Order of the Dove
| Order of the Dove Ordo Columba (Latin) | |
|---|---|
| Type | Order of merit |
| Established | 07 June 1858 |
| Country | Sanctaria |
| Ribbon |  |
| Motto | Acta sanctorum |
| Criteria | Meritorious conduct on behalf or in the service of Sanctaria in the realm of foreign affairs |
| Status | Currently constituted |
| Grand Master | President of Sanctaria |
| Secretary General | Secretary for Foreign Affairs |
| Grades |
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The Order of the Dove (Latin: Ordo Columba) is a Sanctarian order of merit founded on 07 June 1858 by Simon XIII, Patriarch of the Church of Sanctaria in celebration of the Treaty of Nicene, which ended decades of civil unrest in Galvium, a constituent state of the Papal States of Sanctaria.
It is named in honour of the dove, the traditional symbol of peace.
Appointees to the Order of the Dove are traditionally men and women, such as diplomats, who render important or loyal service in relation to foreign affairs; it may also be conferred for extraordinary or important non-military service in a foreign country.
Description
The Order includes three grades, in descending order of seniority and rank:
- Commander (CMD)
- Officer (ORD)
- Member (MRD)
It is used to honour individuals who have rendered important services in relation to diplomatic or foreign affairs. People are appointed to the Order rather than awarded it. Sanctarian Ambassadors to foreign nations are regularly appointed as ORDs or MRDs. It is the traditional award for long-serving members of the Sanctarian Diplomatic Service.
The Order's motto is Acta sanctorum (Latin for "Acts of the Saints"). Prior to the patronage of the Sanctarian Catholic Church being removed from the Order in 1974, its patron saint was St. George, patron saint of Sanctaria.
The Order is one of the most senior in the Sanctarian honours system, ranked after only the Order of Sanctaria. The next ranked order relates to military service, the Order of the Thorn.