{{Infobox order |title = National Order of Faithful Service<br> ''Ordinul Național "Serviciul Credincios"'' |image = 300px |caption = Grand Cross of the Order |image2 = 85px |caption2 = The ribbon of the Order |awarded_by = The King of Romania<br>(1932–1947)<br>The President of Romania<br>(since 2000) |type = Order of Merit |motto = |day = |eligibility = (1) Civil, military;<br> (2) military units;<br> (3) foreign citizens |for = (1) Exceptional civil and military services to the Romanian State and the Romanian people;<br> (2) For special acts in time of peace or for heroic acts in time of war;<br> (3) For contributing to the development of the friendship relations with Romania, or for other exceptional services to the Romanian State and the Romanian People. |status = Currently awarded |head_title = Grand Master |head = President Nicușor Dan |chancellor = |commander = |grades = Grand Cross<br>Grand Officer<br>Commander<br>Officer |former_grades = Knight Grand Cross with Collar |date = 1932<br>reestablished 2000 |house = |religion = | higher = Order of the Star of Romania | same = Order of the Eagle of Romania | lower = Order For Merit | related = Cross of Faithful Service<br>Medal of Faithful Service |ribbon = Pale Blue with a White stripe in the middle. }}
The '''National Order of Faithful Service''' ({{langx|ro|Ordinul Național "Serviciul Credincios"}}) is the second highest national order of Romania after the Order of the Star of Romania, and the third highest State decoration, with the Order of Michael the Brave being the first. Originally it was established as the Medal of Faithful Service in 1878, during the reign of King Carol I. In 1906, the Cross of Faithful Service was added to the existing medal, as a superior class. During the reign of King Carol II, in 1932, the Order was established with four ranks: grand cross, grand officer, commodore, and officer.
Between 1940 and 1948, only the medal was awarded. It was discontinued by the communist authorities in 1948, along with all the other Romanian decorations. It was re-instituted on 31 March 2000, alongside the Cross and Medal of Faithful Service. It differs from the 1932 version in the number of ranks, an order of knight (the lowest) being added.<ref name="presidency">{{cite web|url=https://canord.presidency.ro/ro/pagina/ordinul-crucea-si-medalia-nationala-serviciul-credincios|title=Ordinul, crucea şi medalia naţională "Serviciul Credincios"|language=ro|website=presidency.ro|access-date=4 May 2023}}</ref> Is awarded for special services to Romania. It is also awarded to foreign nationals.
== Ranks == The order is awarded in three classes (Civil, Military – Peacetime & Military – Wartime) and is composed of 5 levels:
* Grand Cross; * Grand Officer; * Commander; * Officer; * Knight.
There is also a National Cross of Faithful Service ({{langx|ro|Crucea Națională "Serviciul Credincios"}}) and a National Medal of Faithful Service ({{langx|ro|Medalia Națională "Serviciul Credincios"}}).
== Insignia == The ''ribbon'' (for civilians and peacetime military) of the order is nowadays light blue with a white central stripe: 100px
<gallery> File:Faithful-Service-Order-Knight-Military-Flags.jpg|Peacetime military flag decoration - 2000 File:Orde van Trouwe Dienst van Roemenië Interbellum Ster en ridderkruis.gif| Lower rank decoration and upper rank star - 1932 model File:Order For Merit (Romania).jpg|Grand Cross - 1932 model File:Rumänien OrdinulServiciulCredincios Typ1932.jpg|Lower ranks - 1932 model </gallery>
== Notable recipients == * King Michael I of Romania with collar and diamonds as final sovereign of the order during the Kingdom of Romania * Douglas MacArthur (Grand Cross, 1932)<ref>{{cite magazine|title=A Troubled and Confused Europe|magazine=MacArthur Report|issue=4|date=October 2024|pages=28–29|url= https://www.flipsnack.com/FE7AC7BBDC9/macarthur-report-oct-2024/full-view.html|access-date=15 August 2025}}</ref> * Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland (2008)<ref>[http://www.ppe-agency.com/preview.php?start=0&id=20435&zoektype=2&search=11-03-2008%20Gala PPE Agency Photo] among gala dinner [http://www.ppe-agency.com/show.php?zoektype=2&search=11-03-2008%20Gala gallery]</ref><ref name="Ord.S.Cred">[http://canord.presidency.ro/Ord.S.Cred.xls Recipients of Order of Faithful Service (excel file)]</ref> * Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland (2008)<ref name="Ord.S.Cred" /> * Radu Câmpeanu, rank of "Knight" (2002) * Alexandrina Cernov<ref>{{cite news|url=https://adevarul.ro/stiri-locale/constanta/alexandrina-cernov-academician-din-cernauti-2147849.html|title=Alexandrina Cernov, academician din Cernăuți: "Românii din Ucraina au de luptat și pe frontul limbii române"|first=Mariana|last=Iancu|newspaper=Adevărul|date=6 February 2022|language=ro}}</ref> * Iancu Țucărman<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.agerpres.ro/politica/2016/06/27/presedintie-marcel-fisel-iancu-tucarman-si-leonard-zaicescu-decorati-pentru-contributia-la-pastrarea-memoriei-holocaustului-13-09-14|title=Președinție: Marcel Fișel, Iancu Țucărman și Leonard Zăicescu - decorați pentru contribuția la păstrarea memoriei Holocaustului|first=Oana|last=Ghiță|editor-first=Georgiana|editor-last=Tănăsescu|newspaper=Agerpres|date=27 June 2016|language=ro}}</ref> * Martha Argerich (2025)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-28 |title=Romania decorates renowned pianist Martha Argerich |url=https://www.romania-insider.com/romania-decorates-renowned-pianist-martha-argerich-2025 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Romania Insider |language=en}}</ref>
===Military units decorated with the Order=== * Michael the Brave 30th Guards Brigade (2015) * 101st Airborne Division (2023)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.medals.org.uk/romania/republic-romania/republic-romania007.htm World Medal Index] – Republic of Romania: Order of Faithful Service *{{cite book|title=Romania's national system of decorations|year=2003|publisher=Monitorul Oficial|location=Bucharest|isbn=973-567-404-1|pages=382–396|url=http://canord.presidency.ro/Vol64%20Decoratii.pdf}}
{{Romanian National Decorations System}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Faithful Service}} Category:National Order of Faithful Service Category:Romanian decorations Category:Military awards and decorations of Romania Faithful Service, Order of Category:Awards established in 1932