palaiologan era), Byzantine army was led by List of Byzantine emperors, Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos. After conquering the city, Mehmed II made Constantinople the new Ottoman capital, replacing Edirne, Adrianople. The fall of Constantinople and of the Byzantine Empire was a watershed of the Late Middle Ages, marking the effective end of the Roman Empire, a state which began in roughly 27 BC and had la ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Aftermath Of World War II
The aftermath of World War II saw the rise of two global superpowers, the United States (U.S.) and the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.). The aftermath of World War II was also defined by the rising threat of nuclear warfare, the creation and implementation of the United Nations as an intergovernmental organization, and the decolonization of Asia, Oceania, South America and Africa by European and East Asian powers, most notably by the United Kingdom, French Fourth Republic, France, and Occupation of Japan, Japan. Once Allies of World War II, allies during World War II, the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. became competitors on the world stage and engaged in the Cold War, so called because it never resulted in overt, declared total war between the two powers. It was instead characterized by espionage, political subversion and proxy wars. Western Europe was rebuilt through the American Marshall Plan, whereas Central and Eastern Europe fell under the Soviet sphere of influence and eventually behind an " ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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North Karelia
North Karelia (or ''Northern Karelia'', ; ) is a region in eastern Finland. It borders the regions of Kainuu, North Savo, South Savo and South Karelia, as well as Russia's Republic of Karelia. It is the easternmost region of Finland and shares a border with Russia. The city of Joensuu is the capital and the largest settlement of the region. North Karelia has successfully reduced chronic diseases through public health measures. In the 1960s Finland led industrialized nations in heart disease mortality rates; North Karelia had Finland's highest incidence. In 1972 a long-term project was undertaken which targeted this risk in North Karelia. The resulting improvement in public health is still considered remarkable, a model for the rest of the nation. North Karelia is also known as the most sociable region in Finland. History The borders of remote North Karelia were formed gradually. Important border foundations were the Treaty of Stolbovo (1617) for the eastern border and t ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Sauli Niinistö
Sauli Väinämö Niinistö (, born 24 August 1948) is a Finnish politician who served as the 12th president of Finland from 2012 to 2024. A lawyer by education, Niinistö was Chairman of the National Coalition Party (NCP) from 1994 to 2001, Minister of Justice (Finland), Minister of Justice from 1995 to 1996, Minister of Finance (Finland), Minister of Finance from 1996 to 2003, Deputy Prime Minister from 1995 to 2001 and the NCP candidate in the 2006 Finnish presidential election, 2006 presidential election. He served as the Speaker of the Parliament of Finland from 2007 to 2011 and has been the honorary president of the European People's Party (EPP) since 2002. Niinistö was the NCP candidate in the 2012 Finnish presidential election, 2012 presidential election, defeating Pekka Haavisto of the Green League (VIHR) with 62.6% of the vote in the decisive second round. Niinistö assumed office on 1 March 2012; he is the first NCP president since Juho Kusti Paasikivi, who left office ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Jukka Paarma
Antti-Jukka Paarma (born 1 December 1942 in Lappeenranta) is a Finnish Lutheran prelate who served as the Archbishop of Turku and Finland and the spiritual head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (; ) is a national church of Finland. It is part of the Lutheranism, Lutheran branch of Christianity. The church has a legal position as a national church in the country, along with the Orthodox Church o .... He retired as archbishop on 1 June 2010. References External links * 1942 births Living people People from Lappeenranta Lutheran archbishops and bishops of Turku 20th-century Lutheran archbishops 21st-century Lutheran archbishops Finnish Lutheran archbishops {{Finland-Lutheran-bishop-stub ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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John Vikström
John Edvin Vikström (born 1 October 1931) is a Finnish priest. He served as the Archbishop of Turku and Finland from 1982 to 1998. Personal life John Edvin Vikström was born to parents Edvin and Hilma Vikström. In 1957 he married teacher Birgitta Vikström (b. Hellberg) who died in 1994. John Vikström has three children. His brother Erik Vikström and his son Björn Vikström are both his successors as bishop of Porvoo/Borgå. Archbishop of Turku and Finland 1982–1998 As the 53rd successor of St. Henry, Vikström's era was far reaching. During his term as the Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, the Church carried out many reforms. The Church was given a new Bible translation and a new hymnbook, the ordained ministry has been opened to women, church law was reformed and liturgical reform was undertaken. The Church of Finland was also active ecumenically. Archbishop emeritus John Vikström continues to be a popular speaker in academia and business. ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Leo Makkonen
Archbishop Leo (b. 4 June 1948, Pielavesi, Finland) is a former prelate of the Orthodox Church of Finland as Archbishop of Helsinki and All Finland. Background and career He was born in Pielavesi in eastern Finland on 4 June 1948. After completing studies in 1972 at the Kuopio seminary, he was ordained deacon on 20 July 1973 and priest two days later. He was consecrated Bishop of Joensuu on 25 February 1979, then served as Metropolitan of Oulu from 1980–1996. From 1996–2001 he served as Metropolitan of Helsinki, before taking up his post as Archbishop of Karelia; he was confirmed on 27 October 2001. From 1979–1993 he served as chair of the Fellowship of Saints Sergius and Herman. Makkonen retired in November 2024 after the election of his successor Archbishop Elia (Wallgrén). Private life Archbishop Leo is a widower. He has one daughter, and two grandchildren. On his 60th birthday, Leo consecrated an eukterion in his hometown of Pielavesi. Building one had been a ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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John Rinne
Metropolitan John (Secular name: Johannes Wilho Rinne) (b. 16 August 1923 – d. 1 July 2010) was the Orthodox List of Orthodox Archbishops of Finland, Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland from 1987 to 2001. Birth Rinne was born in Turku, Finland, on 16 August 1923 to a family belonging to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. Priesthood and episcopacy Rinne joined the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1966, and he received a doctorate in theology from Finland's Åbo Akademi University in 1966. In 1967 he received monastic tonsure in the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian in the island of Patmos (Greece). Following his ordination to the diaconate and priesthood at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in 1969 he was elected and consecrated Bishop of Lapland (Finland), Lapland, Auxiliary to the Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland, of the autonomous Finnish Orthodox Church, Orthodox Church of Finland. In 1971 Rinne received a doctorate in canon law from the University of Thessaloniki. ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |