Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius

The Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius was founded on May 18 in 1909 when the Bulgarian Tsar Ferdinand I. and ranked first in the contracts to be awarded in the country, who came exclusively to the highest state officials to award.

After the end of the monarchy took place in the People's Socialist Republic on 13 December 1950, the foundation of an award named medal " Cyril and Methodius ", which was awarded for services to science, culture and education. On April 5, 1991 this was abolished after the communist era. By resolution of the National Assembly on 29 May 2003, to restore the original form to the award for services to science, culture and education.

  • 2.1 steps
  • 2.2 appearance
  • 2.3 carrying method
  • 2.4 ceremonies
  • 3.1 Order of Classes
  • 3.2 Medal Decoration

Tsarist Empire ( until 1944 )

Order of classes

The Order was instituted in only one class and consists of a large cross that was worn either on a Collar of or a sash and a breast star.

Order decoration

The religious character is a silver gilt light blue enameled Byzantine Cross. In the cross angles green enameled beams are mounted on each of which is a stylized lily. In resting medallion the figures of saints Cyril and Methodius are standing side by side to see. Enclosed in the locket by a golden ring of the blue enamelled inscription EX ORIENTE LUX ( From the east comes light).

The breast star is in the shape of a Maltese cross and is made of silver. In the cross angles blazing flames with applied lily can be seen. On the cross lying horizontally two outspread golden partially red enamelled wings with a saint 's face in the middle. Vertical are also seen wings that are supposed to symbolize the movement of the horizontal wings.

The members of the Collar of are silver plated and will alternate between a standing, flipped to the left crowned lion and a lily.

Ceremonies

The number of Bulgarian Teutonic Knights was limited to fifteen people, with only nine awards were made. In addition, a further 52 were foreigners, mostly monarchs, this highest award.

  • Tsar Ferdinand I
  • Prince Boris
  • Prince Cyril
  • Joseph I., Exarch in 1912
  • Ivan Geschow, Bulgarian Prime Minister in 1913
  • Vasil Radoslawow, Bulgarian Prime Minister in 1918
  • Ivan Vazov, Bulgarian writer in 1920
  • Simeon of Warne - Preslav, Metropolitan in 1922
  • Danail Nikolaev, Bulgarian General of Infantry on May 6, 1936
  • Nicholas II, Tsar of Russia
  • Wilhelm II, German Emperor
  • Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria - Hungary
  • George VI. , King of Great Britain and Emperor of India
  • Victor Emmanuel III. , King of Italy
  • Frederik VIII, King of Denmark
  • Alexander I, King of Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia
  • Albert Lebrun, President of the French Republic
  • Ignacy Moscicki, President of the Polish Republic
  • Hermann Goering, commander of the German Air Force, Nazi politician
  • Benito Mussolini, Head of State of Italy
  • Joachim von Ribbentrop, Foreign Minister of the German Reich, Nazi politician
  • Miklós Horthy, regent and head of state in Hungary

People's Republic (1950-1991)

Levels

The award consists of three stages:

Appearance

The award is a round medal with red or blue enamel ground. It shows the image of the saint in relief. In the left foreground Cyril, holding a scroll with the first four letters of the Cyrillic alphabet in the hands. Slightly offset right behind Methodios with a Bible under his arm. At the upper edge there is a five-pointed star on the medal.

Carrying method

Born is the award to a light blue band on the left chest.

Ceremonies

On May 22, 1951, the first presentation of this distinction was held at the Bulgarian mathematician Nikola Obreshkov ( 1896-1963 ). All three classes were awarded a total of 48,200 times.

Republic ( since 2004)

Order of classes

The Order today consists of three classes:

  • Collane
  • Officer
  • Knight

Order decoration

The religious character is inspired by the shape of the tsarist era. The flames in the cross angle, however, are no longer covered with a lily and the reverse can be found instead of the crowned cipher names the national colors of the country. The first two classes are gold plated, silver plated, only the third class.

Obverse and reverse Collar (Order of Knighthood) Ferdinand I of Bulgaria Communism Holy Spirit Prince Kiril of Bulgaria Joseph I of Bulgaria Bulgarian Exarchate Vasil Radoslavov General of the Infantry Victor Emmanuel III of Italy Alexander I of Yugoslavia Albert François Lebrun Knight's Cross
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