Finnish order of the holy lamb

[JohanH]

Here is my small collection of Order of the Holy Lamb from Finland. 

This is a church order which is awarded for long service to the Finnish church. It consists of seven classes, five orders and two medals. 
The number of awards are really low so it´s very difficult to find these for sale. 

Grand cross - 10 awarded
Commander 1st class - 26 awarded
Commander 2nd class - 23 awarded
Knight 1st class - 26 awarded
Knight 2nd class - 55 awarded
Medal 1st class - 73 awarded
Medal 2nd class - 34 awarded

The ones I have in my collection so far is commander 2nd class, knight 2nd class and both medals. 

Does anyone know what the difference is between the two knight classes?
I think the only difference between the commander classes is the breast star which goes with 1st class. 

If anyone know of any for sale, please let me know so I can try to complete my collection!

 

[BalkanCollector]

These are so scarce and nicely designed. Thank you very much for sharing!

[Blitz]

Hey Johan,

Nice collection! One doesn't see this Orthodox Church Order too often, the award documents are beautiful too. To your question; the Seraphims on Knight 1st cl. are gilt and silver on the 2nd cl. You are right about the difference between Commander 1st and 2nd classes.

[JohanH]

Thank you for clearing out that mystery of mine!

That would mean that the one I have is a knight 1st class and not a 2nd class! 

Yes, the old award documents are gorgeous, but the recent ones are to boring! Unfortunately I don´t have any documents for these. Yet… 

[922F]

Congratulations on assembling this group of rare decorations!  Thank you for posting these images and information.  The McKay collection at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. U.S.A. contains a Grand Cross and a Grand Commander set of this Order.  I saw them in the early 1970's; the Grand Cross star had an inscription on the reverse but I cannot recall whether it related to the maker or to an individual.

[Micke]

This was sold in a auction in Sweden not long ago. See link

https://prob.auction2000.se/auk/w.object?inC=PROB&inA=20200104_1146&inO=341

[JohanH]

Hello Micke. 

I was one of the bidders but unfortunately not the buyer of that set. 

 

[misiu]

Nice Set - one of the first ever made: year mark 1935.

[JohanH]

Here is my latest little lamb. 

Knight 2nd class - one of 55 awarded

 

[misiu]

Nice.

I can not see the year mark - what is it?

[JohanH]

It's stamped O7 = 1967

[1812 Overture]

Mr. John always surprises me when inadvertently. Beautiful order!

[Tuomas]

The number of awards (in the book Tiainen: Suomen kunniamerkit) are not correct.

According to Timo Liene: Suomen ortodoksisen kirkon palkitsemisjärjestelmä ja palkitsemisesineet 1925-1960 (Helsinki 1997), the order was awarded during the years 1936-1959: Grand cross 10 times, K I  29 times, K II  19 times, R I  36 times, R II  55 times, M I  74 times and M II 34 times. And these are only the first 24 years. The order is still in use and awarded every year.

[JohanH]

Interesting information that is new for me. 

No matter how many has been awarded, they are difficult to find for sale. 

[misiu]

Yeah, nice.

Edited January 27, 2021 by misiu
addition

[MariusStrong]

Hello, wow great news.

Can I see a pic?

Marius

[FRE_A_K]

You see all classes come up for sale from time to time, but finding new ribbon (for my commander first class) seems to be impossible.
- Vili