Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the Grand Cross of the Order of Honour by the President of Greece, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, on Friday, August 25, 2023.
The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour is the second-highest civilian honour in Greece. The Order of Honour was established in 1975. The head of goddess Athena is depicted on the front side of the Star with the inscription “ONLY THE RIGHTEOUS SHOULD BE HONOURED”. It is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the country or to humanity.
Modi was awarded the honour for his “outstanding contribution to the promotion of bilateral relations between India and Greece.” He is the first foreign Head of Government to receive this honour.
Modi received the award at a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in Athens. He was accompanied by his wife, Jashodaben.
In his acceptance speech, Modi said that he was “deeply honoured” to receive the award. He said that the award was a recognition of the “strong and close ties” between India and Greece.
Modi also said that he was committed to further strengthening the ties between the two countries. He said that India and Greece had a “shared history and culture” and that they could work together to “address the challenges of the 21st century.”
The award was a major diplomatic achievement for Modi. It is a sign of the strong ties between India and Greece and of Modi’s commitment to strengthening these ties.