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 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.
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.[2]
The insignias of the Order are divided into five classes:[citation needed]
- Grand Cross
- Grand Officer
- Commander
- Cross of Merit
- Medal of Merit
Administration[edit]
The Patriarch of the Order is Patriarch and Pope Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa.
The Master of the Order is Friedrich, Duke and Prince of Beaufort-Spontin.[3]
The Government was chaired 1999–2009 by the Chancellor Raimo Ilaskivi, and other members of the Executive Committee were the Vice Chancellor Hans-Olof Kvist, General Secretary Jürgen Schumacher and Treasurer Reino Koskinen.[citation needed]
On 21 May 2009 Raimo Ilaskivi was assigned by the Duke of Beaufort-Spontin (the Master), to be Deputy Master of the Order. The same day Jürgen Schumacher was chosen new Chancellor, Leif Syrstad Vice Chancellor and Jorma Ahonen Secretary General.[3] Beaufort-Spontin also appointed George Haramis Ambassador of the Order to the Patriarchate. The Chairman of the Council is Rune Ryden.[citation needed]
Notes[edit]
- ^ Ekman & Vorselman 1997, p. [page needed].
- ^ "THE CONSTANTINIAN NEWS" (PDF). No. 1. Ordo Sancti Constantini Magni. 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
- ^ a b OCM staff 2014, government
References[edit]
- Ekman, Eero; Vorselman, Torsten (1997), Ordo Sancti Constantini Magni 1953-1993: History of 40 Years of the Order, E. Ekman [self-published source]
- OCM staff (2014), Ordo Sancti Constantini Magni, ocmonline.org
- Ahonen, Jorma, ed. (2014), The Constantine News (PDF), Ordo Sancti Constantini Magni
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