Order of St. Cyril

Most Venerable Sovereign Order of St. Cyril of the Holy China
Awarded by the Patriarch of the Holy China
Type	Roman Catholic Chivalric Order of Knighthood
Established	10 May 2023
Motto	Semper Fidelis
Eligibility	Practising member of the Catholic faith
Status	Currently constituted
Grand Prior	Cyrillus Mariae Poon Patriarch of the Holy China
Grades	Grand Prior (GPStC) Grand Commander (GCStC) Knight of Justice (KStC) Dames of Justice (DStC) Officer (OStC) Member (MStC) Postulant Member (MStC Post.)
Statistics
First induction	12 March 2024
Total inductees	1
Precedence
Next (higher)	Grand Commander (GCStC)
Next (lower)	Postulant Member (MStC Post.)

The Order of St. Cyril (Chinese: 聖濟利祿騎士團 / Latin: Ordo Sancti Cyrilli), officially the Most Venerable Sovereign Order of St. Cyril of the Holy China (Chinese: 德望崇隆的神聖中華聖濟利祿騎士團 / Latin: Ordo Sancti Cyrilli Sacrae Sinensis Venerabilissimus), is a Roman Catholic Chivalric Order of Knighthood and the official Department of Military of the Patriarchate of the Holy China.

The current Grand Prior of the Order of St. Cyril is His Most Beatitude Cyrillus Mariae Poon, the Patriarch of the Holy China.

Aims of the Order

The aims of the Order of St. Cyril are:

• To preserve and defend the Catholic faith and tradition.
• To support, care for and help the poor, the sick and the dying.
• To promote and maintain the principles of Christian chivalry and to follow the teachings of Christ in all it does.
• To protect the Patriarch and his official successors.

Membership

As a Military Order, the Order of St. Cyril has a structure of ranks that conforms with European chivalric customs and decorations to recognize service or achievement. Promotions are won by achievement and require the approval of the Grand Prior.

This means that active, involved Members enjoy promotion up through the ranks, with the ultimate achievement of Knighthood and Damehood as an honour bestowed upon those who selflessly serve the Order. Besides promotions, members may also be decorated for achievement or merit.

Obligations of Members

Every person who wishes to join the Order of St. Cyril must be a practicing member of the Catholic faith or non-Catholics. They shall observe fully and freely the laws and decrees of the Order. Each members must prove that they have good character and integrity.

Joining the Order

Membership of the Order of St. Cyril is by invitation to those who are practicing Christians, of good character and standing in their community, and who wish to help the suffering humankind.

The Applicant who wish to join the Order should be less than 18 years old, however there are exceptions, the applicant should be in good mental and physical health.

Those who with to proceed with their application should complete an application form, which will then submitted and vetted by the Committee of the Order from the Patriarchal Chancery, if approved, it will be submitted to the Grand Commander and the Grand Prior for the final approval.

If accepted, the applicant is then invited to join the Order as a Postulant Member, after around 1-2 months of the Postulancy, the Postulant Member will be invested as the Member of the Order, after around 6 to 12 months, with the approval from the Grand Prior, the Member will be elevated to the rank of "Officer" of the Order.

However, for the higher ranks of the Order such as Knights of Justice or Dames of Grace, it will be conferred by the invitation from the Grand Commander or the Grand Prior.

Rite of Investiture

For new members being invested or members being inducted into the office of the Grand Commander, it is necessary for them to recite the Order's Oath of Fidelity in front of the Grand Prior. They should place their hands on the Gospel while the Grand Prior simultaneously touches the top of their hands.

Oath of Fidelity

For newly invested members

"In the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

I, [Name of the Member], solemnly declare that I will be faithful and obedient to the Most Venerable Sovereign Order of St. Cyril of the Holy China and its Sovereign Head, to the extent that it is consistent with my duty to my Grand Prior, the Patriarch of the Holy China, and to my country.

I promise to do everything in my power to uphold its dignity and support its charitable works. Furthermore, I vow to uphold the aims of this Catholic order and conduct myself with honor.

So help me God and God’s Holy Gospels on which I place my hand. Amen."

For incumbent members who take the office of the Grand Commander

"In the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

I, [Name of the Member], upon assuming the office of Grand Commander, solemnly promise to maintain communion with the Roman Catholic Church and the Patriarchate of the Holy China through my words and actions.

I hereby declare my unwavering faithfulness and obedience to the Most Venerable Sovereign Order of St. Cyril of the Holy China and its Sovereign Head, insofar as it aligns with my responsibilities towards my Grand Prior, the Patriarch of the Holy China, and my country.

I shall follow and foster the common discipline of the entire Church and I shall maintain the observance of all ecclesiastical laws, especially those contained in the Code of Canon Law.

I pledge to exert every effort to uphold the dignity of the order and contribute to its charitable endeavors. Moreover, I am committed to perpetually upholding the objectives of this Catholic Chivalric Order of Knighthood and conducting myself as an honorable individual.

With Christian obedience, I shall follow what the Grand Prior, the Patriarch of the Holy China, as authentic doctors and teachers of the faith, declare, or what they, as those who govern the Church.

I shall also faithfully assist the Patriarch of the Holy China, and his lawful successors, so that the apostolic activity, exercised in the name and by mandate of the Church and the nation, may be carried out in communion with the Church, and for the Patriarchate of the Holy China.

So help me God and God’s Holy Gospels on which I place my hand. Amen."

Words of Proclamation

After the member has read the Oath of Fidelity, the Grand Prior will officially recite the words of proclamation:

"By virtue of my authority and mandate, I hereby appoint and invest you as a (Member/Officer/Knight of Justice/Dame of Grace) of the Most Venerable Sovereign Order of St. Cyril of the Holy China. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

For the members who assume the office of the Grand Commander, the Grand Prior's words of proclamation will be as follows:

"By virtue of my authority and mandate, I hereby appoint and admit you as the Grand Commander of the Most Venerable Sovereign Order of St. Cyril of the Holy China, conferring upon you the rights and duties associated with that esteemed position. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

Structure

List of Grand Priors

Since 10th May 2023, the Patriarch of the Holy China are also the Grand Prior of the Order of St. Cyril.

• His Most Beatitude Cyrillus Mariae Poon GPStC (10th May 2023 - Present)

List of Grand Commanders

The Grand Commander of the Order of St. Cyril is also granted the office of Honorary Member of the Patriarchal Chapter of the Cathedral of St. Cyril.

• His Excellency Fra. Jose Costa GCStC (12th March 2024 - Present)

The Grades of the Order of St. Cyril

The Order is conferred in 5 grades, since the Patriarch of the Holy China also holds the office of the Grand Prior of the Order of St. Cyril, therefore the highest grade of the Order is the Grand Commander.

Grades of the Order of St. Cyril
Grade	Grade I	Grade II	Grade III	Grade IV	Grade V	Grade VI
Title	Grand Prior	Grand Commander	Knights of Justice / Dames of Grace	Officer	Member	Postulant Member
Post-nominal letters	GPStC	GCStC	KStC / DStC	OStC	MStC	MStC Post.