![[Flag of the Serbian Orthodox Church]](../images/c/cs-spc.gif)
image by Ivan Sarajčić
Last modified: 2014-01-04 by rob raeside
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The flag of the Serbian Orthodox Church is the
Serbian tricolor with a golden cross and four elements called
očilo. Proportions vary, but the
most frequent of them is nearly 1:4.
Ivan Sarajčić, 6 January 1999
Ocila is the term that describes
the four C-shaped elements. Another word in Serbian for
the same thing is ognjila, but I do not think that this is
ever used for those elements in this sense.
Ocila is called in English a firesteel. A similar device is also known in
West-European heraldry, there most usually with opening above, often
with fire bursting from it.
Željko Heimer, 28 September 1998
The meaning and use of this symbol is said to date back to the XIIIth century during
the life of St. Sava, a Serbian prince, monk, and a patron of the Serbian
Orthodox Church [est. 1219].
During that time of transition in Serbian medieval history, the
state was pressured by the Vatican to convert into Catholicism. Since
the state did not have its own independent ecclesiastic
establishment, St. Sava called for establishment of Serbian
independent Archiepiscopat, and as well called on all Serbs to unite
against the pressure from The Vatican.
St. Sava said, 'Only Unity Saves the Serbs', in Serbian, Samo
Sloga Srbina Spasava. Every word in that sentence begins with the letter S; in Cyrillic
alphabet letter S is С, and there comes the explanation
why there are four C's in the Serbian coat of arms. The Serbian coat of arms represents a reminder for a need for Serbian people to unite
with the cause to preserve their heritage and nationhood.
David Adizes, 23 November 1999
Before the XIIth century, an almost identical
cross with four C- or rather B-shaped firesteels was used by the
Byzantine Paleologue Emperors, the letters
standing for the Emperor's motto: Βασιλευς Βασιλεων Βασιλευων Βασιλευσιν, that is, King of Kings, ruling over Kings.
Santiago Dotor, 25 November 1999
In the Orthodox Church, the cross that has been seen by Constantine the Great (270/288-337) is a very important symbol. Before the battle at Saxa
Rubra (Milvian Bridge) he is said to have seen in the sky a very bright
cross ("bright as many stars"). The message that he's been heard was: In
hoc signo vinces. There is a difference between this cross of victory
(Constantine won the battle) and the cross of crucifixion. In addition, it
is also a representation of the bright cross they believe that will appear in
the sky at the end of the World (Matthew 24:30).
There are several different ways to represent brightness of that
cross. One of them is with diagonal rays, the second is with the Greek letters IS HS
NI KA (Jesus Christ is victor). The third way is with four firesteels. The cross with four firesteels is an old Byzantine/Orthodox symbol and should not be connected to the Paleologues (the last ruling family). It has nothing to do with four Β (Greek or Serbian Cyrillic alphabet).
Zoran Nikolić, 14 July 2004
![[Flag of the Serbian Orthodox Church]](../images/r/rel-socp.jpg)
image by Milan Marfi
![[Flag of the Serbian Orthodox Church]](../images/r/rel)soc.jpg)
by Milan Marfi
[Click on image for larger version.]
The Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Flag consists of the coat of arms on a
red-blue-white tricolour, with a border of red, blue and white triangles. The flag
was seen at an event in Belgrade.
I have also found this flag a couple more times (even in the USA).
I did some research and found out that Serbian flag with SOC coat of arms in
the middle is Patriarch's flag.
I've seen also that some SOC dioceses are doing a similar thing by
putting the diocese coat of arms on the Serbian flag.
Milan Marfi, 23 July 2006
Are you certain that the flag you saw had a border of colored triangles? This
question has come up before- the photo at
http://www.spc.org.yu/Vesti-2004/05/dvaveka-15f-v.jpg and
http://www.spc.org.yu/Vesti-2004/05/11-5-04-e.html (official website of the
patriarchate) shows the border as colored squares instead of triangles.
Ned Smith, 24 July 2006
Yes those where triangles, although I have seen one with squares too.
Actually, I think that flag with R-B-W squares, is flag of the building of the
Patriarshia. The one with triangles is a rank flag for the Patriarch.
Milan Marfi, 24 July 2006
