First Bulgarians join the Order of St George the Martyr in Cambridge
The Order of St George the Martyr held its annual investiture ceremony at Great St Mary’s Church in Cambridge, on a day of tradition and some firsts.
The ceremony welcomed five new members into the Order: Mihail Stoyanov, Sofia Stoyanova, Mark Joseph Boden, Anthony Owen Smith, and Joanne Marie Stannard.
Piero D’Angelico was promoted to the rank of officer within the order.
This year’s ceremony marked the first time members of Bulgarian heritage – Mr Stoyanov and Mrs Stoyanova – were invested, a milestone honoured by a moving performance of the Bulgarian national anthem, played by the church’s organist and choir.
His Excellency Tihomir Stoychev, Bulgarian ambassador to the UK, attended the event as an honoured guest.
Also in attendance were His Majesty’s Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, John Bridge and his wife Jenny, and senior officers of the order including Grand Master Robert Dryden JP, Grand Prior Richard Brown, and chaplain, the Rt Rev Monsignor Provost Eugene Harkness.
Following the formal investiture, members and guests gathered in the church gardens for group photographs before proceeding to a celebratory lunch and networking event at the Hilton hotel in Cambridge.
The lunch was opened by a speech from Mr Dryden, who remarked: “Today we honour those whose lives reflect the very virtues St George stood for – courage, justice, and compassion.
“This order is not about formality or ceremony alone; it is about the quiet but powerful impact of service. Let this day inspire us to do more, to be more, and to stand for what is right in a world that so desperately needs it.”
This was followed by a keynote speech from Mr Bridge, who spoke movingly about the values embodied by the order, saying: “The Order of St George calls on its members not simply to wear its insignia, but to live its values.
“Today is a moment of recognition, yes. But it is also a moment of recommitment – to continue that example, and to bring light where it’s needed most.”
The Grand Master conferred Honorary Knight Membership upon Ambassador Stoychev, acknowledging his support for Bulgarian-British cultural relations and his role in deepening the connection between the Bulgarian community and the order.
Ambassador Stoychev noted the deep historical reverence for St George in Bulgarian tradition, as both a saint and protector of the Bulgarian army, and expressed hope for the eventual establishment of a national branch of the order in Bulgaria.
As is tradition, the ceremony was followed by a charitable act. This year, the order donated £2,000 to Riding for the Disabled, supporting the charity’s work in using therapeutic horse-riding to improve the lives of children and adults with disabilities.
Mr Brown said: “Each year, I write to the King to inform him of our new postulants and the good works we’ve achieved. His Majesty expresses his great thanks and wishes us a successful year ahead.”
