Decree By the Grace of God We Grand Duchess Maria of Russia Head of the Russian Imperial House Sovereign of the Imperial and Royal Orders of Russia
have deemed it proper to confirm this “Statute of the Imperial and Royal Orders of Russia,” which will regulate the status and activities of these Orders under current conditions.
H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia
Madrid, November 8/21, 2014
Feast Day of St. Michael the Archangel and the Bodiless Powers
Statute
Of the Imperial and Royal Orders of Russia
1. Basic Provisions
1) The Russian Imperial and Royal Orders are historical honorary institutions of the Russian Imperial House, which bring together worthy sons and daughters of the Fatherland with significant achievements in service to the state and in social, academic, cultural, and philanthropic activities; as well as citizens of other countries who have made important contributions to the preservation and development of the traditions of Russian civilization and culture, and to the strengthening of friendship between nations.
2) Elevation to the dignity of a knight (or dame) of an Imperial Order is an honour and a testament to the respect, gratitude, and appreciation of the Russian Imperial House; but it also imposes a moral responsibility to carry out one’s duty to the nation all the more diligently, and exhorts one to work collaboratively and all the more energetically with the Russian Imperial House in respect of its charitable, cultural, peace-building, and patriotic endeavours.
3) The Russian Imperial House has twelve Orders: the Imperial Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, the Imperial Order of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine (for ladies), the Imperial Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Vladimir, the Imperial Order of the Holy Victory-Bearer George (currently dormant), the Imperial Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, the Imperial and Royal Order of the White Eagle, the Imperial Order of St. Anna, the Imperial Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Imperial and Royal Order of St. Stanislav, the Imperial Order of St. Anastasia the Alleviatrix of Captives (for ladies), the Imperial Order of St. Michael the Archangel, and the Imperial Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga (for ladies, currently dormant).
4) The Sovereign of Imperial and Royal Orders of Russia is the legitimate hereditary Head of the Russian Imperial House.
5) Elevation to the dignity of a knight or dame of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders is made by a Decree of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, signed by him (or her) and confirmed by the Director of the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, who functions as the Chancellor for the Orders and Awards of the Russian Imperial House, and who affixes on the Decree the seal of the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House.[1] Decrees are signed in duplicate copies, one of which remains in the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, and the other of which is conveyed to the Knights’ Council of the respective Order.
6) Persons appointed to membership of one of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders are presented with Diplomas confirming their appointments as knights (or dames) of the respective Order, signed personally by the Head of the Russian Imperial House and confirmed by the Director of the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, who affixes on the Decree the seal of the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House.[2]
7) The insignia of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders do not constitute separate awards, but are symbols indicating membership of an Order and one’s rank in it.
8) The insignia of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders are acquired or commissioned by the knights (or dames) themselves and constitute their own private property, remaining in the possession of their families even after their deaths (though their legal heirs do not possess the right to wear them).[3]
9) All membership dues pertaining to the Orders, which may have been required by the Orders’ Statutes prior to the 1917 Revolution, have been and are hereby abolished. There are no fees in respect of appointment to the honour of knight (or dame) of Russia’s Imperial and Royal Orders.[4]
10) The charitable, educational, scientific, cultural, literary, and other activities of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders are supported by donations freely given by knights and dames and by other contributions, all in strict accordance with current laws.
11) The Statutes of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders, which were formulated before the 1917 Revolution, remain unchanged for each Order, as historical documents. But those provisions of such Statutes, which cannot for one reason or another be applied today, are no longer in effect. Those parts of the Statues that describe the general purpose of each Order, describe the Orders’ insignia, establish the Orders’ religious feast days, and designate the duties of knights (and dames) to take active part in charity and philanthropy, all remain unchanged and in full force.
12) To further the charitable, educational, scientific, social, literary, and other cultural activities of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders in full accordance with current laws, non-profit organizations have been created, which include in their names an indication of their affiliation with an Order.
13) Persons of any nationality, religion, citizenship, social class, and political beliefs may be appointed to membership as knights (or dames) of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders.
14) Appointment to the dignity of a knight (or dame) of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders does not impose upon anyone political obligations of any kind. Accepting appointment to an Order necessarily implies only one’s respect for the Russian Imperial House and one’s recognition of it as a historical institution—a dynasty, which enjoys an indisputable and continuous history since its founding, serves as the guardian of the breadth of Russian spiritual and cultural values from the period 862-1917, and operates in accordance with its own historical laws and traditions.
15) Participation in any form of political activity by the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders is prohibited. Knights (and dames) who engage in political causes are not permitted to exploit their membership in an Imperial Order to further their political goals.
16) Appointments to the dignity of knight of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders are to be made sequentially: First, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker 4th Class;[5] then St. Anna 4th Class;[6] St. Stanislav 3rd Class; St. Nicholas the Wonderworker 3rd Class; St. Anna 3rd Class; St. Stanislav 2nd Class; Nicholas the Wonderworker 2nd Class; St. Anna 2nd Class; St. Vladimir 4th Class; St. Vladimir 3rd Class; St. Stanislav 1st Class; St. Nicholas the Wonderworker 1st Class; St. Anna 1st Class; St. Vladimir 2nd Class; the White Eagle; St. Alexander Nevsky; St. Alexander Nevsky with diamond ornamentation;[7] St. Vladimir 1st Class; St. Andrew the First-Called; and St. Andrew the First-Called with diamond ornamentation.[8]
A person appointed to the dignity of a knight of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, even if not previously appointed a knight of any other of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders, becomes simultaneously a knight of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, the White Eagle, St. Anna 1st Class, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker 1st Class, and St. Stanislav 1st Class. Appointments to the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called are made only by the personal nomination of the Head of the Russian Imperial House.
17) Appointments to the dignity of dame of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders are to be made sequentially: First St. Nicholas the Wonderworker 4th Class;[9] then St. Nicholas the Wonderworker 3rd Class;[10] St. Nicholas the Wonderworker 2nd Class;[11] St. Anastasia the Alleviatrix of Captives; and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker 1st Class.[12] Appointments to the Order of St. Catherine Lesser Cross (2nd Class) and Grand Cross (1st Class) are made only by the personal nomination of the Head of the Russian Imperial House.
18) Appointments to the dignity of knight of the Imperial Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and appointments to higher Classes in this Order may be made regardless of membership in other Imperial and Royal Orders.
19) Appointments to the dignity of knight and dame of the Imperial Order of St. Michael the Archangel, which has three Classes, are made on the basis of special requirements, which are stipulated in the Statute for this Order, which is a honorary charitable organization.
20) Appointments to the dignity of knight of the Order of St. Stanislav 3rd Class and the Order of St. Anna 3rd Class, and to the dignity of dame of the Order of St. Anastasia the Alleviatrix of Captives may precede the awarding of the Order of St. Anna Medal.
21) The Knights’ Council of an Imperial Order may nominate a knight or dame to their first promotion to a higher Class in the Order (in recognition of extraordinary services, because of his or her high office, and so on), but afterward all promotions to higher Classes must strictly follow the sequence of Classes and the hierarchy among the Imperial Orders.
22) Appointment to the next higher Class of an Order or to a more senior Order may occur only after three years have elapsed since the last appointment.[13] The period of time may be shortened only in extraordinary cases of special nomination by the Knights’ Council.
23) In accordance with the historical Statutes of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders, all knights (and dames), except knights of the Order of St. Michael the Archangel, acquire the rights of personal nobility (St. Stanislav 2nd and 3rd Classes; St. Nicholas the Wonderworker 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Classes;[14] St. Anna 2nd and 3rd Classes;[15] St. Vladimir 4th Class; and St. Anastasia the Aleviatrix of Captives), or hereditary nobility (St. Stanislav 1st Class; St. Nicholas the Wonderworker 1st Class; St. Anna 1st Class; St. George in all Classes; St. Vladimir 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Classes; St. Catherine in all Classes; the White Eagle; St. Alexander Nevsky; and St. Andrew the First-Called), if they did not possess these rights before their appointments. The rights of personal and hereditary nobility are recorded in the Office of Heraldry of the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House.
24) Appointments to the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders may be made posthumously.
25) A knight (or dame) of one of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders may be deprived of their membership of an Order for the commission of acts inconsistent with the honour of their station only by Decree of the Head of the Russian Imperial House. A knight (or dame) deprived of such membership naturally also forfeits their right to wear the insignia of the Order or Orders to which he (or she) formerly belonged.
26) Appointment to the dignity of a knight or dame is an honour, which pertains solely to an inpidual. However, the Head of the Russian Imperial House may permit institutions, organizations, military units, sports teams, and other associations to be honoured with the right to use elements of the symbols of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders (such as the colors and pattern of the ribbons and depictions of the Order’s insignia). Similarly, institutions, organizations, military units, sports teams, and other associations may be awarded flags, banners, and pennants displaying the symbols of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders.[16]
2. Rules for Nominations to the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders.
1) Nominations for appointment to the dignity of knight (or dame) are reviewed by the Knights’ Council of the respective Order and, in the event that the Knights’ Council decides to recommend the nomination for membership of the Order, forwards the name of the candidate to the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House along with its recommendation for each candidate. The Director of the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial may inquire of the Knights’ Council for further information about a given nomination, but in any event is obliged to present the nomination to the Head of the Imperial House for consideration.
2) Inpiduals and organizations that offer nominations for appointment to the dignity of knight (or dame) of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders bear the responsibility for the accuracy of the information they have submitted on behalf of the candidate. If it is learned that information submitted on behalf of a candidate is erroneous or that relevant information has been withheld, then the inpidual or organization making the nomination may be prohibited from offering nominations in the future, and appointments to the Orders may later be revoked by a Decree from the Head of the Russian Imperial House.
3) Nominations for appointment to the dignity of a knight (or dame) of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders should include the full name of the candidate, his or her date of birth, his or her title (secular or clerical), employment (or, as the case may be, past employment), and list of deeds and accomplishments in service to the nation.
4) Nominations must be signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the relevant Knights’ Council or (for Orders that do not have a Knights’ Council) by the King of Arms/Head of the Office of Heraldry in the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House and by the Secretary of the Office of Heraldry.
5) Nominations for appointments to the next higher Class of an Order or for membership as a knight (or dame) of a higher ranking Order must include the date of the prior appointment and a list of deeds and accomplishments that the candidate has made since the last appointment, including services and participation in the activities of the Order.
6) Nominations are reviewed personally by the Head of the Russian Imperial House. In the event of a positive decision on the nomination, the Knights’ Council of the relevant Order, or (for Orders that do not have a Knights’ Council) the Head of the Office of Heraldry in the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, are instructed to prepare a Decree and Diploma.
7) Nominations for membership in the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders are submitted on Easter, Christmas, and the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross; on the Birthdays and Namedays of the Head of the Russian Imperial House or his (or her) Heir; on the feast days of the Order; on the National Day of Unity (the feast day of the Icon of the Kazan Mother of God); and, for military servicemen and servicewomen, on military holidays.
8) Nominations are submitted to the Head of the Russian Imperial House no later than one week before the intended date of signing of the Decree.
9) In the event a candidate for membership in an Imperial and Royal Order should occupy pubic office, the candidate must first be asked in advance about his (or her) willingness to accept this honour.
3. The Investiture Ceremony of Insignia of Russian Imperial and Royal Orders
1) A person deemed worthy to be a member of an Order becomes a knight (or dame) from the very moment the Decree conveying to him (or her) that honour is signed by the Head of the Russian Imperial House. The investiture ceremony, during which the Diploma and insignia are presented to the new knight (or dame), is a solemn ceremony that may take place any time after the signing of the Decree.
2) Diplomas conferring membership of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders are presented by the Head of the Russian Imperial House, his (or her) Heir, the Director of the Chancellery of the Russian Imperial House, by the King of Arms/Head of the Office of Heraldry in the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, or by the chairman or secretary of the Knights’ Council of the Order. Another person may be designated to present the Diploma, but only with written permission of the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House or of the Knights’ Council of the relevant Order.
3) Diplomas conferring membership of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders are not to be conveyed to knights and dames by mail.
4) The insignia of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders are bestowed by the Head of the Russian Imperial House, his (or her) Heir, the Director of the Chancellery of the Russian Imperial House, by the King of Arms/Head of the Office of Heraldry in the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, or by the chairman or secretary of the Knights’ Council of the Order. In the absence of the aforementioned, the insignia are not put on the recipient of the Order, but are rather only handed to the knight or dame by a person designated in writing to do so by the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House or by the Knights’ Council of the respective Order. The knight or dame then puts the insignia of the Order on themselves.
5) Investiture ceremonies proceed in an ordered sequence, starting with the presentation of Diplomas and insignia for the lower Classes of an Order and moving then to the higher Classes.
6) Persons who have been appointed members of an Order should before the investiture ceremony be notified of the proper dress required for the occasion (a uniform or tailcoat, or a dark suit [a dark suit with a tie and white shirt for knights and formal gowns for dames]). If for some unforeseen reason a knight (or dame) appears at an investiture ceremony not properly attired, then the insignia of the Order will be handed to the recipient but not put on him or her.
7) Responsibility for the conduct of investiture ceremonies belongs to the Knights’ Council, or (for Orders that do not have a Knights’ Council) the Office of Heraldry of the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House.
4. Rules for wearing the insignia of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders
1) The wearing of the insignia of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders follows Imperial statutes and regulations, which remain unchanged, except that newly-instituted Orders occupy the appropriate place designated to them in the general ranking of the Orders. Here follow the general regulations for the wearing of the insignia:
- knights (and dames) are to wear only the insignia of the highest Class of an Order awarded;[17];
- where knights of the First Class of more than one Order may at certain events and appropriate occasions wear their insignia, they wear the sash of only the highest Order by rank to which they belong; an exception is the feast day of an Order, when one wears not the sash of the highest Order by rank to which one belongs, but the sash of the Order whose feast day it is;
- sashes over the shoulder are worn on solemn occasions over the tunic of military uniforms, and over the shirt and under the tailcoat (for knights); and on formal gowns (for dames);
- stars of the Orders are worn on solemn occasions on military uniforms and tailcoats (for knights) and on formal gowns (for dames);
- insignia worn about the neck and on the breast are worn on solemn occasions on military uniforms and tailcoats (for knights) and on formal gowns (for dames);[18]
- these general rules should ideally be observed in full, but under current conditions, it is permitted to wear on formal occasions the insignia of the Orders not only on tailcoats, but also on suits (or uniform coats, jackets, and tuxedos). On such occasions, one may not wear more than one star, and the shoulder sash is not worn;
- when dressed less formally, one may wear miniature versions of the Order’s insignia, the Order’s rosette, or service ribbon.
2) Insignia of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders are worn separately from state awards or below them.
3) The insignia of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders are not to be worn at the same time as medals from civic organizations.[19]
This “Statute on the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders” was confirmed by the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, on November 8/21, 2014, the feast day of St. Michael the Archangel and All the Bodiless Powers—the feast day of all knights of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders—in order to regulate the status and activities of the Orders of the Russian Imperial House under current conditions.
A. N. Zakatov
Director of H.I.H.’s Chancellery
[1] Decrees elevating one to the dignity of knight of the Imperial Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker are confirmed by the signature of the Chairman of the Knights’ Council and by the seal of the Knights’ Council.
[2] Diplomas elevating persons to the dignity of knights of the Imperial Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker are confirmed by the signature of the Chairman of the Knights’ Council and by the seal of the Knights’ Council.
[3] Because the insignia of the Imperial Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker are numbered, and because the number on the insignia must match the number on the Diploma, knights of this Order may acquire or commission the insignia only with the consent of the Knights’ Council of this Order.
[4] It is hereby made generally known that any attempt by third parties to institute any fees whatsoever in connection with membership of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders is to be considered improper and unauthorized; if any such impermissible attempts should be made, then the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House is to be immediately informed.
[5] Awarded only for military valor exhibited in defense of the Fatherland.
[6] Awarded only for military valor exhibited in defense of the Fatherland.
[7] Presently dormant.
[8] Presently dormant.
[9] For ladies who are officers in the military.
[10] For ladies who are officers in the military.
[11] For ladies who are officers in the military.
[12] For ladies who are officers in the military.
[13] This provision is not to be taken to mean that advancement to the next higher Class occurs every three years. Rather, three years is the minimum length of time required for nomination to an Order.
[14] Those awarded the Order’s St. Nicholas the Wonderworker Medal do not acquire nobility, either personal or hereditary.
[15] Those awarded the Order’s St. Anna Medal do not acquire nobility, either personal or hereditary.
[16] Awards of this sort do not in any way signify that any or all the members of an association have been made members of an Order, but signifies only that a link exists between the institution, organization, military unit, and so on, and an Order.
[17] The exception is the Order of St. George.
[18] The Orders of St. Catherine and St. Anastasia do not have insignia worn about the neck. Dames of the Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker 2nd Class wear the Order’s cross about the neck when wearing their uniforms, and a miniature of the Order’s insignia with ribbon, fastened to the shoulder.
[19] Of course, this restriction does not apply to Orders and medals of the Russian Orthodox Church, of other local Orthodox Churches, other traditional religious confessions, or foreign ruling dynasties, inasmuch as these Orders and medals have, like those of the Russian Imperial House, been founded not by civic organizations but by historical institutions.