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{{Short description|Order of chivalry in Greece}}
{{For|the Spanish order|Order of Beneficence (Spain)}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox order
|title=Order of Beneficence<br />Τάγμα της Ευποιΐας
|image=Orde van Goede Doelen van Griekenland.gif
|caption=Grand Cross and Star of the Order of Beneficence
|awarded_by=the [[President of Greece|President of the Hellenic Republic]]
|type=[[Order (decoration)|Order]]
|motto=''ΕΥΠΟΙΪΑ''
|eligibility=Only for women 
|for=Distinguished services to Greece and in the public sphere
|status=Currently constituted
|date=7 May 1948
|grades=Grand Cross, Grand Commander, Commander, Gold Cross, Silver Cross
|higher=[[Order of the Phoenix (Greece)|Order of the Phoenix]]
|lower=-
|image2=[[File:GRE Order of Beneficence - Silver Cross BAR.svg|85px| ]]
|caption2=Ribbon bar of the Order of Beneficence
}}

The '''Order of Beneficence''' ({{langx|el|Τάγμα της Ευποιΐας|Tágma tis Eipoiías}}) is an [[Order (decoration)|order]] of [[Greece]] which was established in 1975 by law no.106/1975, using the same name and same insignia as that of the order instituted in the previous governance of the [[Kingdom of Greece]], although a separate order with different statutes.  It is conferred by the [[President of Greece|President of the Republic]] as a moral reward for women especially, Greek or foreigner who have contributed good services to the country. The fact that the order is awarded to women does {{em|not}} mean that the other Greek decorations are awarded exclusively to men.

The order has three symbols: a "badge", a "star", and a "ribbon". The badge is a five-petaled flower, enameled in blue. The star is a silver eight-pointed star with straight rays. The ribbon is an orange ribbon with blue edges.
== 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 right 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.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center; width:70%;"
! colspan=5 | Ribbon bars
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
|width=20%|[[Image:GRE Order of Beneficence - Grand Cross BAR.svg|80px|center]]<small>Grand Cross</small>  
|width=20%|[[Image:GRE Order of Beneficence - Grand Commander BAR.svg|80px|center]]<small>Grand Officer</small>
|width=20%|[[Image:GRE Order of Beneficence - Commander BAR.svg|80px|center]]<small>Commander</small> 
|width=20%|[[Image:GRE Order of Beneficence - Gold Cross BAR.svg|80px|center]]<small>Officer</small>
|width=20%|[[Image:GRE Order of Beneficence - Silver Cross BAR.svg|80px|center]]<small>Member</small>
|}

== Recipients ==

=== Grand Cross ===
* {{flag|Denmark}}: [[Queen Mary of Denmark|Queen Mary]]
* {{flag|Denmark}}: [[Princess Marie of Denmark|Princess Marie]]
* {{flag|Luxembourg}}: [[Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg|Grand Duchess Maria Teresa]]

==Insignia==

The ''badge'' of the Order is a five tipped blue-enamelled flower, in silver (or silvered) for the Silver Cross class, in gold (or goldened) for the higher classes. The overall design is clearly derived from the then-recently abolished British [[Order of the Indian Empire]].

There are four versions of the badge :
* The first was awarded from 1948 to 1973. It is surmounted by a royal crown and features a reverse medallion with the cypher of King George II.
* The second and third versions were awarded from 1975 to 1984. These versions do not have a surmounting crown and feature reverse medallions without an inscription, or with the initials “ED” (the first letters to “Greek Republic”).
* The fourth version has neither a crown but features a reverse medallion with the national coat of arms and “Greek Republic” in full.

All four versions feature an obverse central disc bearing a portrait of the [[Theotokos]] with the [[Jesus|Divine Child]] in Her arms with the legend "ΕΥΠΟΙΙΑ" («Beneficence») on a white enamel ring.

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.

There may be other slight differences of the badge or the star depending on the manufacturer.

The ''ribbon'' of the Order is orange with blue edges.

==Royal Order==
The '''Royal Order of Beneficence''' ({{langx|el|Τάγμα της Ευποιΐας}}) is an [[Order (decoration)|order of knighthood]] of the [[Greek Royal Family]] that was established in 1948 by [[Paul of Greece|King Pavlos I]], following the death of [[King George II of Greece]], in accordance with his wishes.

It is conferred by the Head of the Royal House of Greece as a dynastic Decoration for women especially, [[Greek people|Greek]] and [[Alien (law)|foreign]], for the good services they have rendered to the [[Fatherland]] in the field of [[Charitable organization|charity]] as well as for their performance in the [[art]]s and [[Literature|letters]]. 

After the abolition of the [[Kingdom of Greece]] and its replacement by the [[Greece|Third Hellenic Republic]], all orders and decorations of knighthood were disbanded as state orders (although retained as dynastic [[house order]]s by the Greek Royal Family) and replaced by republican versions of the orders of knighthood, including this order which is currently awarded by the two entities but as separate orders with their own statutes. 

===Grades of the Royal Order===

The Order has five grades:
*Dame Grand Cross - wears the badge on a sash from the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest;
*Dame Grand Officer - wears the badge on a bow, plus the star on the right chest;
*Dame Commander - wears the badge on an elongated ribbon bow (day and evening dress) and wears a [[necklet]] (uniform)
*Dame Officer - wears the badge suspended on a ribbon bow on the left chest;
*Dame - wears a smaller badge suspended on a ribbon bow  on the left chest.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center; width:70%;"
! colspan=5 | Ribbon bars
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
|width=20%|[[Image:GRE Order of Beneficence - Grand Cross BAR.svg|80px|center]]<small>Dame Grand Cross</small>  
|width=20%|[[Image:GRE Order of Beneficence - Grand Commander BAR.svg|80px|center]]<small>Dame Grand Officer</small>
|width=20%|[[Image:GRE Order of Beneficence - Commander BAR.svg|80px|center]]<small>Dame Commander</small> 
|width=20%|[[Image:GRE Order of Beneficence - Gold Cross BAR.svg|80px|center]]<small>Dame Officer</small>
|width=20%|[[Image:GRE Order of Beneficence - Silver Cross BAR.svg|80px|center]]<small>Dame</small>
|}

===Recipients===

====Dames Grand Cross====
* {{flagicon|Kingdom of Bulgaria}}: [[Queen Margarita of Bulgaria|Queen Margarita]]
* {{flagicon|Kingdom of Egypt}}: [[Farida of Egypt|Princess Farida Zulficar]]
* {{flag|Jordan}}: [[Princess Muna al-Hussein|Princess Muna Gardiner]]
* {{flag|Liechtenstein}}: [[Countess Georgina von Wilczek|Princess Georgina]]
* {{flag|Monaco}}: [[Grace Kelly|Princess Grace]]
* {{flag|Thailand}}: [[Sirikit|Queen Sirikit, Queen Mother]]

====Dame Grand Officer====
* {{flag|Yugoslavia}}: [[Lepa Perović]]<ref>[https://www.arhiv-beograda.org/images/izlozbe_foto_pdf/odlikovanja/PROSPEKT%20ODLIKOVANJA%20IAB.pdf]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==See also==
* [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Greece]]
* [[Orders of chivalry for women]]
* [[List of awards honoring women]]

==Further reading==
* George J. Beldecos, "Hellenic Orders, Decorations and Medals", pub. Hellenic War Museum, Athens 1991, {{ISBN|960-85054-0-2}}. 

==External links==
* [http://www.presidency.gr/en/hellenic-orders-decorations/order-of-beneficence/ Presidency of the Hellenic Republic - Order of Beneficence] {{in lang|el}}
* [http://www.greekroyalfamily.gr/images/stories/eggrafa_afieromata/ROYAL20ORDERS20ENG.pdf The Greek Royal Orders]
{{Greek orders timeline}}
{{Honors and decorations of Greece}}
{{Orders of knighthood for women}}

[[Category:Orders, decorations, and medals of Greece|Beneficence (Greece), Order of]]
[[Category:Orders of chivalry for women|Beneficence (Greece), Order of]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1948]]
[[Category:Order of Beneficence (Greece)]]
[[Category:1948 establishments in Greece]]
[[Category:Orders of chivalry awarded to heads of state, consorts and sovereign family members|Beneficence (Greece), Order of]]