Order of the Seraphim

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The Order of the Seraphim (in Hebrew for a category of Angels) or the Order of His Majesty the King (Swedish Serafimerorden or Kungl. Maj:ts Orden) is a Swedish Royal order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Polar Star. After the reorganization of the orders in 1975 the order is only awarded to foreign heads of state and members of the royal family. The order has only one grade with the dignity of Knight (Member for women and clergymen), and is the foremost order of Sweden.

When a knight of the Order dies, his coat of arms is hung in the former royal burial church Riddarholmskyrkan in Stockholm, and when the funeral takes place the church bells are rung constantly from 12:00 to 13:00.

[edit] Insignia

Knights and Members of the Order wear the badge on a collar (chain) or on a sash on the right shoulder, and the star on the left chest:

The collar of the Order is in gold, with eleven double crosses enamelled in blue and eleven seraphim.

The badge of the Order is a white-enamelled gilt Maltese Cross, with a gilt double cross on each arm of the cross, and gilt seraphim between the arms of the cross. The obverse central disc is in blue enamel, with a white-enamelled "IHS" Christogram amongst Three Crowns; beneath this are three nails with which Jesus Christ was crucified. The reverse central disc is also in blue enamel, with white-enamelled letters "FRS" (Fredericus, Rex Sueciae, Frederick King of Sweden). The badge is topped by a gilt crown.

The star of the Order is the same as the obverse of the badge, except the crosses and seraphim are in silver and without enamel, and is not topped by a crown.