06-17-2002, 07:37 PM (This post was last modified: 06-17-2002, 10:55 PM by scook17.)
I bought a badge a while ago with the initials SAPR on it, thinking it was Russian. I never could find out what is was, but today I came across something similar in the first AVERS catalogue.
The initials SAPR apparently relate to a regiment based in Moscow, from the description of the similar award I found in the AVERS book. Does anyone know any more about SAPR of anything about this badge?
06-17-2002, 11:03 PM (This post was last modified: 01-02-2005, 06:34 PM by Art.)
Hi,
I'm not sure what the badge commemorates, but the blue cross with "SAPR" is called "Andrew's Cross" (after St. Andrew). The SAPR stands for "Sanctus Andreas Patronus Russiae", which means - Saint Andrew, Patron of Russia.
You can read about it on this great Heraldia-Chivalry site...
St Andrew is also the patron saint of the Russian Navy. The naval ensign is depicts the St Andrew's cross, and is known as the Andreev flag. I've seen a few badges with the same St Andrew's background as depicted on your scan, albeit with differing crests or ship/sub silhouttes.
I've attached one I picked up during a port visit in 1993/94.
