The Royal Family Order of Saints Olga and Sophia (or Βασιλικόν Οἰκογενειακόν Τάγμα Ἁγίων Ὂλγας καὶ Σοφίας, Vasilikon Oikogeneiakon Tagma Agion Olgas kai Sofias) was an order of the Greek royal family reserved for women.
It was the third highest hohor of the modern Greek state and the Crown after the Order of the Redeemer and the male-only Order of Saints George and Constantine. It was instituted in January 1936 by King George II in the memory of his grandmother (Queen Olga) and his mother (Queen Sophia).
The order was abolished in 1973 by the Greek state and today is awarded only by the head of the former Greek royal family, at the monarch’s pleasure for personal services of women to the Crown.
The Order of Saints Olga and Sophia Design
The Order is awarded on the following Grades:
- Dame 1st Class or Grand Cross
- Dame 2nd Class
- Dame 3rd Class
- Dame 4th Class
- Grand Cross (‘Μεγαλόσταυρος’) – wears the badge of the Order on a collar or on a sash on the right shoulder, and the star of the Order on the left chest;
- Grand Commander (‘Ανώτερος Ταξιάρχης’) – wears the badge and the star of the Order on the left chest;
- Commander (‘Ταξιάρχης’) – wears the badge of the Order on a necklet;
- Gold Cross (‘Χρυσούς Σταυρός’) – wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest;
- Silver Cross (‘Αργυρούς Σταυρός’) – wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest.
