[1][2] Álvaro I was given permission by the King of Portugal to grant knighthoods for the Order of Christ and his successors, approved by the Holy See, continued to serve as the fons honorum for the Order of Christ.

[3][4][5] Historically, those who were awarded a knighthood in the Order of Christ wore mantles with an embroidered cross.

[6] The Order of Christ became a central part of the military life of the Kingdom of Kongo, including many members of the aristocracy.

[3][7] A number of local rulers underwent investiture into the Order of Christ.

The Order of Christ, as with the Order of Saint James of the Sword, continues to be awarded ecumenically by the Imperial House of Kongo.