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Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius

Royal Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius
царски Поръчка на Кирил и Методий
Awarded by Tsar of Bulgaria standard.svg The King of the Bulgarians
Type Dynastic Order
Royal house House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha-Koháry
Religious affiliation Bulgarian Orthodox
Ribbon Light Orange.
Eligibility The Bulgarian Monarch and Heir
Foreign Heads of State
Status Rarely currently constituted
Sovereign King Simeon II
Grades Knight Grand Cross with Chain
Statistics
Established 18 May 1909
1909 - 1946 (National Order)
1946 - present (House Order)
Precedence
Next (higher) None (Highest)
Next (lower) Royal Order of Saint Alexander
Order of SS. Cyril and Methodius ribbon.png
The ribbon of the Order
Order of Cyril and Methodius
Орден „Кирил и Методий“ I ст..jpg
1st Class Order of Cyril and Methodius
Awarded by People's Republic of Bulgaria
Type Order
Status Obsolete
Grades Three
Statistics
Established 1950
Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius
Awarded by President of Bulgaria
Type Order
Awarded for merits in the fields of art, science, educationa and culture.
Status Currently constituted
Grades Three
Statistics
Established 29 May 2003
Precedence
Next (higher) Order of Stara Planina
Next (lower) Order of Civil Merit
Order of Military Merit

The Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius is an award conferred by the Republic of Bulgaria.

It has had three incarnations :

The Order was established on 18 May 1909 by Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria (grandfather of current formerly-King Simeon II), the first Grand Cross of this order to be awarded to the highest state officials.

It consisted of one class: Grand Cross, represented by a Collar, a Sash and a Breast-star.

The collar of the members is gilded-silver and alternately shows a standing, crowned lion facing left and a fleur-de-lis.

The ribbon of the Order is pale orange.

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 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.

Former King Simeon II of Bulgaria considers this version of the order to be his dynastic order and wears it - from left shoulder to right hip - on official occasions such as the wedding of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden and Daniel Westling (Photos 1, 2)

The People's Republic of Bulgaria instituted the Order of Cyril and Methodius (the word Saints was dropped under the communist regime). It was awarded as an honour in the fields of science, culture, or painting


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