Sewn to measure. On time. Every time.
Sewn to measure. On time. Every time.
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Greek Orthodox Church Flag

SKU: A51 Category: Portfolio:

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33,70 €
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At your door Monday 9 November — Standard

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60 days
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24 months
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ExpressWed 4 Novat your door
StandardMon 9 Novat your door
EconomyFri 20 Novat your door

Specifications

Description

Greek Orthodox Church Flag

The double-headed eagle on gold: the Byzantine Orthodox flag

The flag you see here is a golden yellow field with a black two-headed eagle in the centre, a crown above the heads, a sword in one claw and the orb with a cross in the other. It is the so-called «Byzantine imperial flag», the one many Orthodox parishes of Greek tradition fly as a sign of their history.

The symbol of the Palaiologoi

The double-headed eagle was the symbol of the Palaiologoi, the last dynasty to reign over Constantinople. In 1261 Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos recaptured the city from the Crusaders, setting out from a state in Asia Minor, and the eagle's two heads are said to have stood for the dynasty's interests in Asia and in Europe. His descendants stayed on the throne until 1453, when Constantinople fell to the Ottomans.

From the empire to the Church

After the end of the empire, the double-headed eagle remained tied to the Orthodox Church of Greek tradition: to this day the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, Mount Athos and the Greek Orthodox Churches of the diaspora use the black eagle on a yellow field as a flag or as an emblem.

In the parishes and on Mount Athos

The yellow flag with the black eagle is flown in many Orthodox parishes of Greek tradition: in those of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, of the Church of Greece and of the Church of Cyprus. On Mount Athos, the Holy Mountain of the monasteries, according to vexillologists' reports, ships sailing along the peninsula fly the Greek flag and the Byzantine flag together, and the boats running from Ouranoupoli to the harbour of Dafni fly the Byzantine flag alone.

A flag of tradition

This flag is not the official flag of the Church of Greece, and no text fixes its design: it is seen in different formats. The Church of Greece also has a flag of its own, red with a large yellow cross. Over time the eagle gained the sword and the orb, as in this version.

Who chooses it

For an Orthodox parish or community, for anyone with Greek or Cypriot roots, for a pilgrim coming back from Mount Athos, for anyone who loves the history of Byzantium, for a Byzantine re-enactment group, for a collector of religious and historic flags, for a museum, a school or a Greek taverna. We sew it to order, in the size and fabric you choose above, and you see the delivery date before you pay.

Flag facts

Official name
Οικουμενικόν Πατριαρχείον Κωνσταντινουπόλεως - Νέας Ρώμης
Validity
Current
Years in use
unknown · period Before 1500
Use
Not applicable
Proportions
2:3
Number of colours
2
Design
Plain

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