International
On May 29, 1953, 500 years after the fall of the Byzantine Empire, a “Chivalric Association” was registered in Switzerland under Swiss law. Its purpose was to promote ecumenical thinking, spread tolerance, build spiritual bridges between peoples, races and cultures. Proclaim the heritage of Byzantium and help those in need.
After a few years, the “association” had spread outside Switzerland, without legal status as an international Order.
In 1967, the chairman of the organization, H.S.H. Frederick, Duke and Prince of Beaufort-Spontin, gave instructions to the then Secretary General Yrjö von Grönhagen to seek legal status. In the summer of 1969, it became clear that the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa H.B. Nicholas VI was ready to accept the organization “Ordo Sancti Constantini Magni” as a Christian order, fighting for the unification of humanity and the spread of the Christian message, and in the spirit of Constantine the Great working for love and tolerance. All under the patronage of the Patriarchate. The official document was signed by the Patriarch on May 12, 1970.
Nicholas VI died on July 13, 1986 and the new Patriarch H.B. Parthenios III confirmed the spiritual patronage of the Patriarchate on March 17, 1988.
In 1997, Petros VII became Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa. He confirmed the previous documents, but also elevated the Ordo Sancti Constantini Magni to the “Guard of Honor” of the Patriarchate. Petros VII passed away too soon in a helicopter accident in 2004. He was succeeded by our current Patriarch, H.B. Theodoros II.
The Patriarchate
Shortly after the promulgation of the so-called “Edict of Toleration” in 313, disputes began among the various Christian congregations. Constantine the Great, inspired by Athanasius the Great, later Archbishop (Patriarch) of Alexandria, convened the first ecumenical council in Nicaea in 325. The decision resulted in a compromise that no one was satisfied with. Six more councils were held, with the result that the Christian church was divided into a Western and an Eastern branch.
However, at the Council of Nicaea in 325 it was announced that the Bishop of Rome became “First among equals” (Primus Inter Pares) and the Bishop of Alexandria was given the rank of second among equals.
It should be noted that Bishop Heraclius (232-248) of Alexandria was already called Pope.
At the Second Council of Constantinople in 381, the Bishops of Constantinople, Alexandria and Antioch were appointed Patriarchs.
At the Council of Chalkedon in 451, the Bishop of Jerusalem was also appointed Patriarch. At this council, the Coptic Church also separated from the Patriarchate of Alexandria. This resulted in the five original Patriarchates. Among these, Alexandria is still number two in rank.
Sweden
In late autumn 1991, the Exarchate of Finland, with the Commandery of Åland, began to recruit some members in an attempt to have the Order established in Sweden. Within the Commandery of Åland at that time, there were some members who were Swedes and who had been dubbed knights in Finland. Most of them had contacts, relatives, etc. in Åland. The mission was carried out and mainly Jonas Nauclér and Bengt Naessén attracted the foundation for the formation of the Commandery of Sweden. The knights who belonged to Åland were: Sune Ekstrand 1990, Kaj Gustafsson 1985, Bengt Naessén 1991, Jonas Nauclér 1986 and Curt Östlund
During the late winter of 1992, these managed to attract nine aspirants, who at a meeting in Grisslehamn on April 11th held a constituent annual meeting and formed the Constantiner Association Sweden. There, it was decided that Jonas Nauclér became the association's chairman and the Order's first Bailie, later, in 1993, the name was changed to Komtur.
The association's first secretary was Kaj Gustafsson and Sven-Åke Lindh was elected treasurer. At this meeting, it was decided that Sweden would hold its first Knight's Day on May 2nd, 1992 in the church in Grisslehamn.
Right from the beginning, Åland and the then general secretary, Torsten Vorselman, participated actively in the gatherings that were held in Sweden. The seat of the association was Grisslehamn. Historically there are strong ties between Åland and the area around Grisslehamn.
The first aspirants and later knights/dame were Lilian von Arnold, Ingemar Apelstig, Larserik Eldenäs, Roland Fogelström, Anders Holmgren, Sven-Åke Lindh, Sven-Olof Olofsson, Lars ET Svensson, Bengt Thisell.
Sweden now belonged to ORDO SANCTI CONSTANTINI MAGNI and already participated in September, 10 – 13, at the international convention in Monor, Hungary. At that time, the international knight days covered four days! Registration etc. took place on Thursday, so there was plenty of time for excursions, lectures etc. It should be noted that at that time Hungary had a comturia with about 15 members.
During the autumn of 1992 and onwards, OCM spread to contacts, so that already in April 1993 another Knight Dubbing could be carried out in Grisslehamn. Later that same year in September, another Knighthood was held, this time in Nyköping.
These first years were marked by a lot of work on statutes, direction and the formation of the Exarchate.