London, October 2014. The Hon Fabian Picardo, Chief Minister of Gibraltar was invested into the Constantinian Order during a ceremony held at Gibraltar House in London on 21 October 2014. The Delegate for Great Britain & Ireland HE Mr Anthony Bailey presented the Chief Minister with his insignia and rosette of a Knight Grand Cross of Merit of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George.
During his speech, the Delegate spoke of the historic and contemporary role of the Order and the spiritual, humanitarian, hospitaller and charitable activities currently undertaken. He recounted the many areas of mutual cooperation between the Order and Gibraltar. The Delegate also spoke about the important visit to to the British Overseas in 2003 of the then Grand Prefect and the Cardinal Grand Prior to mark the 1700th anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint George which among other events witnessed three postage stamps, being including one bearing the name and image of the Constantinian Order cross.
The Delegate also announced that the Chief Minister was only the second Gibraltarian in some 200 years to achieve the high rank of Knight Grand Cross and mentioned the first known knight from Gibraltar, Sir Emanuel Viale, who was decorated by our Order in 1811.
The Chief Minister in turn thanked the Grand Master and Cardinal Grand Prior for bestowing the high distinction on him and referred to the historic ties between the Constantinian Order and Gibraltar and role the Order plays in the defence of the Christian faith and its role in charitable and inter-religious activities benefiting wider society.
Fr Michael Seed, on behalf of the the Sub Prior of the British and Irish Delegation, The Most Rev George Stack, Archbishop of Cardiff, opened and closed proceedings with the Prayer of the Order.
Among other delegation members were Sir David & Lady Durie, The Hon Lieut Col Ernest Britto, Prince Don Cristoforo Rocco di Torrepadula and Mr Timothy George.
Among other in attendance were Mr Albert Poggio, UK Representative of Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar, Mr Gareth C Flower, Chief of Staff of the Chief Minister and Chancery staff Dr Xhoana Papakostandini and Mr Talat Gokdemir.
Please click here for the Delegate’s speech.