Star of the Order “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” Emission of Tzar Ferdinand I.”

Established on 18 May 1909 for the independence and elevation of Bulgaria from Principality to Kingdom. The Order “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” is the highest distinction in the Kingdom of Bulgaria. The founder of the order, Tsar Ferdinand, had planned it long before its establishment. The designs, as with many other Bulgarian distinctions, were created by Friedrich von Rosenfeld, which adds an additional level of unification to the Bulgarian distinction system. The fact that the order could not have more than fifteen living cavaliers brings it closer to a medieval knightly order, in which, along with the monarch, a few distinguished nobles were members. The vision and organization of the order were based on the French Royal Order of the Holy Spirit, established in 1578 by King Henry III of Valois. This was the highest knightly order of the French monarchy for two and a half centuries. Undoubtedly, Tsar Ferdinand was familiar with the details of this order, as it is known that he valued the family relations to the French royal court. The Order “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” has a Great collar — a privilege of the Grand Master, the ruler. The small collar, worn by the next of kin and his brothers, along with the Great Cross and star, was awarded to the cavaliers. The sash, worn over the left shoulder, was light peach in color, selected to match the motto of the distinction. Tsar Boris III, in his preference, almost always wore the Small collar of the order. The motto of the order was “Ex Oriente Lux” (“Light from the East”).