The Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, describing "Hellenic Orders and
Decorations," states:
"The Order of the
Phoenix was established in 1926 and is awarded to Greek citizens who
have excelled in the fields of public administration, science, arts and
letters, commerce, industry and shipping. It is also conferred upon
foreigners who have promoted Greece’s stature abroad in the above
fields.
"The Order is named
after the mythical bird Phoenix, which is depicted on the obverse side
of the Star and the Cross. The reverse side bears the emblem of the
Hellenic Republic.
"The Order consists of
five grades or classes."