Order of Beneficence (Greece)

Order of Beneficence Τάγμα Ευποιΐας
Grand Cross and Star of the Order of Beneficence
Awarded by the President of the Hellenic Republic
Type	Order
Motto	ΕΥΠΟΙΪΑ
Eligibility	Only for women
Awarded for	Distinguished services to Greece and in the public sphere
Status	Currently constituted
Grades (w/ post-nominals)	Grand Cross, Grand Commander, Commander, Gold Cross, Silver Cross
Established	7 May 1948
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of the Phoenix
Next (lower)	?
Ribbon bar of the Order of Beneficence

The Order of Beneficence (Greek: Τάγμα Ευποιΐας), is an order of Greece, that was established in 1948.

It is conferred by the Greek government as a moral reward for women especially, Greek and foreign, for the good services they have rendered to the Fatherland in the field of charity as well as for their performance in the arts and letters. The fact that the order is awarded to women does not mean that the other Greek decorations are awarded exclusively to men.

Grades

The Order has five classes:

• Grand Cross - wears the badge on a sash from the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest;
• Grand Commander - wears the badge on a bow, plus the star on the left chest;
• Commander - wears the badge on a bow;
• Gold Cross - wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest;
• Silver Cross - wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest.

Ribbon bars
Dame Grand Cross	Grand Commander	Commander	Gold Cross	Silver Cross

Insignia

The badge of the Order is a five tipped blue-enamelled flower, in silver for the Silver Cross class, in gold for the higher classes. The overall design is clearly derived from the then-recently abolished British Order of the Indian Empire. The obverse central disc bears a portrait of the Holy Virgin with the Divine Child in Her arms with the legend "ΕΥΠΟΙΙΑ" («Beneficence») on a white enamel ring. The reverse side bears the emblem of the Hellenic Republic.

The star of the Order is a silver eight-pointed star with straight rays, with the same central disc as the obverse of the badge, while the reverse side also bears the emblem of the Hellenic Republic.

The ribbon of the Order is orange with blue edges.

External links

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

Orders, decorations, and medals of Greece
Orders	Kingdom 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 Republic Order of the Redeemer Order of Honour Order of the Phoenix Order of Beneficence (current list)
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 Peacekeeping Mission

Orders of knighthood for women
Orders exclusively for women:	Austria: Order of the Starry Cross Order of Love of the Neighbour Order of Elizabeth Bavaria: Order of Theresa Order of Saint Elizabeth Order of Saint Anna Burgundy: Order of the Dames of Rougemont Brunswick: Cross of Merit for ladies Bulgaria: Order of Charity Cambodia: Order of Satrei Vathana Denmark: Ordre de Parfaite Amitié Kingdom of Egypt: Order of the Virtues Ethiopia: Order of the Queen of Sheba Germany - Holy Roman Empire: Order of the Slaves of the Virtue Third Reich: Mother Cross Greece: Order of Saints Olga and Sophia Order of Beneficence Japan: Order of the Precious Crown Lippe-Detmold: Ordine di Berta Mantua: Order of the Dames of Maria Elisa Mexico: Order of Saint Charles Persia: Order of Aftab Order of the Pleiades Philippines: Order of Gabriela Silang Portugal: Order of Saint Isabel Prussia: Order of Louise Cross of Merit for Ladies and Virgins Cross of Merit for Ladies Romania: Commemorative Cross for Ladies Order for merits Russia: Order of Saint Catherine Order of the Red Cross for Ladies and Misses Holy See: Golden Rose (from 1759) Saxony: Order of Sidonia Ordine of Anna Maria Saxe-Merseburg: Order of the Skull Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt: Order of the Dames Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt & Schwarzburg-Sondershausen: Medal of Honour of Anna Luisa Serbia: Medal of Princess Nathalie Medal of Queen Nathalie South Korea: Order of the Lucky Phoenix Spain: Order of Queen Maria Luisa Turkey: Order of Charity Ukraine: Order of Princess Olga United Kingdom: Royal Family Order of King George IV Royal Order of Victoria and Albert Royal Family Order of King Edward VII Royal Family Order of King George V Royal Family Order of King George VI Order of the Crown of India Royal Red Cross Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II Württemberg: Order of Olga
Orders which included a class for women:	Anhalt: Order of Albert the Bear Baden: Order of Loyalty (Baden) Finland: Order of the White Rose of Finland Hesse: Order of the Star of Brabant Netherlands: Order of the House of Orange Saxon Duchies: Saxe-Ernestine House Order Thailand: Order of Chula Chom Klao Westphalia: Order of the Crown of Westphalia