La Spada di San Giorgio - mac-ro.com€¦ · noble origin. In order to stabilize and unite his rule, Decius ordered that every citizen of the Empire was obliged to offer sacrifice

La Spada di San Giorgio

Edizione in Volume Unico per l’Anno 2016One Volume Edition for the Year 2016

Periodico di Informazione – Information Periodical

Sacro Ordine Imperiale Militare Nemagnico AngelicoCostantiniano di San Giorgio e di Santo Stefano

| Edizione in Volume Unico per l'Anno 2016 | One Volume Edition for the Year 2016 |

One Volume Edition for 2016of the Biannual Information Periodical

official organ of the Sacred ImperialMilitary Nemantine Angelic Constantinian Order

of Saint George and Saint Stephen

Editorial BoardAlberto VeroneseFabio GuasticchiPatrick Incorvaja

Graphics and ArtworkTheresa Incorvaja

ProofreadingVera Trassari

All rights reserved.Reproduction in whole or in part,

without prior permission, is prohibited.Collaboration with articles,

reviews and reports,is open to all and subject

to the Editorial Board.Any responsibility for the articles presentedis undertaken exclusively by their drafters.

Front CoverThe Archangel Saint Michael

Church of Saint Michael Arcangel(Temple of Saint Angelo) Perugia – Italy

Back CoverThe Rescript of Constantine

Antico Palazzo Comunale of Spello Italy

Donations in support of the Journaland the activities of the Order

By means of:(only in Italy) Postal account n. 82594011

Addressed to:Associazione Nobile Milizia

Aurata CostantinianaSan Giorgio Rito Orientale

| La Spada di San Giorgio Periodico di Informazione Information Periodical |

Contents

The Feast of Saint Agatha in Catania

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes in Lucera

Investiture Ceremony of new Knights and Dames in Perugia

The Solemnity of Pentecost at the Pantheon

Charity Concert at the Pantheon

International Prize "CONSTANTINUS MAGNUS"2016 Edition

Investiture Ceremony of new Knights and Dames in Rome


Bust of Saint Agatha, venerated by the faithful at Catania and carried in procession across the entire city.

informazione compilata da | information compiled from: saintagatha.com; meteoweb.eu; lasicilia.it


The Feast of Saint Agatha in Catania

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Saint Agatha is one of themost important saints, also cited inthe Roman Liturgy and depictedstanding next to other virgins in thefamous mosaics of Ravenna.

She lived in Catania underthe rule of Emperor Decius at thedusk of the Roman Empire anddespite that we do not know herdate of birth, we could darehypothesize that she was between15 and 20 years old when she wasmartyred in the year 251 A.D. Itseems she came from adistinguished family, perhaps ofnoble origin.

In order to stabilize andunite his rule, Decius ordered thatevery citizen of the Empire wasobliged to offer sacrifice to Romangods such that every citizen had toacquire certification that he/shewould have performed the pagan

sacrifice as sign of one’s loyalty.Agatha refused to abjure

her Christian faith and offersacrifices to the heathen gods ofRome. Being a young andbeautiful lady, coming from a richfamily, her refusal was too“noticeable”: Quintin, the localgovernor could not allow suchopen rebellion, which couldbecome a source of negativeexample to others. But Agatharefused any sort of compromisethat was proposed to her.

We can imagine that,because of her religious faith, herdirect and open opposition to thegovernor became the main reasonfor her punishment. Quintin lockedher in prison, hoping such terrifyingexperience would have made astrong impact on a young ladyfrom an outstanding family. But his

hopes turned out in vain.Since the prison did not

manage to convince Agatha toabjure her faith in Christ, Quintinordered that she be tortured. Herbreasts where ripped off and shewas tortured also by fire. As shewas being martyred, a strongearthquake hit Catania, whichevent many interpreted as divinewrath for how Agatha was beingtreated: the public opinion startedto ramble against Agatha’s torture,but Quintin was too proud to stopit.

Agatha died in prison onthe 5 February 251, her “diesnatalis” (birthday to heaven) on theday when the Church celebratesthe birth of the martyr to a new life.

Thanks to the moral forcethat she witnessed and theparticular cruel circumstances of


her death, she soon became knownand venerated.

The Feast of Saint Agathawhich, for its uniqueness, has beendefined by UNESCO as an “ethnoanthropological good, patrimony ofhumanity”, starts on 3 February withthe offering of the candles.

It starts at midday (perhapsthe only precise time of the feast)leaving Stesicoro Square andproceeds towards Via Etnea up tillthe Cathedral. In the procession thefollowing organizations march, eachbehind one’s banner: Catholicassociations, Agathinian clubs, theparishes, the Chivalric Orders, theclergy and religious, seminarians andthe Archbishop of Catania, the publicbodies amongst which the LocalCouncil and the University, each with

their respective Mace bearer, andushers wearing historic costumes,and finally civil and militaryauthorities. Immediately follow thetwelve candelabrae which representthe votive candle offered by therespective categories of belonging,following an established cerimonial inorder of seniority: first is the smallone of Monsignor Ventimiglia, thenRinoti, Fiorai, Pescivendoli,Ortofrutticoli, Macellai, Pizzicagnoli eAlimentaristi, Pastai, Bettolieri(Vinai), Panettieri, Villaggio S. Agataand, finally, Circolo S. Agata. Theprocession ends with two oldcarriages called “Carrozze delSenato”, this time empty because theauthorities would have descendedfrom them just as they arrive at theMunicipal Palace at Stesicoro

Square to walk, as said, the rest ofthe procession.

As soon as the festivechiming of the “Angelus” starts atmidday, simulatneous to theexplosion of the harbour canons,according to the Catanese traditionof the “Luminaria” of the 3rdFebruary, from the Church of SaintBlaise Bishop and Martyr at SaintAgatha at the Furnace in Porta Aci(Aci Gate), where the venerated veilof the «calcaredda» is conserved onwhich the naked body of the MartyrAgatha was rolled on 5 February251, the solemn liturgical processionunfolds for the votive offering of theCandle of Saint Agatha at theCathedral, which houses theprecious relics of the martyr saint.



The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes in Lucera

exäAwÉVtÇAetyytxÄxTÇàÉÇtvv|Assistente Spirituale dell’Arciconfraternita della B.V.M. di Lourdes


February 11 has nowbecome for all of the members ofthe Archconfraternity of the B.V.M.of Lourdes and for the city ofLucera an extraordinary day offaith and love towards the BlessedVirgin venerated by the title of OurLady of Lourdes.

This year, moreover, thespecificity of the event becamemore vibrant and intense not onlybecause it is the 158thanniversary since the apparition ofthe Virgin to Bernadette, but alsosince it coincides with the Feast forthe Sick, the Extraordinary Jubilee

Year of Mercy but also because itcomes when the Archdiocese ofLucera bids farewell to the Bishopwho leaves our DiocesanCommunity to start a new pastoralministry in a different community.

A big crowd accompaniesthe statue of the Blessed Virginalong the streets of the city withprayers and hymns that expressour devotion to Our HeavenlyMother.

To the confreres andsisters of our Archconfraternity, joinalso the representatives of otherconfraternities, representatives of

organisms that work in the healthsector, many volunteers of theApostolate of Suffering, also manysick persons and last but not leasta group of Knights of SaintGeorge, led by the Grand Master,Prince Luigi Maria Picco,accompanied by ReverendMonsignor Bruno Gagliarducci.

The fulcrum of the entirereligious manifestation lies in theEucharistic celebration at theCathedral, presided by our Bishop,following which we all came outcharged with a lot of enthusiasmand love for Mary and Jesus.


Investiture Ceremony of new Knights and Dames in Perugia

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Once again the splendidChurch of Saint Michael Archangel,also known as Temple of SaintAngelo, in the locality of Perugia,on the 29 and 30 April 2016, hasbeen the site for the Ceremony ofthe Vigil of Arms and theconferment of chivalric dignity toNovices of the Sacred ImperialMilitary Nemantine AngelicConstantinian Order of SaintGeorge and Saint Stephen fromUmbria and Lazio.

A highly evocativeceremony made of gestures andrituals, which through the centurieshave undergone very few changes,keeping intact the solemnity anddeep spiritual meaning as of itsorigins.

The ceremony ofconferment of chivalric dignity,presided by the Sovereign GrandMaster, H.R. and I. H. Prince LuigiMaria Picco di MonteneroLavarello Obrenović of Serbia,Bosnia and Constantinople, heir ofthe “House Lascaris ComnenoNemanja Paleologo Obrenović ofConstantinopleSerbia”, was preceded at 6 p.m. by a Vigil of Arms,officiated by Monsignor BrunoGagliarducci and Father AlbinKouhon, during which thedecorations and mantles thatdistinguish the Knights and Dameswere blessed, and the oath wasprofessed by the Knights andDames elect, who came fromreligious, military, business andprofessional backgrounds into theChapters of Umbria and Lazio.

The conferment ofchivalric dignity, ensued by theimposition of the sword, in order tokeep alive the memory of theequestrian and militaryconnections of the Order. Suchcommitment, with the passing ofcenturies transformed itself in aconcrete support and vicinity to the

Christian population, manifestingitself in works of charity or publicutility: in actions of solidarity, inpaths of faith and in culturalexchanges. At the conclusion ofthe ceremony of the new Knightsand Dames, auspices wereexpressed that they may activelywork in favour of the CatholicChurch and do acts of charitybenfitting the initiatives promotedby the Order.

At the end of the event anumber of tourists, some Italianand others hailing from variouscountries, who had been present inchurch, showed their interest aboutsuch ceremony they had assistedand some were thankful for havingcome to know this world so distantfrom “ours” and from those aspectsthat could otherwise very easily belabelled as “folkloristic” or“nostalgic”, but which had allowedthem to go beyond appearances,and to get to know humblepersons, notwithstanding theprestigious noble title theyenjoyed. It would seem paradoxicalto whoever is unacquainted withchivalric realities or nobility, thatprecisely the noble titles renderthose who own them humblepersons. Philanthropy and beingnear those who suffer, in fact, is adistinctive tract of nobility, at leastin the modern understanding of theterm.

Holy Mass on Saturday 30April was officiated by threeConstantinian Spiritual Counsellors: Monsignor BrunoGagliarducci, Monsignor PatrickIncorvaja and Father AlbinKouhon. During Mass, NovicePatrizio Rossi, who had passedaway unexpectedly a couple ofdays prior to his investiture, wascommemorated in the presence ofhis family.

To Knight Doctor Brunello


Cucinelli, the noble title PatrizioBizantino (Byzantine Patrician),was awarded motu proprio by theSovereign Grand Master, PrinceLuigi Maria Picco di MonteneroLavarello Obrenović of Serbia,Bosnia and Constantinople.

The striking ceremony wasintensified by the surroundings ofthe most beautiful church, goingback to the VVI century after Christand one of the oldest in Italy.At the end the nobles, knights anddames participated in a convivial.

Amongst others, theceremony was attended by: Adv. Urbano Barelli, Vice Mayorof Perugia; H.H. Prince Leonardo SalomoneNavarra della Torre d’Oriente; Don Michele Maria Biallo, Baronof Avola Colattuvo, Count ofSerrano and XXIV GovernorGeneral of the Order of SaintGeorge of Borgogna accompaniedby Donna Ottaviana Giagnoli Biallo,Baroness of Avola Calattuvo,Countess of Serrano; Don Andrea Bernardi, Count ofVillabernin, Chancellor of the Orderof Saint George of Borgognaaccompanied by Donna RocioJimenez Pizarro Bernardini,Countess of Villabernin; Chev. Dr Brunello Cucinelli,President of Brunello Cucinelli SpAaccompanied by his consortFederica Cucinelli; Prof. Maurizio Oliviero, Lecturerat the Università degli Studi ofPerugia and President A.Di.S.U.(Regional Agency for the Rights ofUniversity Studies).



Fotografia | Photography


The Solemnity of Pentecost at the Pantheon

15 Maggio | May 2016



Charity Concert at the Pantheon

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On Saturday 24September 2016 took place thecharity concert at the splendidBasilica dedicated to Sancta MariaAd Martyres (the Pantheon) inRome. The offerings collectedduring the concert are destined tothe “Scuola dei Coniglietti Bianchi”(White Bunnies School) ofPerugia. This school consists of anumber of classes and is housedin the Paediatric HaematologicalOncologic Department of theOspedale Santa Maria dellaMisericordia (Saint Mary of MercyHospital) in Perugia. At the eventparticipated a group of recoveringchildren, accompanied by theirparents, medics, paramedics andteachers.

They travelled by bus fromPerugia, arriving in Rome, wherein the morning they visited theVatican Gardens. During this tourthey were assisted by a VaticanGuide and by Monsignor PatrickIncorvaja, Spiritual Counsellor ofthe Order; after lunch they arrivedat the Pantheon to assist at theconcert. This event, alreadypreviously scheduled for 4 June2016, had been postponedbecause of the unexpectedpassing away of its promoter,Knight Commander Patrizio Rossi.Since he had worked very hard tomaterialize this concert, it waseventually organized incommemoration of him, toremember him and honour hiscommitment, energy and thepassion that he had channelledinto this event.

The concert waspresented by Monsignor BrunoGagliarducci, Spiritual Counsellorof the Constantinian Order. At theend, three of the group of childrenread some thanksgivingmessages. During the presentation

of the concert, Ms NicolettaPlatoni, wife of the late Patrizio,and her two children, werepresented with a memento of theevent, offered by the UmbriaChapter of which Patrizio wasKnight Commander of Merit,proffered by the Grand Master, H.R. and I. H. Prince Luigi MariaPicco di Montenero and byMarquise Don Fabio Guasticchi,Responsible for the UmbriaChapter.

The concert wasmagisterially executed by theAccademia Perusina di Perugia(Perusian Accademy), Choir andOrchestra, directed by MaestroFabio Berellini and comprising forthe occasion about a hundredelements, amongst whom singerscoming from various choirs inUmbria and nearby regions, andthe participation of four solovoices accompanied by anorchestra who played the Messada Requiem K626 of W.A.Mozart.

The evening ended withlong applauses directed to themagnificent execution of the Choirand Orchestra, which appreciationalso came the tourists present inthe Basilica.

For the wonderful successof this event, we thank oursponsors (individuals and firms)who have contributed, with theirsensibility and generosity, toward amoment that has united solidaritywith the commemoration of ourfriend Patrizio Rossi.

Finally, a most heartfeltthanks to Antonio Trifici, UgoTosetti, Fernando Simonetti andNicoletta Platoni for theorganizational commitmentdirected to the successful outcomeof the event.



International Prize “CONSTANTINUS MAGNUS” 2016 Edition

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The International Prize“CONSTANTINUS MAGNUS” representsa prestigious recognition destinedto those who have contributed, inItay or abroad, to the developmentor the diffusion of culture andknowledge in various sectors, inthe supreme interest of lifting upand promoting peoples’ progress,the research of truth, freedomjustice and peace and, therefore,of universal brotherhood by whichit desires to aggregate and connectremarkable people who work everyday to make our world better withtheir concrete and long lastingaction.

The presentation of theInternational Prize “CONSTANTINUS

MAGNUS” Edition 2016, took placeon Saturday 15 October in Spello.

The beneficiaries of thePrize were, for the Sectors “PEACE

AND DEFENCE OF UNIVERSAL RIGHTS"and “ART AND CULTURE” awardedby the Sacro Ordine ImperialeMilitare Nemagnico AngelicoCostantiniano di San Giorgio eSanto Stefano, under thepatronage of the Local Council ofSpello and Royal and ImperialHousehold Picco LavarelloLascaris Comneno PaleologoObrenović of Costantinople–Serbia the Comunità di Sant’Egidio, inthe person of the President Prof.Marco Impagliazzo and theAccademia Bonifaciana, in theperson of the Rector PresidentComm. Dott. Sante De Angelis.

Besides the Mayor ofSpello, Dr Moreno Landrini, the

cermony was attended by H. R andI. H, Prince Luigi Maria Picco diMontenero Lavarello Obrenović,Grand Master of the ConstantinianNemantine Order and Head of theRoyal dynasty, the HonoraryConsul of the Russian Federationat Ancona Adv. Marco Ginesi, theConsul emeritus of the RussianFederation in Italy Prof. ArmandoGinesi (accompanied by thecoordinator of the ConsularSecretariat Cav. Renato Barchiesi),Reverend Monsignor BrunoGagliarducci, Spiritual Counsellorof the Order’s RomaLazio Chapter,Prof. Maurizio Oliviero, OrdinaryProfessor of Public andComparative Law at the Universitàdegli Studi di Perugia, otherauthorities and dignitaries of the


Order. Previously scheduledcommitments have impeded Prof.Giorgio Bonamente, OrdinaryProfessor of Roman History at theUniversità degli Studi di Perugiaand Prof. Roberto Romano,Associate emeritus of ByzantineCivilization at the UniversitàFederico II di Napoli fromattending.

In the precedent editions,the Prize has been granted to Dr.Flavio Lotti, in 2012 as coordinatorof the Tavola della Pace di Assisi(Table of Peace of Assisi); in 2013to Reverend Father Ibrahim FaltasO.F.M., Rector emeritus of theNativity Basilica in Bethlehem andcurrently Bursar of the Custody ofthe Holy Land; in 2014 to HisExcellency Abu Mazen, Presidentof the National PalestinianAuthority; in 2015 to the LocalCouncil of Lampedusa, in theperson of the Mayor Dr GiuseppinaMaria Nicolini, to businessman DrBrunello Cucinelli, and toContemporary Art Historian Prof.Armando Ginesi.

The event was ablymoderated by Prof. MaurizioOliviero. The first speaker was DrMoreno Landrini, Mayor of Spellowho extended greetings to allpresent and all who contributed,

directly or indirectly, to thesuccessful outcome of this editionof the Prize. Other speeches weremade by the Grand Master of theOrder, Prince Luigi Maria Picco diMontenero, the Hon. Consul Adv.Marco Ginesi and Consul emeritus.Prof. Armando Ginesi.

During the assigning of thePrize there followed moments ofreflection; after which the Presidentof the Comunità di Sant’Egidio,Prof. Marco Impagliazzodelivered a keynote speech on thetheme “Europe confronted by thechallenges of migration” bytackling, with great competence,the migratory problem of the Southof the world. Then, the RectorPresident of the AccademiaBonifaciana, Comm. Dr Sante DeAngelis reflected on the theme:“Mercy has a tangible face: theExtraordinary Holy Year of PopeFrancis on Peace and Pardon”.At the end, on behalf of Prof. BrunoRomano, indisposed, ReverendMonsignor Bruno Gagliarducci reada paper on an interesting documentthat summarizes the most recentstudies accomplished by Prof.Romano on the ConstantinianNemantine Order, entitled “Fromthe IV to the XXI century – thedevelopment of an Order”.



Investiture Ceremony of new Knights and Dames in Rome



In the Magisterial Basilicaof Saint Vitale and companions,martyrs, in Fovea, on the 12November 2016 took place theCeremony of the Prayer Vigil ofArms and the Investiture of newknights and dames of the SacredImperial Military Nemantine AngelicConstantinian Order of SaintGeorge and Saint Stephen.

This year, the calendar ofevents linked to the ExtraordinaryJubilee Year of Mercy(approaching its conclusion) gavethe opportunity to the Knights andDames of our Order to unite,together with the annualappointment of the NovemberInvestiture Ceremony in Rome, topass through the Holy Door ofSaint Mary Major to perform thepath of the Jubilee marked byprayer and works of Mercy.

After the last instructiongiven by the Master of Novices tothe new Knights and Dames, allthose present participated in anevocative moment of prayer of theVigil of Arms, presided by Msgr

Daniele Micheletti, SpiritualCounsellor General.On this day, also, the spiritualcounsellors of the Order wereavailable to hear Confessions bythose who wished to approach theSacrament of Penance.

The Solemn Ceremony ofInvestiture ensued in theafternoon. At the end of the SacredLiturgy, presided by Msgr BrunoGagliarducci, Spiritual Counsellorof the Order, and concelebrated bya number of priests, of whom MsgrPatrick Incorvaja, SpiritualCounsellor of the Order, MsgrKevin Gillespie, Pontifical Masterof Ceremonies, and by two priestsand Novices in the Order, CanonFather Raffaele Antonacci andRev. Father Anthony MarcDebattista.

The ceremony was alsoattended by civil, military anddiplomatic authorities and culturalpersonalities: Archduke HenrikusHermanus Ruijgrok, OrdinaryConsul General of the Kingdom ofThailand for Europe; H.E.

Constantijn Van Vloten, HonoraryConsul of the Russian Federationfor Holand: Colonel GiuseppeDonnarumma of the ProvincialDirectorate of the Carabinieri inRome; Comm. Dr Sante DeAngelis, Rector President of theAccademia Bonifaciana of Anagni;H. R. and I. H. Prince LeonardoSalomone Navarra della Torred’Oriente; H.R.H. Don MarioPaciotti di Montefabbri Amorosod’Aragona, Grand Master of theOrdine Militare e Ospedaliero diSan Giovanni D’Acri e SanTommaso; H.H. Don Michele MariaBiallo, Barone d’Avola Calattuvo,Conte di Serrano, XXIV GovernorGeneral of the Ordine di SanGiorgio di Borgogna; and DrSergey Starstev, Director for Italyof the Press Agency Ria Novosti ofMoscow.

After the solemnceremony, a Gala Dinner wasorganized at the Sala FrancescoBaracca at the Casa dell’Avviatore.


Documents

La Spada di San Giorgio - mac-ro.com€¦ · noble origin. In order to stabilize and unite his rule, Decius ordered that every citizen of the Empire was obliged to offer sacrifice