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Miniature eight-pointed silver star, each point with five graduated faceted rays, with laterally-pierced cylinder to the upper reverse for ribbon suspension; the face with a gilt-edged deep red enamel cross bottony imposed centrally, a circular central gilt-edged red enamel medallion bearing the Constantinian Labarum Chi-Rho cross (☧- formed of the first two Greek letters of the word ‘Christ’ – Χριστός), with the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet ‘Α’ and ‘Ω’ to either side (‘I am the alpha and the omega’, i.e. the beginning and the end, Book of Revelation, verses 1:8, 21:6, and 22:13), the left, upper and right arms inscribed in gilt letters ‘ε’, ‘τ’ and ‘η’ respectively (for ‘εη τογτω ηίκα’ = in this sign you will conquer, referring to the vision seen by the Emperor Constantine), the lower arm dated ‘312’, date of the conversion of the Emperor Constantine to Christianity; the reverse plain; diameter 21.41mm (0.84 inch); on original ribbon with gilt Chi-Rho cross and two gilt bars. The Order was founded in the first half of the sixteenth Century as a religious Order of the Roman Catholic Church and has a long association with the Dukes of Parma and the Church but today is not formally recognised by the Holy See. A good period miniature.
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