Official Legal Proclamation

LAW # 851
On the National Flag, War Flags and the Insignia of the President of the Republic

THE PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC, voting unanimously with the Parliament, we have decided:

Article 1. National Flag

1. The National Flag of Greece is blue and white, consists of nine horizontal stripes of equal width, of which five (5) are blue and four (4) white, in such a way that the top and the bottom stripes are blue and the rest alternately white and blue.

2. On the top corner of the flag adjoining the flagstaff or flagpole there is an upright white cross, whose vertical and transverse arms are of equal length, extending to the four sides of a blue rectangle encompassing it and covering from top to bottom three stripes blue and two white.

3. The width of the intersecting lines of the cross is equal to that of the stripes. The flag's width to length ratio is two (2) to three (3); each stripe's width measures the one ninth (1/9) of that of the whole flag.

4. The sizes of the National Flag as well as the heights of the flagstaffs and flagpoles on which the flag is flown, are listed on the table shown hereunder:

5. The flagstaffs and flagpoles referred to in the previous paragraph are white in colour, those of the cases of § 1 of following article, bear an orb on top of them crowned by a white cross, both being in harmonious proportion to the height of the staff or the length of the pole. In all other cases, they bear a cylindrial curved piece on top of them whose diameter is double that of the flagpole or flagstaff and whose height is equal to half the diameter.

6. All flags are cut from a suitable fabric of unfading colour, the hoisting of worn or discoulered flags or flags manufactured by impression being forbidden.

7. The supply of flags hoisted by State Services in general is effected by them on the basis of specifications laid down by the Minister of the Interior. During the first application of present law, the supply of flags to the said services may be undertaken by the Minister of the Interior. The flags flown on the buildings of Legal Entities of Public Law, Local Government Corporations and Public Utility Corporations or Enterprises will be manufactured in accordance with the aforesaid specifications.

Article 2. Use of national flag

1. The National Flag shall remain hoisted on its pole each day from 8.00 a.m. till sunset on the buildings of:

a) The Presidency of the Republic and the Greek Parliament
b) Ministries
c) Ambassadorial and Consular Authorities
d) Public, Municipal and Community establishments defined by decision of the Minister for the Interior.
e) Educational Institutions and Establishments in general during the School term. The details regarding the raising and lowering of the flag on the buildings of these institutions shall be specified by decision of the Minister of National Education and Religion.
f) On Units, Establishments and Camps of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.
g) On Warships.
h) On Allied Headquarters to which the staff of the Armed Forces serve.
i) On Merchant ships.

2. The National Flag can also be raised:

a) During National or Public Mourning events by individuals on houses, shops, offices, enterprises and other places intended for the exercise of a profession following a decision reached by the Minister of the Interior.
b) During the staging of athletic events, meetings and ceremonies at the places designated for them, following a decision reached by the respective Prefect.