TheGreek honors system goes back to 1829 and the establishment of theOrder of the Redeemer at theFourth National Assembly at Argos. However, the relevant decree was signed inNafplio by KingOtto on May 20, 1833. TheGrand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer remains the highest honor of Greece to this day.

• Order of the Redeemer
• Order of Honour
• Order of the Phoenix
• Order of Beneficence (restricted to females)

• Royal Order of the Redeemer
• Royal Family Order of Saints George and Constantine (dynastic)
• Royal Family Order of Saints Olga and Sophia (dynastic, restricted to females from royal family)
• Royal Order of George I (dynastic)
• Royal Order of the Phoenix
• Royal Order of Beneficence (restricted to females)

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

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.

TheGrand Master of the Greek orders is thehead of state of the country. Since 1975, Greece is arepublic and the head of state is thePresident of Greece who is also responsible for awarding them, according to article 46, paragraph 2 of theConstitution of Greece and law 106/1975,^[1] upon the recommendation of theMinister for Foreign Affairs.

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, theGreek diaspora, military officers, and government workers. Individuals are selected to reward their contributions to Greece, be it 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:^[1]

• the President of theCouncil of State
• the President of theCourt of Cassation
• two Greek citizens who have been awarded the Grand Cross
• one of the senior-mostdiplomats of theMinistry of Foreign Affairs, either anambassador or deputy minister
• a senior military officer, set by theDefence General Staff
• a representative from the office of the President of Greece

• Medal for Gallantry
• Cross of Valour
• War Cross
• Medal for Outstanding Acts
• Medal for Exceptional Acts
• Medal of Military Merit
• Long Service and Good Conduct Medal

• Commendation for Leadership of the General Staff (Hellenic National Defence General Staff,Hellenic Army General Staff,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 Medal for Gallantry
• Police Cross
• Medal of Police Merit
• Long Service and Good Conduct Police Medal

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

• 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

• 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

• Police Medal
• Medal for Police Merit
• Police Cross

• 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 1912–1913
• Medal for the Greco-Bulgarian War
• Medal for the Macedonian Struggle (1904–08)
• Inter-Allied Victory Medal (1916–18)
• Royal Hellenic Navy Campaign Cross (1940–45)
• 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 (1950–53)
• Centenary Memorial Medal of the Greek Royal Family
• Flying Cross
• Air Force Merit Cross
• Medal for Operations in Cyprus (1964, 1967, 1974)

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.^[1]

7.I.Repetski Orders and medals of Greece. Reference catalog

Wikimedia Commons has media related toOrders, decorations and medals of Greece.

• World Awards

Wikimedia Commons has media related toOrders, decorations and medals of Greece.

• Dēmakopoulos, Geōrgios D. (1961).Greek Orders and Medals. Athens: Mavridis.OCLC 870294502.
• Beldecos, George J. (1991).Hellenic Orders, Decorations and Medals. Athens: Hellenic War Museum.ISBN 960-85054-0-2.

• Orders, decorations, and medals of Greece
• Greek awards

• CS1 Greek-language sources (el)
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Articles containing Greek-language text
• Commons category link from Wikidata