STATUTES OF THE AQUILINE ORDER OF CHRIST and the PONTIFICAL ORDER OF THE EAGLE §~1:1. The Orders 1.    The official names of the orders shall be: a) The Aquiline Order of Christ; otherwise known as the Supreme Roman-Ruthenian Order of Christ. b) The Pontifical Order of the Eagle of Saint Stephen and Mary Immaculate.  Referenced in general use as: The Pontifical Order of the Eagle (P.O.E). 2.    TYPE of ORDER:  The Aquiline Order Christ and  the Pontifical Order of the Eagle (P.O.E) are religious-dynastic orders of the Stato Pontificio Imperiale di Roma-Rutenia and the United Roman-Ruthenian Church. 3.    RANKS & TITLES: When issued, Letters Patent associated with Ranks and Titles generally constitute Real Property whether tangible or intangible and may thus be included in a member’s estate for ranks that are specified as hereditary.  Letters Patent may also specifically designate hereditary status of interest to an estate. The Order of Christ is given in one rank: Knight or Dame. From highest to lowest, P.O.E ranks/titles include Bailiff Grand Cross (hereditary), Knight/Dame Grand Cross, Knight/Dame Commander, and Knight/Dame. Admission to the order constitutes ennoblement if not already noble.  4.    PRECEDENCE among other ORDERS:  Due to their history and eligibility requirements the Aquiline Order of Christ and the P.O.E rank highly among the most exclusive of Christian orders of chivalry. The Order of Christ is the highest order of the the Stato Pontificio Imperiale di Roma-Rutenia and the United Roman-Ruthenian Church. The P.O.E ranks immediately above the Order of Saints George and Olga and immediately below the Religious and Military Order of Saints Anne and Alexander Nevsky.   5.    HISTORY: a) Known primarily as the Aquiline Order of Christ, the Supreme Roman-Ruthenian Order of Christ, established 1319, is the highest order of knighthood awarded by the Roman-Ruthenian Supreme Pontiff in his capacity as head of the modern titular Pontifical Imperial State and is a continuation of the Knights Templar. The order was given its senior status by Pope St. Pius X. By current policy, it is only awarded at the discretion of the Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia to princes, and it is jointly awared with the rank of Bailiff of the Pontifical Order of the Eagle (it is for this reason it is known as the Aquiline Order). The order is given in one rank, Knight (or, for female recipients, Dame) of Christ. The order shares its history with the Vatican Supreme Order of Christ and the Portuguese Military Order of Christ.   b) The order is the Christian successor to the military unit (Ninth Spanish Legion) founded by Julius Caesar in 58 BC, re-constituted by Caesar Augustus, re-established as a Christian noble order under the blessing of Pope St. John Paul II.  Today, the P.O.E as an Orthodox and Catholic order of chivalry represents the Christian preservation of the Roman Empire and all its history and includes the merger of three historic orders of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church. Those orders are the Legion of the Eagle, the Royal Order of Saint Stephen, and the Sacred Order of Mary Immaculate. Thus, recipients in good standing of any of the three orders stated above are automatically members of the Pontifical Order of the Eagle at their current equivalent rank, as defined in pontifical decree of 2021. 6.    MOTTO: “Honor Virtutis Praemium.” 7.    OFFICERS & PROTOCOLS OF THE ORDER OF THE EAGLE:  a)    Bailiffs Grand Cross (hereditary knights and dames; also referred to simply as Bailiffs) are nobles of significant standing. They hold a rare distinction that claims pride of place within Christian chivalry. They serve as advisers to His Holiness the Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia and hold the distinction of being his honourary cousins. Beginning in 2024, the rank of Bailiff is no longer awarded independently, but only concurrently with the Order of Christ. Since the rank of Bailiff is hereditary, the heir to the Knights and Dames of Christ and the line of said heir as defined in the statutes may inherit the rank of Bailiff in accordance with the policies of the statutes. b)    Hereditary Officers of the order are the Sovereign, who is the the Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia; the Prince Grand Master, a hereditary office held by the Grand Prince of Etruria; and the Hereditary Deputy Grand Master, a hereditary office held by the Count di Santa Croce. c)    Appointed Officers of the order are the Marshal, the principal ceremonial officer of the order; the Vice Marshal, who assists the Marshal; the Chancellor, who serves as principal administrative officer of the order; the Vice Chancellor, who assists the Chancellor; the Registrar, who maintains membership rolls of the order; and the Eagle King of Arms,  responsible for determining/maintaining the order’s  roll of coats of arms and issuance of related insignia.  Officers are appointed by the the Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia, Supreme Pontiff of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church, or else by the Grand Master with approval of the Supreme Pontiff. 8.    ADMISSIONS:  Admission to the order is at the sole pleasure of the Supreme Pontiff. a.    The Aquiline Order of Christ is held by right at the 18th birthday by the Grand Dukes and Grand Duchesses of Rome-Ruthenia. It may be conferred by the Supreme Pontiff on other worthy gentlemen and ladies and is accompanied with the hereditary rank of Bailiff of the Order of the Eagle. b.    Except where provided within these statutes, initial admissions to the P.O.E. are typically at the rank of Knight or Dame; occasionally at the level of Knight/Dame Commander.  c.    Knights and Dames of the Eagle are chosen from the nobility due to their devotion to Christ & Church and for their demonstrated chivalric service. d.    While Knights and Dames of the Eagle must generally derive from nobility and be of the Catholic and Apostolic faith, such requirements may be waived by the Supreme Pontiff for exceptional persons. Non-nobles of exceptional qualification are occasionally admitted. They become de facto/ipso facto ennobled by virtue of high levels of scrutiny prior to acceptance into the Order.  The designation may be formalized at the discretion of the Grand Master. e.    Admission as a Bailiff of the Eagle is an exceptional honour. Beginning in 2024 and in perpetuity, the rank of Bailiff is only conferred upon Knights and Dames of Christ automatically at the time of their admission to that honour.  f.    Admission directly as a Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Eagle is likewise only typically offered to Orthodox or Catholic princes or high nobles, or to heads of state. Knights and Dames may also be promoted to the grade of Grand Cross from other ranks within the order. g.    Generally, membership in the P.O.E. at any rank other than Bailiff is accorded lifetime status.  However, Knights and Dames may be removed by the Supreme Pontiff for violation of the statutes of the order or for violation of the laws of the Stato Pontificio Imperiale and the Holy Church. h.    No rank in the Order of the Eagle other than Bailiff shall be hereditary. i.     High nobles, defined as the rank of Count Palatine (or equivalent) and above, who are Bailiffs of the Eagle may be appointed by the Supreme Pontiff to the Order of the Golden Spur. Such appointees are also known as Bailiff Knights or Bailiff Dames of the Golden Spur of the Order of the Eagle. The rank of the Golden Spur is non-hereditary.  j.     Knights and Dames of the Eagle at any rank may be appointed by the Supreme Pontiff to the Roman-Ruthenian Orders of St. Pius IX, St. Gregory the Great, and/or St. Sylvester at any rank within those orders. The ranks in those orders are non-hereditary. 9.    INHERITANCE OF THE RANK OF BAILIFF OF THE EAGLE: The life status rank of Bailiff of the Eagle is a hereditary distinction. Thus, it is the rank that can be associated with an estate.  However, inheritance is not automatic.  Rather, the senior heir apparent of the Bailiff member should be recorded as such in the rolls of the order and must petition the Grand Master or the Supreme Pontiff for official recognition.  Claims by heirs will be adjudicated by rules of succession regarding specific titles, noble status, or other conditions in effect at the time of review.  a.    An heir apparent must convey a written claim to the Supreme Pontiff or the Grand Master via a Letter of Petition asserting “just cause,” clearly demonstrating proofs of all requirements for inheritance then in effect. b.    New or Amended Letters Patent will be issued upon approval. c.    If a petition is denied, the next relevant line of succession may petition lest a familial line may be determined abeyant or extinct. d.    After three generations absent a successful claimant, a familial line, for the purpose of claimants of the order’s titles or ranks, automatically becomes extinct. e.    If more than one member of an immediate family is a Bailiff in their own right, then each rank/title invokes unique lines of succession.  In rare cases where the heir of one or more Bailiffs results in the same person, that heir may lay claim to both titles.  If successful, the heir may combine the two ranks/titles into a single membership. Otherwise, the second and any subsequent memberships may be inherited by the next closest heir and so on. f.    It is thus highly recommended that each Bailiff designate their intended heir(s). §~2:2  Insignia of the Orders 10.    Ribbons: a)  The Order of Christ uses two ribbons. The neck ribbon and informal ribbon is red. The sash is medium blue. b) The main ribbon of the P.O.E. is Royal Blue, after the principal colour of the coat of arms of the house of the Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia. Ribbon colors for Bailiffs are identical for the sash, but instead  in equal portions of blue, red, and blue for other ribbons. 11.    The Crosses of the Orders: a)  The cross of the Order of Christ is a Latin cross pattée in red with an inset Latin cross in white. b)  The cross of the P.O.E. is blue, eight-pointed, with a Roman Eagle in the centre and eagles in between each of the four main points. 12.    Knights and Dames of the Eagle wear the cross of the order on a ribbon drape of royal blue on the left chest. Dames may instead use a ribbon bow of the same colour.  13.    Knight Commanders and Dame Commanders of the Eagle wear the cross of the order on a neck ribbon. Dame Commanders may likewise use the same ribbon bow as a regular Dame. 14.    Knights Grand Cross and Dames Grand Cross of the Eagle wear the cross of the order on a royal blue ribbon sash over the right shoulder. The cross is suspended from a cluster of oak leaves emanating from two cross swords, all embellished with diamonds. The Knights and Dames of this rank, likewise, use the same cluster of oak leaves when wearing the decoration from a neck ribbon. Dames of this rank similarly use the same cluster of oak leaves when wearing the decoration from a ribbon bow. 15.    Bailiffs of the Eagle wear the cross of the order in the same manner as Knights Grand Cross on a blue sash over the right shoulder. The Greater Eagle, pendant from a lapis lazuli or other blue stone in a gold filigree setting, may be worn at the neck (or by ladies from a bow) from a ribbon of equal portions, blue, red, and blue. Those who are also Knights or Dames of the Golden Spur use the same ribbon for the eagle insignia as given for a bailiff in general. Those who are also Knights or Dames of the Aquiline Order of Christ use a solid red ribbon. Knights or Dames of the Aquiline Order of Christ also instead use a sash of medium blue ribbon, from which is pendant the cross of the Order of Christ pendant from a lapis lazuli or other blue stone in a gold filigree setting.  16.    The star of the order is a gold starburst, of eight points, with a gold eagle upon a golden cross. It is only worn by Knights/Dames Grand Cross. The star of the Order of Christ is identical, but has the central eagle displayed upon a blue stone centred on the cross. 17.    The Collars and Collarettes of the Orders: a) The collar of the Order of Christ consists of a double chain, within which are set, alternating, gold filigrees and medallions bearing the double crosses of St. Peter crowned with the pontifical tiara. The cross of the order, pendant from a crown and a gold trophy, is worn from the chain. b) The collar of the P.O.E., which is only worn by Bailiffs, consists of a gold eagle pendant from a lapis lazuli or other stone within a gold setting, pendant from a colour change made of alternating gold filigree squares in between alternating rubies and sapphires within gold settings. c) The collarette of the Order of Christ consists of a heavy single chain in gold, from which is pendant the greater eagle pendant from a lapis lazuli or other blue stone within a gold setting. d) The collarette of the P.O.E. consists of a heavy single chain in silver, from which is pendant the greater eagle pendant from a lapis lazuli or other blue stone within a gold setting. 18.    Miniature insignia for the Orders are defined as follows: a.    Miniature insignia is only worn by Bailiffs of the Eagle and Knights and Dames of Christ. b.    Bailiffs use a ribbon in the same colours as their neck ribbon, with a gold eagle is pendant from a lapis lazuli stone within a gold setting. Knights and Dames of Christ use the same design as bailiffs, likewise without the crown, but from a solid red ribbon. The ribbon used for the miniature eagle is the same for Knights and Dames of the Golden Spur as given for bailiffs in general. c.    The miniature insignia may be worn at the neck, worn from a lapel ribbon (knights) or a bow (dames), or mounted with other miniature medals.  d.    The ladies’ vision of the miniature insignia is with the ribbon is fashioned in a bow, with loose ends. 19.    Lapel ribbons of the Order of the Eagle shall consist of a horizontal ribbon of approximately three-eighths inch width in Royal blue with a vertical ribbon of ¼ inch likewise in Royal blue. For commanders, the horizontal ribbon is replaced with silver lace. For knights grand cross, the horizontal ribbon is replaced with gold lace. For bailiffs, it is identical to that of knights grand cross, except that the vertical ribbon is red with blue edges. 20.    Service ribbons of the Order of the Eagle shall be blue with a gold crown attachment in the centre. Those of commanders shall have a silver metallic line embroidered lengthwise. Those of knights grand cross shall have the same line, but in gold. The ribbons of bailiffs are identical to those of knights grand cross, except that the ribbon itself is the same as their neck ribbon (or solid red for Knights or Dames of Christ). Knights and Dames of Christ, Knights and Dames of the Golden Spur, or other Petrine orders wear a separate ribbon for those orders in addition to the ribbon of the P.O.E. However, for Knights and Dames of Christ, if they wear a separate service ribbon for the Order of the Eagle, it is also in red, with the crown and gold metallic embroidered line. §~ 3:3  Church Robes of the Order 21.    Church robes for Bailiffs consist of a scarlet cassock, scarlet fascia with gold bullion tassels, a gold damask mantellone (which may optionally add a train of up to 1 metre), over which is placed a white fur cappuccio with a small red hood and a red band around the bottom portion, slightly inset from the bottom. The collar of the Order surmounts all. The red mantle of the order  is worn over the cappuccio. The hat is of Renaissance style, in red velvet, with a rigid brim and cords terminating in gold tassels. a.    During summer months, a cappuccio of red silk may optionally be used. b.    Clergy wear the same habit, except that the hat is a 4-winged red biretta with pom-pom. If the bailiff is a cardinal, however, the biretta is the usual three-winged watered silk style without pom-pom. Clergy who are bailiffs of the order are entitled to the cassock and biretta of the order in all circumstances. c.    Consistent with the usage of the Pontifical Court, bailiffs who are clergy and entitled to the rochet wear it at liturgical functions. d.    Up to four stars of approved orders, in bullion, may optionally be worn attached to the cappuccio at the discretion of the wearer. e.    Knights of Christ wear the collar of that order via placement superseding/above the collar of the Eagle. f.     The collarette may alternative be worn. 22.    For all knights and dames of the order through the rank of Knight/Dame Grand Cross inclusive, the church robes of the order consist of a blue cassock; red waist sash tied in the centre with a square knot and with gold fringe at each end; a scarlet cape with high colour, white lining, and white trim at the edges, upon which is the ten-pointed star version of the insignia (a five pointed gold star with five smaller points in between, with a white circle in the centre around which is written the motto of the order at the top and with five gold stars at the bottom, with a blue circle inset, and upon the central white field, a gold eagle) on a blue circular background on the left chest, a royal blue stylized hood attached to the right shoulder, white ribbon bows at the edge of each shoulder, and a single large white cord attached to the shoulders and joining in front in a single large white tassel. The hat is of Renaissance style, in black velvet, with a rigid brim and cords terminating in gold tassels. a.    Commanders wear a ribbon sash, without insignia,  red with wide royal blue borders over the right shoulder. Knights and Dames Grand Cross wear the same sash over the left shoulder. No other insignia is worn. b.    Clergy wear the same habit, except that the clerical biretta of their rank is instead used. Bishops and Prelates of the Pontifical Court instead to use the cassocks appropriate to their rank and office. c.    Consistent with the usage of the Pontifical Court, bailiffs who are clergy and entitled to the rochet wear it at liturgical functions. §~ 4:4 Heraldry of the Orders 23.    Members of the order are entitled to certain heraldic augmentations. a.    Blue baton with silver eagle: Knights, Dames, Commanders, and Knights/Dames Grand Cross b.    Blue baton, embellished with white eagles, with silver eagle: Bailiffs Grand Cross (hereditary) c.    Red baton with gold cords and gold eagle: Sovereign and Grand Master d.    Red baton with silver cords and silver eagle: Deputy Grand Master e.    Eagle Collar: Bailiffs Grand Cross f.     Christ Collar and Eagle Collar: Knights/Dames of Christ 24.    The heraldic depiction of the collar of the order may either be identical to its physical form or use the old style. The old form consists of the greater eagle pendant from a chain made of gold and discs upon which is a shield containing a demi-eagle emanating from an arrow. 25.    Bailiffs and Knights/Dames Grand Cross of the Eagle may encircle their arms with the blue sword belt. The sword belt is edged in gold and bears the motto of the order. 26.    Commanders and Knights/Dames of the Eagle may suspend the insignia from the shield on their respective ribbons. 27.    The heraldic badge of the order consists of a gold eagle upon a golden Teutonic cross upon a background that is red in the heraldic dexter half, and it is blue in the heraldic sinister half. This is placed within the sword belt of the order and upon the Dual Cross, all of which is surmounted by the pontifical insignia. §~5:5 Privileges of the Orders 28.    Members of the orders have the right to be judged by peers within the order and are not subject to any other authority without the consent of the Grand Master. 29.    Bailiffs uniquely have the right to be judged exclusively by the Supreme Pontiff and are not subject to any other authority without the consent of the Supreme Pontiff. 30.    All disputes between members of the orders should be settled, therefore, exclusively within the orders. 31.    Bailiffs have the right to be heard by the Supreme Pontiff in all matters affecting the orders. 32.    Each member has the right to directly consult and to petition the Supreme Pontiff. 33.    Members have the right to be seated in choir during liturgy according to rank. 34.    Every member of the orders is entitled to three divine liturgies for the dead upon their death. 35.    Each member who is a priest should say three divine liturgies upon the death of any other member. 36.    Each member who is not a priest should arrange for three divine liturgies to be said upon the death of any other member. §~ 6:6 Responsibilities of the Orders 37.    All members have an individual and collective duty, obligation, and responsibility to proclaim and uphold the Christian Faith in all circumstances by acting to the best of their abilities. 38.    All members have the duty, obligation, and responsibility to serve and protect the Holy Church according to the best of their abilities. 39.    All members have the duty, obligation, and responsibility to pray devoutly each day. 40.    All members have the duty, obligation, and responsibility to help others, particularly the weak, afflicted, and infirmed; and to grow in the Christian Faith through study, service, devotions, and the frequent reception of the Sacraments. 41.    All Knights and Dames of Christ and other Bailiffs of the Eagle have the duty, obligation, and responsibility to respond to convocations and to carry out tasks of the Supreme Pontiff.