Order of the Red Cross Konstantin

Finding out the exact origin of the orders that make up the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine proved to be problematic for historians, not least because of the large number of fraternal organizations whose names include or historically included the phrase red cross . It is likely that the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine appeared in England around 1780, but after several reorganizations, the earliest, documented, has a founding date - 1865, when its constitution was formally created by Robert Wentworth Little ^[2] . Over time, he became one of ten additional Masonic orders administered from the Temple of the Label Masons in London. After the creation of conclaves in foreign countries, a number of sovereign foreign Great Imperial Councils (governing bodies) were created.

First Degree - Mason Knight

Upon entry into the order, the degree of a knight mason, or the Knight of the Red Cross Konstantin, is awarded. This initiation ceremony is held in the conclave. The conclave is a regular division of the order and carries out work only to this extent. The initiation ceremony is short and simple, but gives valuable moral lessons to the candidate, based on the history of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great , and tells about the battle on the Mulvian bridge ^[3] .

Second Degree - Mason Priest

During the voting, a candidate who is in the degree of a Mason Knight receives permission for initiation into the second degree, during which he becomes the Venerable Priest Mason, or consecrated Eusebius. This ceremony is held at the College of Masons Priests. The college is the venue for members of the second degree of the order. The ceremony has a deeply spiritual nature, and more openly includes religious symbols and rituals. In general, this degree can only be awarded to those who are elected as Viceroy in the conclave, although exceptions are possible.

Third Degree - Prince Mason

After being elected to the third degree, the candidate goes through a ceremony, after which he becomes the Perfect Mason Prince. The ceremony is held in the Senate of the Masons. The Senate is the name for any meeting of members of the third degree of the order. Having obtained this degree, the Mason Prince has the right to serve the sovereign in his own or any other conclaves or senates (unless this degree has not been awarded by the elected sovereign). As in all Masonic degrees, this degree is assigned only once. Therefore, the Prince Mason can become a sovereign in another conclave if he is appointed and installed, and then he will not go through the full cycle of initiations to this degree for the second time.

Two additional Christian Masonic orders are under the control of the Great Imperial Conclave (national ruling body) of the Red Cross Constantine. One of them is the Order of the Holy Sepulcher, and the other is the Order of St. John the Theologian. Each of these orders consists of one degree or ceremony, and although two orders are assigned degrees separately, they usually assign them on the same day, one immediately after the other. This rule is valid in most jurisdictions where a member of the first degree of the Red Cross of Constantine must accept these two additional orders before he can be considered and admitted to move on to the second and third degrees of the Red Cross of Constantine.

Order of the Holy Sepulcher

This Masonic order should not be confused with the eponymous Order of the Holy Sepulcher in the Roman Catholic Church. Although both orders use the narrative of the same historical event, they have no actual connection with each other. The Masonic Order of the Holy Sepulcher has a long and complex ritual symbolic meaning, based on the legend of the knights guarding the alleged burial place of Jesus Christ. Both the Masonic and church orders use the Jerusalem Cross as a symbol, but in the church order this cross is depicted in the emblem in red on a white shield ^[4] . The Masonic Order has the logo of the cross in a circle mounted in the center of a large cross; on precious stones (medals) of the order this sign is additionally enclosed in a black and gold oval ^[5] . The meeting of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher takes place in the sanctuary, and the presiding is called the saint ^[6] .

Order of St. John the Evangelist

This order is awarded in a short ceremony of a frankly Christian character; it is usually assigned on the same day as the Order of the Holy Sepulcher in ritual initiations held one immediately after the other. The meeting of the Order of St. John the Theologian takes place in the commander, and the presiding is called the commander ^[6] . The decoration of the Order of St. John the Theologian is a silver eagle with outstretched wings, to which a crown is added as a symbol of the commander. The eagle is a traditional symbol of St. John the Theologian ^[7] .

• York charter
• Royal arch
• Crypt (Freemasonry)
• Order of the Royal and Elected Masters
• Order of the Knights of Masons
• Order of the Masters of Masons tags
• Order of the Secret Mentor
• Organization of additional degrees

• Red Cross of Constantine in the United States of America and Mexico