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The first Orders of Chivalry were formed during the 11th Century. These orders were groups of Knights who banded together to create their own fraternal organization. Usually sponsored by the Monarch of their home countries, or by the Pope, these organizations typically took vows of loyalty and in essence became warrior monks. Click here to read a Brief History of Chivalry. |
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The Codes of Chivalry tempered a knight's strength and zeal to face combat in the violent Middle Ages by appealing to the chivalrous side to his nature. These codes formed a moral system which went beyond rules of combat and introduced the concept of Chivalrous conduct: idealized qualities such as bravery, courtesy, honor, and gallantry toward women. | ||
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Historically, knights were the defenders, at least in the idealized sense, though never has there been a perfect knight. Knighthood is, by definition, an office that strives for a distant ideal, a changing ideal, but one that seeks to emulate the ancient virtues associated with chivalric office. Click here for a list of the Virtues of Knighthood with biblical references. |
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Legend has it that chivalry began with the Emperor Constantine in the fourth century. Just before battle Constantine had a vision of a flaming cross in the heavens with an inscription in hoc signo vinces (in this sign you will conquer). Subsequently, he had a new imperial standard made in this design to be carried into battle and guarded by fifty elite solders organized into a Sacred Knightly Guard. | ||
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We attempt to continue the tradition of the Knightly Virtues and the chivalric code of honor. The Levels of Honor in Our Sovereign Chivalric Order are directly descended from those ancient ranks with whose ideals we fill our lives and by whose example we guide our interactions with others. | ||
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These orders were groups of Knights who banded together to create their own fraternal organization. These organizations were either sponsored by the Monarch of their home countries, or by the Pope (who is a sovereign power of himself). Each member of their organizations typically took vows and in essence became warrior monks. Their warrior nature (because they were all Knights their profession was war) gave the Pope an opportunity to use them as the military arm of the Church. Each one of them had a different charter, or reason for being in existence. For example, the Knights Templar were the guardians of pilgrims going to the holy land. These Templar Knights set up safe houses for pilgrims to seek shelter and safety within. The Templars also protected the pilgrims by setting up the first banking system. Instead of attracting bandits in search of stealing from the pilgrims, the Templars took the money from the pilgrims and gave them a note for how much the Templars were holding for them. Once at their destination, the Templars would give the money back to the pilgrim who gave their money to the Templars. These Orders of Chivalry, acting as an arm of the Church, received donations. After time, the Orders of Chivalry became wealthy organizations. So large was the wealth and power of these Orders, Monarchs were threatened by them. The power and wealth of the Orders allowed them to gain lands of their own, giving them the ability to legitimately call themselves Sovereign. Monastic Orders like the Knights Templar were given special privileges so they only answered to the Pope and need not answer to any Monarch in whatever land they resided. In 1291, when the last stronghold of Christendom fell to the Arabs, the missions of the Orders of Chivalry became obsolete. They now had neither hospitals to run, pilgrims to protect, or missions to achieve. Some Orders, like the Teutonic Knights, survived because they had already settled in eastern Europe. Others, like the Knights Hospitaller, conquered Malta and became a naval power and continued to wage war against the Arabs and later the Turks. Yet others, like the Knights Templar, tried to make a transition to become bankers (they also tried to merge with the Order of Saint John). However, because of their wealth, the French Monarchy falsely accused them of heresy and successfully disbanded the Order in 1312 (the way the King did this is how Friday the 13th became an unlucky day). This did not last indefinitely, however. The Order of Saint John (Order of Malta) lost it's sovereignty in 1798 and is now dedicated to medical and charitable activities. The Teutonic Order became a simple religious order in 1929. The Order of Saint Lazarus split into two factions which may possibly reunite. << Return to Top of Page >>
Many different codes of chivalry have been set down; most contain the following eight issues:
<< Return to Top of Page >> The Virtues of Knighthood in the Orthodox Christian Context
A Brief History of Emperor Constantine
There was always a chivalric idealistic element in knighthood. Today, there are more orders, knights and dames than there ever had been in the past. This is partly because of the growth in population. Partly also, because over time the military, warlike element has faded and disappeared leaving the idealistic element as supreme. Also, what was formerly male dominated has shifted to the point that chivalric orders are now equally for males and females. A further development of different kinds of orders has also taken place. There are dynastic orders, which are awarded to recognize supporters of a given dynasty, such as Britain's Royal Victorian Order. The most common type of knightly orders are essentially recognition given by a state for some noteworthy contribution to the state, such as Britain's Order of the Bath or the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. The purpose of these state orders is to recognize people seen as being superior and noble per se. Then there is a smaller number of chivalric orders which rest on some kind of service. Here service itself is recognized as noble.
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Today, there are many orders in both Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism. Most of these resemble state orders which recognize personal status. Our Sovereign Chivalric Order recognizes actual service and individual contribution to any church, religion, or cause. Status is this order rests solely on an individual's service or contribution. Simply, the Order recognizes those of good will. Some chivalric orders are of a single class, i.e. all are equally knights and dames. Others are of a hierarchy of classes as in this Chivalric Order. The Order's chivalric award is classified as a decoration. Thus holders of the award can use their respective postnominal.
There are two categories for all admissions to the Order at the rank of Knight or above, these being: "Category of Grace" and "Category of Justice."
Levels of Honor Postulant of the Red Cross of Constantine - The holder is entitled to use the postnominal letters PRCC.
Knight of the Red Cross of Constantine / Dame of the Red Cross of Constantine - The holder is entitles to use the postnominal letters KRCC.
Knight Companion of the Red Cross of Constantine / Dame Companion of the Red Cross of Constantine - The holder is entitled to use the postnominal letters KCRCC or DCRCC.
Knight Grand Companion of the Red Cross of Constantine / Dame Grand Companion of the Red Cross of Constantine - The holder is entitled to use the postnominal letters KGCRCC or DGCRCC.
Knight of the Holy Sepulcher and Saint John the Evangelist / Dame of the Holy Sepulcher and Saint John the Evangelist - The holder is entitled to use the postnominal letters KHSSJ or DHSSJ.
Sovereign Prince, Knight Grand Master of the Red Cross of Constantine / Sovereign Princess, Dame Grand Master of the Red Cross of Constantine - The holder is entitled to use the postnominal letters KGMRCC or DGMRCC.
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Only authorized members may purchase these items of Regalia, please be advised.
Please contact the Ambassador’s office for consideration and payment estimations. << Return to Top of Page >> |
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© 2009 The Sovereign Christian Orthodox United Order of the Red Cross of Constantine and the Orders of the Holy Sepulcher and St John the Evangelist. |
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