Official Honours Granted by Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Northern Europe
THE NORDERN CROSS FOR CLERGY
The North Cross is the highest distinction granted by the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Northern Europe to clergymen who have undertaken outstanding activity by promoting Christian values and the pastoral-missionary, cultural-educational and socio-philanthropic ministry of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Northern Europe. It was established in 2009 by Bishop Macarie. The distinction is a triconch cross, a form inspired by an old Byzantine model, measuring 8 x 12 cm. It is made of silver. On the obverse, the cross arms are made of light blue enamel, poured into a narrow silver outline. On the reverse, the name of the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Northern Europe, who gives the distinction, is engraved in silver. The charter accompanying the distinction is based on the words of Saint Apostle Paul, “remembering your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:3). The text of the charter is framed by a border inspired from Byzantine miniatures, while the floral motifs are in shades of blue and gold.
THE NORDERN CROSS FOR LAYMEN
The North Cross is the highest distinction granted by the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Northern Europe to lay people who have undertaken outstanding activity by promoting Christian values and the pastoral-missionary, cultural-educational and socio-philanthropic ministry of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Northern Europe. It was established in 2009 by Bishop Macarie. The distinction is a triconch cross, a form inspired by an old Byzantine model, measuring 40 x 42mm. The cross is surmounted by a mitre, a sign that it is a distinction given by the bishop of the place. It is made of silver. On the obverse, the cross arms are made of light blue enamel, poured into a narrow silver outline. On the reverse, the name of the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Northern Europe, who gives the distinction, is engraved in silver. The charter accompanying the distinction is based on the words of Saint Apostle Paul, “remembering your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:3). The text of the charter is framed by a border inspired from Byzantine miniatures, while the floral motifs are in shades of blue and gold. The charter is offered in a cardboard tube, in blue velvet cover, on which the coat of arms of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Northern Europe is engraved; the North Cross distinction is in a box covered in the same blue velvet, with the coat of arms of the Diocese engraved on the cover.
THE DIOCESAN DISTINCTION “REVEREND PROFESSOR ALEXANDRU CIUREA”
Father Professor Alexandru Ciurea (1912 – 1996) was the first Romanian Orthodox priest serving in Scandinavia. Between 1971 and 1979, he founded and organized the three Romanian Orthodox parishes in Stockholm, Göteborg and Malmö with 10 branches in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark. In 1973, he set up the “Candela” magazine in Stockholm.
The distinction was established in 2015 by Father Bishop Macarie Drăgoi of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Northern Europe. It is made of bronze and has the shape of a rectangle arranged in height, with the upper part finished in semicircle with a radius of 13 mm. The two lower corners of the rectangle are rounded with a radius of 2mm. The piece has a width of 27 mm and a height of 35 mm.
On the obverse is the priest Professor Alexandru Ciurea, standing in front of the Holy Table in the Holy Altar, with the cross of blessing in his hand. On the Holy Table is the Gospel and the Ark. Priest Alexandru Ciurea wears liturgical vestments: stihar, epitrahil decorated with a cross and a felon embroidered with small crosses with equal arms. The Holy Table has an embroidered cover with a large cross with equal arms.
The obverse has a very low profile curve of 1 mm. The whole scene is reminiscent of the background plan. At the bottom, in a 7 mm wide rectangle, in the same plane as the work’s edge, on two horizontal rows, the following inscription is displayed: REVEREND PROFESSOR ALEXANDRU CIUREA. Above the scene, following the semicircular upper contour of the piece, the following inscription is shown: DIOCESAN DISTINCTION.
On the reverse, the piece has a 1 mm wide border, very slightly more pointed than on the obverse.
The reverse contains a text surmounted by the embossed “Cross of the North”, engraved in a circle with the recessed and polished, to detach the image of the cross.
The inscription on eight horizontal rows contains the following text: “INSTITUTED AND CONFERED BY FATHER BISHOP + MACARIE OF THE ROMANIAN ORTHODOX DIOCESE OF NORTHERN EUROPE”. Under the heading is engraved the year 2015.
The piece has a ring on the top to hold the ribbon. The ribbon is made of blue fabric 25 mm wide. On the left edge has a band of 5 mm wide with the three colors of the Romanian flag. The sign is carried on the chest on the left.
DIOCESAN DISTINCTION “NICOLAE MILESCU SPĂTARUL”
The Commander Nicholas Milescu (1636-1708), sent by voivode Gheorghe Stephen to Stockholm, with a mission to the King of Sweden, Charles XI, made the famous catechism, in 1667, at Holmiae, Enchiridion sive Stella Orientalis Occidentali splendens / Manual or Star of the Orient shining in the West, one of the most important dogmatic-apologetic works of that time. Probably in the seventeenth century, this peregrine scholar was the only Romanian in the “North Venice” and did not suspect that in three centuries his compatriots would come to seek a better life and settle here, forming in 1971 a first Romanian parish, and in 2008 a Diocese with several parishes, gathering and amassing around the holy altar tens of thousands of souls spread across the northern countries.
The distinction was established in 2015 by Father Bishop Macarie Drăgoi of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Northern Europe. It is made of bronze and has the shape of a rectangle arranged in height, with the upper part finished in semicircle with a radius of 13 mm. The two lower corners of the rectangle are rounded with a radius of 2mm. The piece has a width of 27 mm and a height of 35 mm.
On the obverse is a complex scene. At the forefront is presented the Commander Nicolae Milescu sent by the Moldovan ruler on a mission in Sweden. The scribbler, standing with a document in his hand, wears 17th century Moldovan vestments. A picture representing a 17th-century aristocrat so embroidered is kept in the archives of Stockholm, and was published by Al. Alexianu in the volume “Fashion and the Vestments of the Past”. The scene is completed with a ship from the 17th century that approaches the shores of Sweden. In the background is the continuous front of the buildings of the capital Stockholm, with the churches and the royal palace of that time.
The obverse has a very low profile curve of 1 mm. The whole scene is reminiscent of the background plan. At the bottom, in a 7 mm wide rectangle, on two horizontal rows, there is the inscription: NICOLAE MILESCU SPĂTARUL. Above the scene, following the semicircular upper contour of the piece, the following inscription is shown: DIOCESAN DISTINCTION.
On the reverse the track has a 1 mm wide border. The reverse contains a text surmounted by the embossed “Cross of the North”, engraved in a circle with the recessed and polished, to emphasize the image of the cross. The inscription on eight horizontal rows contains the following text: “INSTITUTED AND CONFERED BY FATHER BISHOP + MACARIE OF THE ROMANIAN ORTHODOX DIOCESE OF NORTHERN EUROPE”. Under the heading year 2015 is engraved.
The piece has a ring on the top to hold the ribbon. The ribbon is made of blue fabric 25 mm wide. On the left edge has a band of 5 mm wide with the colors of the Romanian flag. The sign is carried on the chest on the left.