Orders, decorations, and medals of Greece

Orders

Order of the Redeemer

Order of Honour

Order of the Phoenix

Order of Beneficence (restricted to females)

Gallantry and merit medals

Medal for Gallantry

Cross of Valour

War Cross

Medal for Outstanding Acts

Medal for Exceptional Acts

Medal of Military Merit

Air Force Cross

Gendarmerie War Cross

Medal of Police Merit

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 War of 1940–1941

Medal for the War of 1941–1945

Medal for the National Resistance (1941–45)

United Nations Korea Medal

Centenary Memorial Medal of the Greek Royal Family

Medal of Military Worth

Flying Cross

Air Force Merit Cross

Medal for Operations in Cyprus (1964, 1967, 1974)

Commendation Medal for Merit and Honour

Commendation Medal for Long Term Service

Commendation Medal for Participation in a Peacekeeping Mission

Kingdom of Greece

Order of the Redeemer

Order of St. George and Constantine (dynastic)

Order of St. Olga and Sophia (dynastic)

Order of George I (dynastic)

Order of the Phoenix

Order of Beneficence

Ranks

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

1. Grand Cross
2. Grand Officer
3. Commander
4. Knight of the Gold Cross
5. 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 of the country. Since 1975, Greece is a republic and the head of state is the President of Greece who is also responsible for awarding them, according to article 46, paragraph 2 of the Constitution of Greece and law 106/1975, upon the recommendation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Selection criteria

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

the President of the Court of Cassation

two Greek citizens who have been awarded the Grand Cross

one of the senior most diplomats of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, either an ambassador or deputy minister

a senior military officer, set by the Defence General Staff

a representative from the office of the President of Greece

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.