The Lesser Heraldic Achievement of the Order.
The Middle Heraldic
Achievement of the Order
The Full Heraldic Achievement of
the Order. This version of the Heraldic Achievement serves as
the official arms of the Order as a whole.
DESCRIPTION AND SYMBOLISIM OF THE HERALDIC ACHIEVEMENT OF THE ORDER
Armiger:
Konstantine Pandolfi as Grand Knight of the Order.
Crest:
Bishop’s Crown.
Blazon:
An escutcheon Argent, a cross sanguine–in the first quarter, the letters IC sanguine; in the second quarter, the letters XC sanguine; in the third quarter, the letters NI sanguine; and, in the fourth quarter, the letters KA sanguine. In the center of the coat of arms is an escutcheon or with a pomegranate natural.
Supporters:
Dexter: a lion Or holding a sword Cendre’, Sinister: a peacock Azure.
Compartment:
A gold floral scroll.
Order(s):
The collar of the Order of the Holy Spirit and the Collar of the Order of Saint George the Great Martyr.
Symbolism:
The full heraldic achievement represents the whole Order and is its chief heraldic symbol.
The white shield represents the purity and light of Christ that shines throughout the whole of creation; the crimson cross is the cross of Saint George the Great Martyr; the crimson color represents the innocent shed blood of Christ and those of His Holy Martyrs.
The Greek characters IC, XC, NI, KA stand for “Jesus Christ Conquers” (the motto of the Order).
In the center of the shield, is a smaller golden shield representing the divine light of heaven.
In the center of the smaller golden shield is a pomegranate natural, the pomegranate being a symbol of God’s divine grace.
Crowning the shield is the Bishop’s Crown representing that the Order is fully under the spiritual guidance and protection of the Orthodox Church.
Supporting the shield on the left is a lion holding a sword in a defensive position symbolizing Christ as the conquering Lion of Judah.
Supporting the shield on the right is a peacock, a bird of paradise symbolizing incorruptibility and resurrection. In ancient Christian iconography a peacock drinking from a kantharos (the source of life) symbolized immortality as Christ is the fountain of all living water.
Surrounding the whole shield is the Grand Collar of the Most Meritorious Order of the Holy Spirit and the Grand Collar of the Holy Orthodox Order of Saint George the Great Martyr.