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| Sash of the Aquiline Order of Christ, United Roman-Ruthenian Church. It is the only Order of Christ to use a solid blue ribbon, though the Brazilian order used a red ribbon with blue edges. |
By M. Desrosiers
ROME-RUTHENIA 7 August 2024 (NRom)
The history of the Knights Templar is one of the most fascinating and enigmatic chapters in the annals of the Crusades. This elite military order, founded in 1119 AD to protect Christian pilgrims in the Holy Land, captured the imagination of medieval Europe and beyond. Though the Templars were ultimately suppressed in the 14th century, their legacy lives on in the form of five distinct Orders of Christ, each tracing its origins back to the original Knights.
The first of these is the Aquiline Order of Christ of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church, the temporal successor to St. Peter the Apostle. Like the other Orders of Christ, this order likewise claims a direct lineage to the Templar knights. It is one of the most rarely-given orders of the Church and is held primarily by the Pontifical and Imperial Household. Unlike the other Orders of Christ, the Aquiline Order merged with the Pontifical Order of the Eagle, so that all Knights of Christ of that order are Bailiffs of the Eagle.
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| Examples of the eagle insignia of the Bailiffs of the Eagle, worn on a red ribbon representing the Order of Christ. |
Parallel to the Aquiline Order is the Order of Christ of the Vatican, which, though currently inactive, is also a successor to the Templars within the Catholic Church. Its dormant status, however, has not diminished the reverence with which it is viewed by many. When given, it was awarded only to reigning Catholic royal heads of state.
The Portuguese Order of Christ, meanwhile, was established by King Denis I of Portugal in 1319. Divided into two distinct branches – one associated with the exiled House of Orléans-Braganza, and the other with the modern Portuguese republic – the Portuguese Order of Christ continues to play a significant role in the cultural and religious life of the nation.
A fourth Order of Christ can be found in the former Brazilian Empire. Established in 1822 by Emperor Pedro I, this order was modeled after the Portuguese tradition and served as a symbol of the new nation's independence and Catholic heritage. Though the Brazilian Empire has long since passed, the order's legacy endures, with some claiming it to be the rightful inheritor of the Templar mantle in the Americas.
Finally, we come to the Order of Christ of Kongo, a lesser-known but no less intriguing branch of the Templar legacy. Emerging from the ancient Kingdom of Kongo, this order was the result of Portuguese bringing the order there.
These five Orders of Christ, each with its own unique history and character, stand as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Knights Templar. Though the original Templar order may have been suppressed, its spirit lives on, inspiring devotion and reverence in those who seek to preserve the ideals of chivalry, faith, and service that defined the Templars' noble mission.
In an age where the world seems increasingly divided, the continued existence of these Orders of Christ serves as a reminder that the timeless values of chivalry – of unity, courage, and constant commitment to a higher purpose – can still inspire and guide us. As we grapple with the challenges of our own time, we would do well to look to the example of these remarkable institutions and the lessons they offer us from the distant past.
