 |
| Patriarchal Order of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem | |
|---|---|
 Cross of the order | |
| Type | Lay order Ecclesiastical decoration |
| Founded | 14 September 1979 |
| Religious affiliation | Melkite Greek Catholic |
| Motto | Greek: Φως και Ζωη (Fos kai Zoe) – "Light and life" |
| Grand Master | Patriarch Youssef Absi |
 Ribbon bar of the order | |
The Patriarchal Order of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem is a Catholic honorific lay order and ecclesiastical decoration established in 1979 by Patriarch Maximos V Hakim of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, with its seat in the Old City of Jerusalem. It aims to promote Catholic faith and to support religious, cultural and social works of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in the Holy Land, as well as to promote its Byzantine liturgy. Its current Grand Master is Patriarch Youssef Absi, and its Grand Prior is the Vicar Apostolic of Jerusalem.
The symbol of the order is a gold-edged cross with a red or blue interior. Its vertical inscription is ΦΩC ("light"), and its horizontal inscription is ΖΩΗ ("life"), together forming the order's motto in Greek: Φως και Ζωη (Fos kai Zoe), meaning "Light and life". Prominent feast days include Saint George's Day and the Feast of the Cross.
The Patriarchal Order of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem, while completely independent of the Holy See, is under "ecclesiastical patronage"[1] sui iuris by the Melkite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East in accordance with the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. As such, it is recognised as a legitimate ecclesiastical decoration by the International Commission on Orders of Chivalry.[2] In addition, it is a registered charity in multiple countries.[3]