Order of the Panagia
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The Most August and Noble Order of the Panagia, founded in 1230, is the highest order of chivalry and the most prestigious honour in all of Diadochia, and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is awarded at the Sovereign's pleasure as His Imperial and Royal Majesty's personal gift, on recipients from Diadochia and elsewhere.
Contents
History
List of Founder Knights
Order
Classes
The award is bestowed in three classes:
- Grand Collar (reserved for the Emperor, Empress, and the Imperial Family, Foreign Sovereigns, and a maximum of three ordinary recipients who have rendered exceptionally meritorious services)
- Grand Cross (limited to ten ordinary recipients)
- Grand Officer (limited to twenty ordinary recipients)
Members
Membership in the Order is strictly limited and includes the Monarch, the Prince of Bithynia, and no more than 33 ordinary recipients, and various supernumerary members.
Male members of the Order are titled "Knights Grand Collar/Cross/Officer," and female members are called "Ladies Grand Collar/Cross/Officer." The Sovereign fills vacancies by appointment
Supernumerary members
In addition, the Order includes supernumerary members, who do not count towards the limit of 33 knights. Members of the Imperial family also make up the Supernumerary members or extra me
- Children of the Emperor are members from birth, but are not received into the order until they are 12 years old.
- Princes of the Blood can be admitted to the order from the age of 16.
- Foreign royalty can be admitted to the order from the age of 21.
Degradation of members
The Sovereign may "degrade" members who have committed very serious crimes, such as treason or fleeing the battlefield, or those who have taken up arms against the Sovereign.
Officers
The Order has six officers: the Prelate, the Chancellor, the Register, the Panagia Principal King of Arms, the Usher, and the Secretary.
Panagia Principal King of Arms
The Panagia Principal King of Arms is the Herald of the Most August and Noble Order of the Panagia. Sometimes simply called the Herald of the Order of the Panagia. The order's herald wears special decorative garb that is of a blue or sometime black color.
Habit and insignia
Order's ceremonial occasions
For the Order's ceremonial occasions, such as the annual Panagia Day, the members wear elaborate vestments and accessories, which include:
- The mantle is a vestment or robe worn by members since the 15th century. It is made of velvet. The mantle was originally purple but is now dark blue and lined with white taffeta. The mantles of the Sovereign, the Prince of Bithynia, and Royal Knights and Ladies end in trains.
- The hat is a white bonnet with a plume of black heron feathers.
- The collar is an accessory worn around the neck, over the mantle and secured with white ribbons tied in bows on the shoulders. Like the mantle, it was introduced in the 15th and 16th centuries. Made of pure gold, it weighs 30 troy ounces.
| Collar of the Order of the Panagia |
- The Great Virgin Hodegetria, which is worn suspended from the collar, is a colourfully enamelled (sometimes jewelled) figure of the Theotokos holding the child Jesus Christ.
- Grand Collar: entitled to all the insignia
- Grand Cross: entitled to both the badge and the star
- Grand Officer: entitled to the badge
Other occasions
On other occasions when decorations are worn, the members wear simpler insignia:
The collar is worn on designated collar days over military uniform or morning dress by members attending formal events. The collar is fastened to the shoulders with silk ribbons (or gold safety pins when worn with morning dress). Since the collar signifies the Order of the Panagia, members can then wear the riband of any other order to which they belong if they wish.
- The star, which is worn pinned to the left breast, was introduced in the 17th century by Emperor Constantine IV and is a colourfully enamelled depiction of the Virgin Hodegetria, encircled by an eight-point silver badge. Since the Order of the Panagia is the senior order of Diadochia, a member will wear its star above the others (up to three) that he or she holds.
- The riband is a four inch (10.16 cm)-wide sash worn over the left shoulder, or pinned beneath it, to the right hip, and was introduced in the 17th century by Emperor Constantine IV. The riband's colour has varied over the years: it was originally light blue. As of 2014 the colour is a light or pale blue color. A member will wear only one riband, even if he or she belongs to several orders
- The badge is worn suspended from a small gold link from the riband at the right hip, and is sometimes known as "the Lesser Virgin Hodegetria". Like the Great Virgin Hodegetria, the badge shows the holy Theotokos holding her son Jesus Christ, but it is flatter and gold. In the 15th century, the badge was worn attached to a ribbon around the neck. This was not convenient when riding a horse, so the custom of wearing it with a riband under the right arm quickly developed in Diadochia.
