The Greek honors system goes back to 1829 and the establishment of the

Order of the Redeemer The Order of the Redeemer ( el, Τάγμα του Σωτήρος, translit=Tágma tou Sotíros), also known as the Order of the Saviour, is an order of merit of Greece. The Order of the Redeemer is the oldest and highest decoration awarded by the ...

at the Fourth National Assembly at Argos. However, the relevant decree was signed in

Nafplio Nafplio ( ell, Ναύπλιο) is a coastal city located in the Peloponnese in Greece and it is the capital of the regional unit of Argolis and an important touristic destination. Founded in antiquity, the city became an important seaport in th ...

by King Otto on May 20, 1833. The

Grand Cross Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...

of the Order of the Redeemer remains the highest honor of Greece to this day.

Hellenic Republic

Orders

Order of Honour * GRE Order of the Phoenix - Silver Cross BAR

Order of the Phoenix * GRE Order of Beneficence - Silver Cross BAR

Order of Beneficence (restricted to females)

Kingdom of Greece

Royal Order of Saints George and Constantine ribbon

Order of St. George and Constantine (dynastic) * Royal Order of Saints Olga and Sophia ribbon

Order of St. Olga and Sophia (dynastic)(restricted to females from royal family) * GRE Order of George I - Member or Silver Cross BAR

Order of George I The Royal Order of George I ( el, Βασιλικόν Τάγμα Γεωργίου Α') is a Greek order instituted by King Constantine I in 1915. Since the monarchy's abolition in 1973, it has been considered a dynastic order of the former Greek ...

(dynastic) * GRE Order of the Phoenix - Silver Cross BAR

Order of the Phoenix * GRE Order of Beneficence - Silver Cross BAR

Order of Beneficence (restricted to females)

Ranks

As with most European orders, the Greek orders have the following ranks, in order of precedence: #

#Grand Officer #Commander #

Knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...

of the Gold Cross #Knight of the Silver Cross

Transmission of honors

In the past, the insignia of the order were to be returned to the State. However, in recent years, the rule has changed and the heirs of the honoree may keep the insignia.

Grand Master

The Grand Master of the Greek orders is the

head of state A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and ...

of the country. Since 1975, Greece is a

republic A republic () is a " state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th ...

and the head of state is the

President of Greece The president of Greece, officially the President of the Hellenic Republic ( el, Πρόεδρος της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας, Próedros tis Ellinikís Dimokratías), commonly referred to in Greek as the President of the Rep ...

who is also responsible for awarding them, according to article 46, paragraph 2 of the

Constitution of Greece The Constitution of Greece ( el, Σύνταγμα της Ελλάδας, Syntagma tis Elladas) was created by the Fifth Revisionary Parliament of the Hellenes in 1974, after the fall of the Greek military junta and the start of the Third Helle ...

and law 106/1975, Law 106/1975 of the Hellenic Republic upon the recommendation of the

Minister for Foreign Affairs A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between cou ...

Selection criteria

According to Law 106/1975, all proposals made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs are reviewed by the Council on Honors ('' el, Συμβούλιο Ταγμάτων Αριστείας'') when it applies to Greek citizens, the

Greek diaspora The Greek diaspora, also known as Omogenia ( el, Ομογένεια, Omogéneia), are the communities of Greeks living outside of Greece and Cyprus (excluding Northern Cyprus). Such places historically include Albania, North Macedonia, parts of ...

, military officers, and government workers. Individuals are selected to reward their contributions to Greece either it be the state, its culture, sports, arts, language, etc. The Council on Honors, which comes together by decision of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, serves for a two-year term: * the President of the

Council of State A Council of State is a governmental body in a country, or a subdivision of a country, with a function that varies by jurisdiction. It may be the formal name for the cabinet or it may refer to a non-executive advisory body associated with a head o ...

* the President of the

Court of Cassation A court of cassation is a high-instance court that exists in some judicial systems. Courts of cassation do not re-examine the facts of a case, they only interpret the relevant law. In this they are appellate courts of the highest instance. In th ...

* two Greek citizens who have been awarded the Grand Cross * one of the senior most

diplomats A diplomat (from grc, δίπλωμα; romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state or an intergovernmental institution such as the United Nations or the European Union to conduct diplomacy with one or more other states or internatio ...

of the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department responsible for the state's diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad. The enti ...

, either an

ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or s ...

or deputy minister * a senior military officer, set by the Defence General Staff * a representative from the office of the President of Greece

Medals

Gallantry and merit medals

Military Medals (since 1974)

Medal for Gallantry * Greek Commander's Medal of Valour ribbon

Cross of Valour * Greek War Cross 1940 3rd class ribbon

War Cross * Medal for Outstanding Acts * Medal for Exceptional Acts * Greek Medal of Military merit ribbon

Medal of Military Merit *

Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is a service medal awarded to personnel in various branches of the armed forces of the United Kingdom and the territories that are or were at some point a part of the British Empire or Commonwealth of Nations. ...

= Military commendations

= * Commendation for Leadership of the General Staff ( Hellenic National Defence General Staff,

Hellenic Army General Staff The Hellenic Army General Staff ( el, Γενικό Επιτελείο Στρατού, abbrev. ΓΕΣ) is the general staff of the Hellenic Army, the terrestrial component of the Greek Armed Forces. It was established in 1904. Since 1950, the HAGS ...

, Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Hellenic Navy General Staff) * Star for Merit and Honour * Medal for Merit and Honour * Commemoration for Leadership of a formation or extant unit * Commendation for Meritorious Command * Commendation for Long Service in Corps and Joint Corps (e.g. Judicial Corps) * Commendation for Service as a Staff Officer * Commendation for Service in a General Staff * Commendation for Participation in Peacekeeping Operations

Police Medals (since 1985)

* Police Medal for Gallantry * Police Cross * Medal of Police Merit * Long Service and Good Conduct Police Medal

= Police commendations

= * Commendation for Leadership of the Hellenic Police * Star for Merit and Honour * Commendation for Meritorious Command * Commendation for Meritorious Staff Service * Commendation for Meritorious Staff Service as a Special Duty Officer

Fire Service Medals (since 1998)

* Fire Service Medal for Gallantry * Fire Service Cross * Medal of Fire Service Merit

Coast Guard commendations

* Commendation for Leadership of the Coast Guard * Star for Merit and Honour * Medal for Merit and Honour * Commemoration for Leadership of a Regional Coast Guard Command * Commendation for Meritorious Command * Commendation for Service as a Staff Officer * Commendation for Meritorious Staff Service * Commendation for Long Service

Medals no longer awarded

=
Hellenic Gendarmerie The Hellenic Gendarmerie (, ''Elliniki Chorofylaki'') was the national gendarmerie and military police (until 1951) force of Greece. History 19th century The Greek Gendarmerie was established after the enthronement of King Otto in 1833 as the ...
(1946-1985)

= * Medal of Valour * Medal for Gallantry * Medal for Self-Sacrifice * War Cross * Medal for Outstanding Acts * Medal of Military Merit * Medal of Merit * Medal for Long and Meritorious Service

Cities Police The Cities Police ( el, Αστυνομία Πόλεων) was a Greek police force extant from 1921 to 1984, responsible for policing urban areas. It complemented the Hellenic Gendarmerie, which was responsible for rural and suburban areas. Histo ...
(1946Emergency Law 922/1946
-1985)

* Police Medal * Medal for Police Merit * Police Cross

Commemorative and campaign medals

* Cross for the War of Independence 1821–29 * Cross for the Bavarian Auxiliary Corps * Medal for the Proclamation of the Constitution of 1843 * Medal for the Greco-Turkish War of 1912–13 * Medal for the Greco-Bulgarian War * Medal for the Macedonian Struggle * Inter-Allied Victory Medal (1916–18) * Royal Hellenic Navy Campaign Cross * Maritime War Cross * Medal for the Air Defense of Alexandria * Medal for the War of 1940–1941 * Medal for the War of 1941–1945 * Medal for the National Resistance (1941–45) *

United Nations Korea Medal The United Nations Service Medal for Korea (UNKM) is an international military decoration established by the United Nations on December 12, 1950 as the United Nations Service Medal. The decoration was the first international award ever created by t ...

* Centenary Memorial Medal of the Greek Royal Family * Flying Cross * Air Force Merit Cross * Medal for Operations in Cyprus (1964, 1967, 1974)

Honorees

Those that have been honored by one of the Greek State Orders are given the right to wear their insignia for life, provided they have not been stricken from the rolls of their respective order, as per the penal code or by decision of the Council on Honors. The latter group may take such a decision if it deems that the person retaining the honor causes public discomfort or negatively affects the prestige of the Order. After the death of the honoree, the insignia may be kept by his or her heirs.

References

* George J. Beldecos, "Hellenic Orders, Decorations and Medals", pub. Hellenic War Museum, Athens 1991, .