The Order of Saint George (or Орден Святого Георгия, Orden Svyatogo Georgiya in Russian) is the highest purely military decoration of the Russian Federation. It was originally established 26 November 1769 as the highest military decoration of the Russian Empire by Empress Catherine the Great.
The current Order of Saint George is awarded to highest and senior military officers for the conduct of military operations to protect the Fatherland from attack by an external enemy which resulted in the complete defeat of the enemy, for the execution of combat and other operations in other states aimed at restoring international peace and security, or for being a model of military science with feats that exemplify military prowess; the Order is also conferred upon officers who were previously awarded state awards of the Russian Federation for distinction in combat.
The order was revived in the Russian Federation on 8 August 2000 by Decree №1463 of the President of Russia. The current award criteria were amended on 7 September 2010 by Presidential Decree 1099.
The Cross is a white enameled cross pattée with a central medallion bearing the image of Saint George on horseback slaying the dragon. The cross measures 60mm across in the case of the Order first class (50mm for third class and 40mm for the fourth) and is worn on a sash in the colours of Saint George (orange and black).
The Star is a four-pointed silver gilt star with a gold central medallion bearing the cipher of Saint George “SG” topped by a crown and surrounded by a black enamelled band bearing the motto of the order “For Service and Bravery” (“Za Sluzhbu i Khrabrost“). The star is worn on the left breast for both the Order first and second classes.
The ribbon of the Order of Saint George is orange with three black stripes, commonly called “George’s Ribbon”. It symbolizes fire and gunpowder: the Russian “colors of military glory”, and is also thought to be derived from the colors of the original Russian imperial coat of arms (black eagle on a golden background). It was subsequently associated to the colors of the Russian Guard units.
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