Order of the White Double Cross

Order of the White Double Cross Rad Bieleho dvojkríža
Awarded by President of Slovakia
Type	Order
Eligibility	foreign persons
Awarded for	Services to Slovakia
Status	Currently constituted
Sovereign	H.E. Ivan Gašparovič
Grades (w/ post-nominals)	Grand Cross Grand Officer Commander
Statistics
Established	1 March 1994
First induction	H.Em. Jozef Tomko (1994)
Last induction	H.E. George Abela (06 september 2011)
Total inductees	185 (total) 48 (1st Class) 92 (2nd Class) 45 (3rd Class)
Precedence
Next (higher)	None (highest)
Next (lower)	Andrej Hlinka Order
Ribbon bar of the 1st Class Ribbon bar of the 2nd Class Ribbon bar of the 3rd Class

The Order of the White Double Cross (Slovak: Rad Bieleho dvojkríža) is the highest state decoration of the Republic of Slovakia.

The Order was instituted on 1 March 1994 after Slovakia became independent on 1 January 1993. It continues the Czechoslovak Order of the White Lion, which was created in 1922 as an award for foreigners.

The Order of the White Double Cross is conferred only upon foreign citizens:

• "for the comprehensive development of relations between the state, whose citizens they are and the Slovak Republic";
• "for the empowerment of the Slovak Republic’s position in international relations";
• "for meeting the foreign policy priorities of Slovakia";
• "for otherwise outstanding achievement in the benefit of the Slovak Republic"; or
• "for the outstanding spread of good reputation of Slovakia abroad."

Classes

The Order of the White Double Cross has two divisions, civil and military, and three classes:

• First Class or Grand Cross - badge may be worn on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star is worn on the left chest;
• Second Class or Grand Officer - badge may be worn on a necklet and the star is worn on the left chest;
• Third Class or Commander - badge may be worn on a necklet.

First Class (badge with sash and breast star)	Second Class (badge with necklet and breast star)	Third Class (badge with necklet)

Insignia

The star is an eight-pointed gold breast star, with golden straight rays between the points of the star. The central disc on the star has a white double cross on a red enamel background, which is surrounded by a gold wreath of laurel and oak leaves.

The badge of the Order is of the same design as the star, although smaller. Furthermore, the upper point is missing and the badge is suspended on a stylized leaf of a common lime tree, with or without the crossed swords of the Military Division.

The ribbon of the order is blue with a red central stripe.

References

• Order of the White Double Cross - official website President of the Slovak Republic
• State Honours, Orders & Decorations - website the Slovak Republic