Difference between revisions of "Holy Order of The Cross"

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[[File:Holy Order of the Cross Regalia.jpg|thumb|Certificate of Investiture and neck regalia]]
[[File:Holy Order of the Cross Regalia.jpg|thumb|Certificate of Investiture and neck regalia]]
The '''Holy Order of The Cross''' is a [[Westarctica|Westarctican]] [[Orders of Westarctica|Order of Chivalry]] that recognizes exceptional Christian achievement. Citizens of Westarctica and foreigners who exemplify Christian values may receive the honor in all three of its classes. The order is bestowed irrespective of denominations of Christianity and has been awarded to Protestants and Catholics.  
The '''Holy Order of The Cross''' was a [[Westarctica|Westarctican]] [[Orders of Westarctica|Order of Chivalry]] that recognized exceptional Christian achievement. Citizens of Westarctica and foreigners who exemplify Christian values could receive the honor in all three of its classes. The order was bestowed irrespective of denominations of Christianity and has been awarded to Protestants and Catholics.


It is the only Westarctican order that may be bestowed posthumously as a symbol of the eternal nature of the soul and the faith of the holder continuing in the afterlife.  
It was the only Westarctican order that may be bestowed posthumously as a symbol of the eternal nature of the soul and the faith of the holder continuing in the afterlife.
 
The Order itself was abolished on 11 March 2021.


==Creation of the Order==
==Creation of the Order==
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===Status and Future of the Order===
==Discontinuation of the Order==
The Order is now considered disused, its function having been deemed incompatible with Westarctica's status as a secular nation. The Holy Order of the Cross is still technically active.
The Order was abolished by [[Royal Decrees|Royal Decree]] on 11 March 2021, its function having been deemed incompatible with Westarctica's status as a secular nation. Existing knights of the Order are still authorized to wear their regalia and bear the honorifics associated with the Order.
 
The Order of The Cross creates a unique future issue, regarding its perceived inability to become dormant. Due to the fact that the honor is actually bestowed upon an immortal soul, and not a person, the recipient does not stop being an active member upon death. Due to this, the Order of the Cross will remain active (even though it has been placed "in disuse") until it is abolished.


==Classes and regalia==
==Classes and regalia==
[[File:HOLY ORDER CROSS-Regalia.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Original regalia for the Holy Order]]
[[File:HOLY ORDER CROSS-Regalia.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Original regalia for the Holy Order]]
The classes and regalia of the Holy Order have undergone significant changes after the order was first instituted. The class of Knight Commander was originally restricted to members of the clergy, however, when the third knighthood was bestowed, it was in the class of Knight Commander despite being given to a lay person. The fourth honor was bestowed at the level of Grand Knight Commander, which was originally intended to be a class held by the sovereign alone.
The classes and regalia of the Holy Order underwent significant changes after the order was first instituted. The class of Knight Commander was originally restricted to members of the clergy, however, when the third knighthood was bestowed, it was in the class of Knight Commander despite being given to a lay person. The fourth honor was bestowed at the level of Grand Knight Commander, which was originally intended to be a class held by the sovereign alone.


Consequently, the regalia for the order also changed. The neck medal, worn only by Grand Knight Commanders was a Maltese cross in the style of a simplified Prussian ''Pour le Mérite'' decoration without the gold lettering on the cross. This was changed in April 2015 to an original design of a cross surrounded by elaborate and delicate metalwork.
Consequently, the regalia for the order also changed. The neck medal, worn only by Grand Knight Commanders was a Maltese cross in the style of a simplified Prussian ''Pour le Mérite'' decoration without the gold lettering on the cross. This was changed in April 2015 to an original design of a cross surrounded by elaborate and delicate metalwork.


The drape medal, which may be worn by all classes of knight, remains the same.
The drape medal, which may be worn by all classes of knight, remained the same.


==Knights==
==Knights==
[[File:John-paul-II.jpg|thumb|right|Pope John Paul II, Knight Commander]]
[[File:John-paul-II.jpg|thumb|right|Pope John Paul II, Knight Commander]]
As of 6 April 2018, the Holy Order of The Cross has only been awarded to four individuals.
Before being abolished in 2021, the Holy Order of The Cross was only awarded to four individuals.


===List of Knights===
===List of Knights===

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