Awards and decorations of Lithuania are governed by the
Republic of Lithuania Law on State Awards of 2002, amended in 2003.
State decorations
The state orders, medals and other decorations are bestowed by the
President of Lithuania
The President of the Republic of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Respublikos Prezidentas) is the head of state of Lithuania. The officeholder has been Gitanas Nausėda since 12 July 2019.
Powers
The president has somewhat more executive authority t ...
on 16 February –
Day of Re-establishment of the State of Lithuania and 6 July –
Day of the State (Coronation of King
Mindaugas), and on other days on special occasions.
The President of Lithuania is awarded with the highest order, of Vytautas the Great, upon starting to hold his office after taking the oath, by the Chairman of the
Seimas
The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Respublikos Seimas), or simply the Seimas (), is the unicameral parliament of Lithuania. The Seimas constitutes the legislative branch of government in Lithuania, enacting laws and amendm ...
(Lithuanian
parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. Th ...
).
Decorations are minted in
Lithuanian Mint
Lithuanian Mint ( lt, Lietuvos monetų kalykla) is the state-owned enterprise, responsible for the mintage of coins and decorations of Lithuania. The shareholding is managed by the central bank of Lithuania. Lithuanian mintage tradition traces ...
, a state own enterprise. National awards are administered by Head of the Presidential Administration, who serves as the ''
ex officio
An ''ex officio'' member is a member of a body (notably a board, committee, council) who is part of it by virtue of holding another office. The term '' ex officio'' is Latin, meaning literally 'from the office', and the sense intended is 'by right ...
'' Grand Master of the Orders the Republic.
Orders
*the
Order of Vytautas the Great;
*the
Order of the Cross of Vytis
The Order of the Cross of Vytis ( lt, Vyčio Kryžiaus ordinas) is a Lithuanian presidential award conferred for heroic defence of Lithuania's freedom and independence. November 23 is a holiday in honour of the Order of the Cross of Vytis. Hist ...
;
*the
Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas;
*the
Order for Merits to Lithuania
The Order for Merits to Lithuania ( lt, Ordinas Už nuopelnus Lietuvai) is an award, presented by the President of Lithuania, which may be conferred on the citizens of Lithuania and foreign nationals for distinguished services promoting name of Lit ...
.
Insignia of the Orders
*the order with the golden chain (only the Order of Vytautas the Great);
*the Grand Cross (First Class Order);
*the Grand Cross of Commander (Second Class Order);
*the Cross of Commander (Third Class Order);
*the Cross of Officer (Fourth Class Order);
*the Cross of the Knight (Fifth Class Order).
Medals and other decorations
*
Flag of the Order of the Cross of Vytis
*
Independence Medal
*
Life Saving Cross
*
Medal of the Order of the Cross of Vytis
A medal or medallion is a small portable artistic object, a thin disc, normally of metal, carrying a design, usually on both sides. They typically have a commemorative purpose of some kind, and many are presented as awards. They may be int ...
*
Medal of the Order of Vytautas the Great
*
Medal of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas
*
*
Commemorative Medal of 13 January
A commemorative is an object made to memorialize something.
Commemorative may refer to:
* Commemorative coin, coins that issued to commemorate something
* Commemorative medal, a medal to commemorate something
* Commemorative plaque, a plate typic ...
Order of precedence of decorations
#the Order of Vytautas the Great with the Golden Chain;
#the Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Vytis;
#the Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great;
#the Grand Cross of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas;
#the Grand Cross of the Order for Merits to Lithuania;
#the Grand Cross of Commander of the Order of the Cross of Vytis;
#the Grand Cross of Commander of the Order of Vytautas the Great;
#the Grand Cross of Commander of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas;
#the Grand Cross of Commander of the Order for Merits to Lithuania;
#the Cross of Commander of the Order of the Cross of Vytis;
#the Cross of Commander of the Order of Vytautas the Great;
#the Cross of Commander of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas;
#the Cross of Commander of the Order for Merits to Lithuania;
#the Cross of Officer of the Order of the Cross of Vytis;
#the Cross of Officer of the Order of Vytautas the Great;
#the Cross of Officer of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas;
#the Cross of Officer of the Order for Merits to Lithuania;
#the Cross of the Knight of the Order of the Cross of Vytis;
#the Cross of the Knight of the Order of Vytautas the Great;
#the Cross of the Knight of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas;
#the Cross of the Knight of the Order for Merits to Lithuania;
#the Life Saving Cross;
#the Medal of the Order of the Cross of Vytis;
#the Medal of the Order of Vytautas the Great;
#the Medal of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas;
#the Order for Merits to Lithuania;
#the Commemorative Medal of 13 January.
Other decorations
*
Medal of Founding Volunteers of the Lithuanian Army
A medal or medallion is a small portable artistic object, a thin disc, normally of metal, carrying a design, usually on both sides. They typically have a commemorative purpose of some kind, and many are presented as awards. They may be int ...
*
Star of Riflemen Riflemen's Star ( lt, Šaulių žvaigždė) is a decoration bestowed by the Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania. The star is awarded to distinguished members of the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union, other citizens of Lithuania and ...
*
Medal of the Star of Riflemen
A medal or medallion is a small portable artistic object, a thin disc, normally of metal, carrying a design, usually on both sides. They typically have a commemorative purpose of some kind, and many are presented as awards. They may be int ...
*
Medal of Darius and Girėnas
A medal or medallion is a small portable artistic object, a thin disc, normally of metal, carrying a design, usually on both sides. They typically have a commemorative purpose of some kind, and many are presented as awards. They may be int ...
The above decorations are awarded by the
Minister of National Defence. In addition, the Medal of Darius and Girėnas may be awarded by the
Minister of Transport and Communications.
History
Although most of nowadays
Lithuania
Lithuania (; lt, Lietuva ), officially the Republic of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Respublika, links=no ), is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. Lithuania ...
n orders are created in times of Interwar Lithuanian Republic, few of nowadays
Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...
highest awards do have roots in
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state that existed from the 13th century to 1795, when the territory was Partitions of Poland, partitioned among the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Habsburg Empire, Habsburg Empire of ...
, and by official herald of Lithuania are considered as origin
Lithuania
Lithuania (; lt, Lietuva ), officially the Republic of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Respublika, links=no ), is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. Lithuania ...
n.
References
Official English translation of the Lithuanian law on state awardsPresident of Lithuania's official site for Orders, Medals and Other Awards
{{Orders of Lithuania