The Order of
Saints Cyril and Methodius
Cyril (; born Constantine, 826–869) and Methodius (; born Michael, 815–885) were brothers, Byzantine Christian theologians and missionaries. For their work evangelizing the Slavs, they are known as the "Apostles to the Slavs".
They are ...
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 (), also known as the Third Bulgarian Tsardom (), usually known in English as the Kingdom of Bulgaria, or simply Bulgaria, was a constitutional monarchy in Southeastern Europe, which was established on , when the Bulgaria ...
(named Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius Equal-to-apostles),
* second on 13 December 1950 by the
People's Republic of Bulgaria
The People's Republic of Bulgaria (PRB; , NRB; ) was the official name of Bulgaria when it was a socialist republic from 1946 to 1990, ruled by the Bulgarian Communist Party (BCP; ) together with its coalition partner, the Bulgarian Agraria ...
(but called the Order of Cyril and Methodius),
* finally on 29 May 2003 by the current
Republic of Bulgaria
Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey t ...
.
The Royal Order
History
The Order was established on 18 May 1909 by Tsar
Ferdinand I of Bulgaria
Ferdinand I (Ferdinand Maximilian Karl Leopold Maria; 26 February 1861 – 10 September 1948) 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 Worl ...
(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 common heraldic charge in the (stylized) shape of a lily (in French, and mean and respectively). Most notably, the ''fleur-de-lis'' ...
.
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 ( ; pl.: ) is a celestial or heavenly being originating in Ancient Judaism. The term plays a role in subsequent Judaism, Islam and Christianity.
Tradition places seraphim in the highest rank in Christian angelology and in the fif ...
.
Royal House
Former King Simeon II of Bulgaria
Simeon Borisov Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (, ; born 16 June 1937) is a Bulgarian politician who reigned as the last Tsar of the Tsardom of Bulgaria as Simeon II from 1943 until 1946. In 1946, the monarchy was abolished by a referendum, forcing Simeon ...
considers this version of the order to be his dynastic order
A dynastic order, monarchical order, or house order is an honorific distinction under royal patronage. This type of order is bestowed by a reigning sovereign or by the head of a formerly ruling family, recognized as a legitimate source of hono ...
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
Daniel commonly refers to:
* Daniel (given name), a masculine given name and a surname
* List of people named Daniel
* List of people with surname Daniel
* Daniel (biblical figure)
* Book of Daniel, a biblical apocalypse, "an account of the acti ...
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 () is a sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology within the socialist movement, whose goal is the creation of a communist society, a socioeconomic order centered on common ownership of the means of production, di ...
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
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.
The National Military History Museum of Bulgaria in Sofia currently has over 150 Bulgarian Orders in the co ...
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
Order (decoration), Orders, State decoration, decorations and medals of Bulgaria are regulated by the law on the Orders and Medals of the Republic of Bulgaria of 29 May 2003.
The National Museum of Military History (Bulgaria), National Military H ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius
Orders, decorations, and medals of Bulgaria
ru:Орден «Святые Кирилл и Мефодий»