Diocese of Charleston

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DIOCESE OF CHARLESTON (Dioecesis Carolopolitana)

Country : United States
Denomination : Roman Catholic

Established : 1820

Official blazon

Per bend or and gules, on a bend argent three crosses moline palewise sable, on a chief of the second a lion passant guardant of the first langued of the second.

Origin/meaning

The arms are based on thosee of Pope Pius VII who established the See on July 20 1820. The pope was a member of the Chiaramonti family which bore a shield diagonally divided. Because Pius VII was a Benedictine monk the Diocese displayed in his arms three crosses moline, symbols of that ancient Order.

To commemorate the See, named in honor of King Charles II of England, a golden lion of this sovereign is displayed on a red chief. This majestic beast is also a heraldic pun on the name of the founding bishop John England inasmuch the golden lion ´passant guardant´ on a red field, is known as the ¨Lion of England¨.