Ordo Sancti Constantini Magni

Badge of the Ordo Sancti Constantini Magni

Ordo Sancti Constantini Magni (post-nominals: OCM) (English: Order of Saint Constantine the Great) is a self-styled[citation needed] international, ecumenical, and religious Christian Order and knighthood under the auspices of the Patriarch and Pope Theodoros II of Alexandria and all Africa.[1]

The Order was established in 1953 in Switzerland[2] to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Fall of Constantinople with most original knights hailing from Finland and Greece. Later, due to growth, the Order began establishing smaller 'exarchates' in various countries. The first two were established in Finland and Greece in 1978 and held their 40th anniversary conclaves in 2018.

It now operates in ten countries having members for example Russia and the United States.[3][4]

In the aftermath of World War II, the Order sought to mitigate hardship brought on by the war. Since then, it has focused for example on famine and children in Africa and on locations in North Karelia.[5][2]

Members tend to be of high in social standing. Honorary members include figures such as Finnish president Sauli Niinistö, Lutheran archbishops Jukka Paarma and John Vikström and Orthodox archbishops Leo and John as well as Russian Nobel Prize laureate Zhores Alferov.[6]

Monotheistic belief is a requirement of membership. Theoretically, eligibility extends beyond ecumenism and includes Muslims as well. Women are allowed membership.[2]

At the beginning of 2018, the Order had 491 full members in many European countries and the United States:

  • Finland (248 knights)
  • United States (79 knights)
  • Sweden (63 knights)
  • Greece (34 knights)
  • Austria (29 knights)
  • Norway (19 knights)
  • Germany (10 knights)
  • Czech Republic (9 knights)
  • Diaspora (4 knights)

Additionally, there are 38 honorary members.[7]

The insignias of the Order are divided into five classes:[citation needed]

  • Grand Cross
  • Grand Officer
  • Commander
  • Cross of Merit
  • Medal of Merit
  1. ^ Ekman & Vorselman 1997, p. [page needed].
  2. ^ a b c Kiuru, Kari (19 January 1998). "Uusia ritareita promovoitiin Loviisassa". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Ritarit kokoontuvat Turussa". Turun Sanomat (in Finnish). 23 August 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  4. ^ Kuittinen, Teppo (7 July 2011). "Natsiyhteys yllätti Sauli Niinistön". Apu (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 2011-07-26.
  5. ^ "Konstantinus Suuren ritarikunta sai kymmenen uutta ritaria". Turun Sanomat (in Finnish). 24 August 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Pyhän Konstantinuksen ritarikunta löi hyväntekijöitä ritareiksi". Kirkko ja kaupunki (in Finnish). 12 November 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  7. ^ "THE CONSTANTINIAN NEWS" (PDF). No. 1. Ordo Sancti Constantini Magni. 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2021.