Order of the Phoenix (Greece)

Order of the Phoenix
Τάγμα του Φοίνικος
Order of the Phoenix; Τάγμα του Φοίνικος ;
	Grand Cross and Star of the Order of the Phoenix, III. type
Awarded by the President of the Hellenic Republic
Type	Order
Established	13 May 1926
Country	Greece
Motto	Εκ της τέφρας μου αναγεννώμαι
Awarded for	excellence in the public sphere or raising Greece's international standing
Status	Currently constituted
Grades	Grand Cross ; Grand Commander ; Commander ; Golden Cross ; Silver Cross
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of George I; (Kingdom, 1935 till 1973) ; Order of Honour; (Republic, since 1975)
Next (lower)	Order of Beneficence
	; Ribbon bar of the Silver Cross of the Order of the Phoenix; ;

The Order of the Phoenix (Greek: Τάγμα του Φοίνικος) is an order of Greece, established on 13 May 1926, by the republican government of the Second Hellenic Republic to replace the defunct Royal Order of George I.

The order was retained after the restoration of the monarchy in 1935 and continues to be awarded by the current Third Republic.

The honour is bestowed by the Greek government to Greek citizens who have excelled in the arts and literature, science, public administration, shipping, commerce, and industry. It is also awarded to foreigners who have helped raise Greece's international prestige.

Grades[edit]

The Order has five classes:

Grand Cross ('Μεγαλόσταυρος') - wears the badge of the Order on a sash on the right shoulder, and the star of the Order on the left chest;
Grand Commander ('Ανώτερος Ταξιάρχης') - wears the badge of the Order on a necklet, and the star of the Order on the right chest;
Commander ('Ταξιάρχης') - wears the badge of the Order on a necklet;
Officer or Gold Cross ('Χρυσούς Σταυρός') - wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest;
Member or Silver Cross ('Αργυρούς Σταυρός') - wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest.

Insignia[edit]

The badge of the Order is a white-enameled cross, in silver for the Silver Cross class, in gold for the higher classes, with the Phoenix (symbolizing the rebirth of the Hellenic nation) at the centre. A five-pointed star is at the upper arm of the cross. The first version of the Order (1926–1935) featured the letters "E-T-T-A" in Byzantine uncial on each arm of the cross, the initials of the motto Εκ της τέφρας μου αναγεννώμαι ("From my ashes I am reborn"). During the Monarchy (1935–1973) the letters were removed and the badge was topped by a crown, while the badge's reverse side featured the monogram of the reigning monarch. The current version (since 1975) omits the crown, while the reverse features the Greek National Emblem with the words ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ ("Hellenic Republic").

The star of the Order is a silver eight-pointed star with straight rays, with the phoenix at the centre; during the Monarchy it was topped by a crown.

The ribbon of the Order is orange with black edges.

Crossed swords on the insignia indicate that the award was given in the military division of the Order.

Holders[edit]

Holder	Date	Grade
Gjergj Fishta	1931	-
Sir Julien Cahn^[1]	1931	Grand Commander
Henry Vollam Morton	1937	Commander
Nicholas Hammond^[2]	1946	Officer (with swords)
Thomas Dunbabin^[3]	1946	(with swords)
Beatrice Ashley Chanler^[4]	1946	-
Sir Arthur Coningham^[5]	1946	Grand Cross
Canon J.A. Douglas^[6]	1949	-
Constantine II of Greece	1950	Grand Cross
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh	1950	Grand Cross
Sir Robert James Hudson ^[7]	1950	Grand Commander
Sir Allan Ross Welsh^[7]	1950	Grand Commander
Mark Mindler	-	-
Gavin Merrick Long	1956	Officer
Wan Waithayakon	1956	Grand Cross
Dr. Joze Brilej		Grand Cross
Carl Foreman^[8]	1962	-
Elizabeth II of United Kingdom	1963	Grand Cross
Harald V of Norway	1964	Grand Cross
Odysseas Elytis	1965	Commander
John S. Latsis	1965	Grand Cross
Arne Skaug	unknown	Commander
Stavros Niarchos	1977	Commander
Max van der Stoel	1977	Grand Cross
Mounir Abou Fadel	1984	Grand Commander
Manolis Andronikos	1992	Grand Cross
Dimitrios Κοntoumas	1993	Grand Commander
Marianne McDonald	1994	Commander
Vasso Apostolopoulos	1997	Commander
Manuel Aroney	1998	Commander
Eleni Bakopanos	1999	Commander
Karl Buckthought	1999	Commander
John Cannis	1999	Commander
Peter Delefes	1999	Commander
Philippe Deane Gigantes	1999	Commander
Jim Karygiannis	1999	Commander
Ken Pontikes	1999	Commander
Christos Sirros	1999	Commander
Angelos Delivorias	2000	Commander
Grigoris Bithikotsis	2003	Officer
Rena Vlahopoulou	2003	Officer
H.E. Dušan T. Bataković	2005	Grand Cross
Sir Patrick Leigh Fermor	2007	Commander
Thanasis Veggos	2008	Commander
Paul Sarbanes	2008	Grand Cross
H.E. Vahram Kazhoyan	2009	Grand Cross
Angelos Chaniotis	2013	Commander
Kevin Featherstone	2013	Commander
Malcolm H. Wiener	2014	Officer
Yehuda Poliker	2014	unknown
Stephen Fry^[9]	2021	Grand Commander
Frangoulis Frangos	unknown	Grand Commander
Jacqueline de Romilly	unknown	Commander
Josef Pták	unknown	Officer Thomas J. Miller 2023 Grand Cross

Monarchy - Order of the Phoenix badge.
Monarchy - Order of the Phoenix - Grand Cross.
Monarchy - Order of the Phoenix - Grand Cross badge.
Monarchy - Order of the Phoenix - Grand Cross set.
Republic - Order of the Phoenix, Third Class Commander.
Monarchy - Three Silver knights of the Phoenix.
Monarchy - Third Class Commander with swords.
Monarchy - Grand Cross star with swords.
Monarchy - Second Class Grand Commander.
Monarchy - Grand Cross set with swords.

References[edit]

^ The Manchester Guardian GIFT OF NEWSTEAD ABBEY, 17 July 1931
^ The Manchester Guardian, NEW HEADMASTER OF CLIFTON, 9 June 1954
^ The Manchester Guardian, Births, Deaths, Marriages, 9 June 1954
^ Thomas, Lately. The Astor Orphans: A Pride of Lions, W. Morrow, 1971; p. 318.
^ Flight Global ^{[dead link]}
^ The Manchester Guardian, OBITUARY Canon J.A. Douglas, 5 July 1956
^ ^a ^b Issue 4485 London Gazette, Tuesday 5 September 1950 ^{[dead link]}
^ The Guardian Very special privilege: Tuesday night, 11 July 1962
^ Stephen Fry. Order of the Phoenix greekcitytimes.com 21 April 2021 ^{[dead link]}

Greek orders timeline
Orders by precedence	1832–1909	1910s		1920s			1930s			1940s				1950s	1960s	1970–present
Order of the Redeemer	.																Rep.
Order of Honour																		Rep.
Order of Saints George and Constantine									.			.					.	Dynastic
Order of Saints Olga and Sophia									.			.					.	Dynastic
Order of George I			.					.				.					.	Dynastic
Order of the Phoenix						.												Rep.
Order of Beneficence													.					Rep.
Years
Regime	Monarchy				Republic			Mon.			Rep.	Monarchy					Rep.
	1832–1909	1910s		1920s			1930s			1940s				1950s	1960s	1970–present

External links[edit]

Presidency of the Hellenic Republic – The Order of the Phoenix
The Greek Royal Orders
George J. Beldecos, "Hellenic Orders, Decorations and Medals", pub. Hellenic War Museum, Athens 1991, ISBN 960-85054-0-2.

[1] The Manchester Guardian GIFT OF NEWSTEAD ABBEY, 17 July 1931

[2] The Manchester Guardian, NEW HEADMASTER OF CLIFTON, 9 June 1954

[3] The Manchester Guardian, Births, Deaths, Marriages, 9 June 1954

[4] Thomas, Lately. The Astor Orphans: A Pride of Lions, W. Morrow, 1971; p. 318.

[5] Flight Global ^{[dead link]}

[6] The Manchester Guardian, OBITUARY Canon J.A. Douglas, 5 July 1956

[auto-7] Issue 4485 London Gazette, Tuesday 5 September 1950 ^{[dead link]}

[8] The Guardian Very special privilege: Tuesday night, 11 July 1962

[9] Stephen Fry. Order of the Phoenix greekcitytimes.com 21 April 2021 ^{[dead link]}

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