An Order of the Orthodox Crusaders of the Patriarchy of Jerusalem; Grand Cross

Item #EU13325

$940

Greece: Multi-piece construction, French-made, silver gilt with red, black, cerulean blue and ultramarine blue enamels, marked "MODÈLE DÉPOSÉ" beside a cross above "R D 708002" on the edge, obverse illustrating the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem in the centrepiece, inscribed on the centrepiece ring in Greek "ΕΝ ΤΟΥΤΩ, ΝΙΚΑ" (In This Sign You Will Win) above and "ΙΕΡΟΥΣΑΛΗΜ ΜΗΤΗΡ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΩΝ" (Jerusalem Mother of the Churches) below, the upper and lower arms with two-headed eagle in black (the symbols of the Greek Orthodox Church), the left and right arms with crowns that are red in the voided areas (representing the Eternal Kingdom of Faith), reverse illustrating the coat-of-arms of the Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem in the centrepiece, inscribed on the centrepiece ring "JÉRUSALEM MÈRE DES ÉGLISES" above and "EN ETEI 312" below, the arms marked as per those on the obverse, the badge surmounted by a trefoil-shaped upper loop with inner cross, 99.2 mm x 118 mm, on its original full-length sash with gold-coloured fringe, chipping and crazing evident in the ultramarine blue enamels on the reverse cenetrepiece ring, light contact overall, fraying and tearing evident on one tail of the sash, near extremely fine.

 
Footnote: The Order of the Orthodox Crusaders of the Patriarchy of Jerusalem was instituted in 1925. It is not connected to the Greek State, but directly awarded by the Head of the Greek Orthodox Church, kept in the highest consideration and importance. It is awarded to the highest personalities, in recognition of outstanding merits in the defence of Christianity.