Order of Saints George & Olga
(Gallo-Russo-Byzantine Catholicate, Stato Pontificio)

 


English


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The Order of Saints George and Olga is a religious-dynastic order of the Pontifical Household of the Stato Pontificio Romano (Pontifical Roman State) given to gentlemen and ladies of high rank or office in recognition for significant service to the mission of Rome or the Pontifical Household. The order is subdivided into two divisions, one exclusively for gentlemen and the other exclusively for ladies. The Grand Master of the gentlemen's division is the Papa-Catholicos. The Grand Mistress of the Ladies' Division is the Grand Duchess of Rome-Ruthenia. The order is generally only conferred upon nobles of the rank of Baron and above and General officers and its civil equivalent. It ranks immediately after the Pontifical Order of the Eagle. Membership also confers nobility ad vitam.  

The order is named in honour of its celestial patrons, Saint George the Martyr and Saint Olga of Kiev. St. George has many patronages, including knights, cavalry, and horsemen. He is a prominent figure in the history, patrimony, and traditions of the Anglican Patriarchate of Rome and the Gallo-Russo-Byzantine Catholicate. The St. George cross is seen in the coats of arms of Barcelona and Trier, the insignia of the Pontifical Georgian College, and the flags of the Pontifical Walsingham Guard, among others. 

Saint Olga was Grand Princess consort of Kiev and ruled the Old Russian State (Kievan Rus') as Regent on behalf of her son after her husband was assassinated. She is highly regarded for her efforts to spread the Catholic faith in her territory, which culminated in her grandson, Saint Vladimir the Great, making the Christian faith the official religion. She is also an ancestress of several royal and noble houses in Central and Western Europe, including the French Capetian and Bourbon dynasties.

The order is given only in one rank, that of Knight or Dame. In rare and exceptional cases in recognition of the highest service, the office and distinction of Grand Commander may be conferred. Although the order ranks immediately after the Pontifical Order of the Eagle, the honour of Grand Commander of Sts. George and Olga ranks first among dynastic honours and immediately after the Supreme Florentine-Roman Order of Christ. 

Also, Grand Dukes of Rome of the Pontifical Household who are also Princes of Ruthenia receive this order, along with the Florentine-Roman Supreme Order of Christ, on their 18th birthday.

The insignia consists of a gold Roman Eagle centred upon a white eight-pointed cross with gold eagles in between. The cross is worn by Knights pendant from an orange and black striped neck ribbon, and by Dames pendant from a bow of the same ribbon. The Grand Master, Grand Mistress, and Grand Commanders may wear the insignia on a broad ribbon sash in the colours of the order over the right shoulder. The colours are imperial yellow and black, with the yellow tinged with the red of the martyrs.


Gentleman's neck cross of the order


Insignia of the Dames of the Order


Cordon of the Grand Commanders of the Order


Knight's cross with pin for
wear on the chest
Knight's cross with pin for
wear on the chest
(small ribbon version)



Lapel Ribbon

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Nota Bene: These orders are given exclusively by the Anglican Patriarchate, Stato Pontificio as historic orders of the Stato Pontificio. H.H.E. the Papa-Prince of Rome holds the exclusive right to confer them.
They are distinct from the modern state orders given by the Vatican City-State or any other state or dynastic house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT, TRADEMARK, AND DISCLAIMER:

The Stato Pontificio Romano constitutes an ecclesiastical sovereignty by right of Rome as heir to the Roman Empire with an independent government in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (as the Anglican Rite Roman Catholic Church). Additionally, the church descends from the See of Utrecht, which was granted autonomy in 1145 by Pope Eugene III and confirmed in 1520 by Pope St. Leo X in the Bull Debitum Pastoralis. As the sole successor of Pope St. Leo X and temporal successor of St. Peter the Apostle, the Catholicate and Patriarchate are fully Catholic and holds the same canonical authority as the Roman Communion (Vatican). The Catholicate and Patriarchate are the ecclesiastical successor to temporal Rome, the temporal patrimony of the Roman Empire claimed historically by right of the papacy. The succession passed to the Catholicate after Benedict XVI by right of Rome and Florence, with the Papa-Catholicos of Rome-Ruthenia with papal authority as temporal successor of St. Peter, and the Pope-Bishop of Rome as spiritual successor of St. Peter and de facto sovereign of the Vatican City-State. Although administratively independent, the Apostolic See embraces as brethren other Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican bodies, such as the current Roman Communion (commonly referred to as the Roman Catholic Church), the Anglican Ordinariate, Eastern Orthodox Churches, and the Anglican Communion. The Imperial Roman Church is defined as the Gallo-Russo-Byzantine Catholicate, the Anglican Patriarchate of Rome, and the churches of all Bishops recognised by the Catholicate. The governments of the modern republics of Italy, German, France, Switzerland, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and the United States, and of the modern kingdoms of Great Britain and Spain, as well as the European Union and all other civil states, are not affiliated with the Stato Pontificio government in exile.