Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Honor to shipowner Athanasios Martinos in recognition of his philanthropic contributions during a ceremony held at the Presidential Mansion on Monday.
In her address, Sakellaropoulou expressed gratitude on behalf of the Greek people, presenting Martinos with the second-highest civilian award of the Greek state.
“It is with great pleasure that we honor Athanasios Martinos today, one of the most prominent Greek shipowners, for his multifaceted social contributions and extensive philanthropic work,” she said, adding that these contributions were primarily carried out through the Athanasios and Marina Martinos Foundation and the AIGEAS Cultural and Charitable Company.
Martinos, in turn, thanked Sakellaropoulou for recognizing his efforts, particularly during the economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic.
“During these difficult years for our country, we stood as supporters of the state’s efforts in public health, public education, the support of law enforcement agencies, local government, and culture,” he said.