Order of Saint Michael the Archangel

This article is about the Russian dynastic order of knighthood. For other uses, see Order of Saint Michael (disambiguation).

Imperial Order of Saint Michael the Archangel

Awarded by Head of the House of Romanov
Type| Dynastic Order
Royal house| House of Romanov
Religious affiliation| Russian Orthodox
Awarded for| (1) Individuals who have distinguished themselves in the struggle for the liberation of Russia from godless communism, as well as fighters against communism in other countries;
(2) Individuals of distinguished services in Charity and Philanthropy
Status| Currently constituted
Sovereign| Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia
Grades| Knight Grand Cross
Knight/Dame Commander
Knight/Dame
Precedence
Next (higher)| Imperial Order of St. Stanislaus
Next (lower)| Imperial Order of St. Princess Olga

Ribbon of the order

The Imperial Order of Saint Michael the Archangel (Russian: Императорский Орден Святого Михаила Архангела), is a dynastic order of knighthood[1][2] instituted in 1988 by Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich, claimant to the headship of the former Russian Imperial House.

It is a house honour and is currently conferred by Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, current claimant of the headship of the former imperial house. It celebrates its foundation on the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel and the Synaxis of the All-Bodiless Powers on the 21/8 November (NS/OS).

## History of the Order

[edit]

The order was founded in 1988 by Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich of Russia, Head of the Imperial House of Russia. It was created in commemoration of the 1,000 years of Russian Orthodoxy, the 375th anniversary of the ascension to the throne of the House of Romanov, and the 50th anniversary of his own accession as head of the dynasty. At the time of its establishment, the Order was conferred in only one class for Knights and Dames, and was awarded to "individuals who have distinguished themselves in the struggle for the liberation of Russia from godless communism, as well as fighters against communism in other countries."[3]

In 2012, in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the end of the Time of Troubles, the Order was reorganized by Vladimir Kirillovich's daughter Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia, "for the purpose of strengthening and further developing the Russian Imperial tradition of philanthropy."[4] The Order is now awarded to "individuals of both sexes for distinguished services in charity and philanthropy."[5]

## Award Classes of the Order

[edit]

The Order of Saint Michael the Archangel has three classes, as follows:

* The first class: Knights and Dames Grand Cross of Saint Michael the Archangel
* The second class: Knights and Dames Commander of Saint Michael the Archangel
* The third class: Knights and Dames of Saint Michael the Archangel

## The Insignia of the Order

[edit]

The Device of the Imperial Order of Saint Michael the Archangel is a four-pointed cross, black-enamelled gold, with flanged arms, centering a round enamel medallion. On the face is an image of Saint Michael the Archangel in gold, surrounded by a blue outer ring. On the back, appears the monogram of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich with the date “1613” in gold, and the monogram of Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich, with the date “1988.” The cross is suspended from a Russian Imperial Crown.

The Star of the Imperial Order of Saint Michael the Archangel is eight-pointed. In the center appears a Cross of the Order in miniature, surrounded by the Order’s Motto: “Mercy and Truth.”

Knights of the Order wear its Devices in the following way:

* Knights Grand Cross of Saint Michael the Archangel (First Class) - wear a sash across their right shoulder with the suspended Grand Cross, and the Star of the Order at left.
* Knight Commander of Saint Michael the Archangel (Second Class) - wear the Cross of the Order worn at the neck suspended from a ribbon.
* Knight of Saint Michael the Archangel (Third Class) - wear the Cross of the Order suspended from a ribbon worn on the left.

Dames of the Order wear its Devices in the following way:

* Dames of the Grand Cross of Saint Michael the Archangel (First Class) - wear the sash across their right shoulder with the suspended Grand Cross, and the Star of the Order at left.
* Dames Commander of Saint Michael the Archangel (Second Class) – wear the Cross of the Order on the left shoulder suspended from a double bow.
* Dames of Saint Michael the Archangel (Third Class) – wear the Cross of the Order suspended from a single bow on the left shoulder.

## The International Association of the Order of Saint Michael the Archangel

[edit]

Created in 2012, the Association is a private philanthropic endeavor of Maria Vladimirovna, Grand Duchess of Russia. Membership is exclusively reserved to men and women who are recommended for membership by two Knights or Dames of the Order of Saint Michael, and approved by the Head of the Imperial House. Association members are awarded the right to wear a miniature badge of the order in bronze suspended from a ribbon on the left breast. Officers of the Association are conferred the right to wear a gold palm upon the ribbon. The Association's purpose is to raise funds to support charitable, philanthropic, spiritual and cultural projects under the patronage of the Russian Imperial House. Not less than 80 percent of the funds collected annually by the Association is to be directed to these endeavors.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Non-Ruling Dynastic Orders of Merit". The Augustan Society. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
2. ^ "Dynastic Orders of Chivalric CHaracter". International Commission on Orders of Chivalry. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
3. ^ Павлов, станислав. "Императорский Орден Святого Михаила Архангела". Retrieved 29 November 2013.
4. ^ Zakatov, AN. "An Imperial Decree On the Reorganization of the Imperial Order of St. Michael the Archangel and the Creation of an International Association of this Order". Russian Imperial Chancellery. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
5. ^ Zakatov, A.N. "On the Reorganization of the Statutes of the Order of St. Michael the Archangel". Russian Imperial House. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.

* v
* t
* e

Orders, decorations, and medals of Russia

Honorary
titles|

* Hero of the Russian Federation
* Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation
* Mother Heroine
* Pilot-Cosmonaut of the Russian Federation
* Honoured Military Pilot of the Russian Federation
* Honoured Military Navigator of the Russian Federation
* Honoured Cultural Worker of the RSFSR

Orders|

* Order of St. Andrew
* Order of St. George
* "For Merit to the Fatherland"
* Order of St. Catherine
* Order of Gagarin
* "For Valiant Labor"
* Order of Alexander Nevsky
* Order of Suvorov
* Order of Ushakov
* Order of Zhukov
* Order of Kutuzov
* Order of Nakhimov
* Order of Courage
* Order "For Military Merit"
* Order "For Naval Merit"
* Order of Prigorov
* "For Merit in Culture and Art"
* Order of Honour
* Order of Friendship
* Order of Parental Glory

Decorations|

* Cross of St. George
* Decoration "For Beneficence"
* Badge of Distinction "For Mentoring"
* Decoration For Impeccable Service
* Guards Badge

Medals|

* "For Merit to the Fatherland"
* "For Courage"
* "For Bravery"
* Suvorov
* Ushakov
* Zhukov
* Nesterov
* Pushkin
* Defender of a Free Russia
* "For Distinction in the Protection of Public Order"
* "For Distinction in the Protection of the State Borders"
* "For Bravery in Firefighting"
* "For Life Saving"
* "For Work in Agriculture"
* "For the Development of Railways"
* "For the Construction of Transport Facilities"
* "For Merit in the Development of Nuclear Industry"
* "For Merit in Space Exploration"
* Order of Parental Glory

Jubilee
medals|

* 50 Years of Victory
* 60 Years of Victory
* 65 Years of Victory
* 70 Years of Victory
* 75 Years of Victory
* 300 Years of the Russian Navy
* 850th Anniversary of Moscow
* 100 Years of the Trans-Siberian Railway
* 300th Anniversary of Saint Petersburg
* 1000th Anniversary of Kazan

Presidential
certificates|

* Presidential Certificate of Honour
* Presidential Certificate of Gratitude

Officially defunct
dynastic orders|

* Order of Saint Catherine
* Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky
* Order of the White Eagle
* Order of Saint Vladimir
* Order of Saint Anna
* Order of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker
* Order of Saint Anastasia
* Order of Saint Stanislaus
* Order of Saint Michael the Archangel
* (Insignia of Saint Olga)

* Russia portal

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template