London, April 2014. HE Mr Anthony Bailey OBE GCSS hosted a black tie candlelit dinner in his capacity as the Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations and Delegate for Great Britain and Ireland, at the historic Armourers’ Hall in London to celebrate St George’s Day on 25 April 2014.
An opening prayer of the Order was delivered by the Sub-Prior of the British and Irish Delegation, His Grace The Most Reverend George Stack, Archbishop of Cardiff. The roll of deceased knights and dames of the delegation was read by The Reverend Canon Christopher Tuckwell, Administrator of Westminster Cathedral.
HE Mr Bailey delivered a welcome address which included an overview of the charitable and international activities of the British and Irish Delegation during the past year. The Delegate spoke of the past year being one of great celebration for the Constantinian Order for it marked the 1700th anniversary of Emperor Constantine’s Edict of Milan of 313AD and the 50th anniversary of the Constantinian Order’s recognition by the President and Government of the Italian Republic. Mr Bailey also spoke about the Order’s planned activities for the rest of 2014, including the launch of high profile charitable activities in Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. The Delegate also mentioned last year’s investiture into the Constantinian Order of President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia and Africa’s last reigning Catholic monarch King Letsie III of Lesotho and congratulated longstanding Constantinian chaplain Archbishop Vincent Nichols’s appointment as a Cardinal.
Mr Bailey also on behalf of the Delegation Council welcomed the new knights, dames and medalists and congratulated the promoted members.
Among the dignitaries who attended the dinner were His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, His Eminence Elisey, Archbishop of Sourozh, Head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Great Britain & Ireland, The Rt Rev Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate and Pontifical Legate of the Armenian Church of the United Kingdom, The Hon Sir Peter Caruana, QC, former Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Councillor Clare Head, Acting Mayor of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, His Honour Sir Gavyn Arthur, former Lord Mayor of London, The Lord and Lady Brennan of Bibury, The Lord Lingfield, Cyril and Lorna Woods of Slane, His Honour Judge Patrick Clyne, Major General Jonathan Hall, Judge Patrick Durcan, The Rev Fr Michael Seed, The Rev Canon Peter Newby, Deputy William Fraser and Mr Saleem Kidwai, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Wales.
The Guest Speaker was HE Mr Pasquale Terracciano, Ambassador of the Italian Republic who was accompanied by his wife Mrs Karen Terracciano. During his address, the Ambassador spoke of the positive and prominent role of the Constantinian Order in Italy today and also of the contribution made by the Bourbon Two Sicilies dynasty to southern Italy.
The Loyal Toast to The Queen was proposed by The Delegate for Great Britain and Ireland, HE Mr Anthony Bailey. The Toast to The President of Ireland was proposed by Vice-Delegate for Ireland, Professor Richard Conroy. The Rev Msgr Vincent Brady, Private Secretary to HE The Apostolic Nuncio to the Court of St James’s proposed the Toast to the Holy Father and HE Mr Pasquale Terracciano proposed the Toast to the President of the Italian Republic. The Vote of Thanks was proposed by HE Mr Donal Lydon, President Emeritus of the Association of Papal Orders in Ireland. The evening came to an end with a concluding prayer offered by His Eminence Elisey, Archbishop of Sourozh.
To learn more about the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George, Delegation of Great Britain and Ireland, click here.
To read the speech of Mr Anthony Bailey, click here.
To view photos of this event, click here.
