Greece: The Grand Cross of the Order of the Phoenix awarded to the sibling volunteer interpreters killed in Libya

The President of the Hellenic Republic, Ms. Katerina Sakellaropoulou, in a special ceremony at the Presidential Palace, posthumously awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the Phoenix to siblings Angela Moira and Philip Antonis Mandalios, volunteer interpreters who lost their lives during the Greek humanitarian mission in Libya, on 17 September 2023.

The awards were presented to their father Kanakis Mandalios and their sister Lilian Mandalios, in the presence of their mother, relatives and friends. The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Mr. Giorgos Gerapetritis.

In her address, the President of the Hellenic Republic noted: “It is with great emotion that I award today the Grand Cross of the Phoenix, the highest honour that the state can award, to the two heroic siblings, Angela Moira and Philip Antonis Mandalios.

Their voluntary initiative to participate as interpreters in the Greek humanitarian mission in Libya after the disasters caused in the country by Storm Daniel, spontaneously offering their services to their second homeland, testifies to an attitude of life imbued with humanitarian ideals, selflessness, generosity of soul. They did not approach their mission in ignorance of danger. Although they knew the difficulties they would face, they accepted them, “Never betraying what is right” (Kavafis, Konstantinos: Thermopylae), thus giving an invaluable moral example to all of us.

I know that the pain of losing their loved ones does not ease, no matter how many honours are given to them. However, let these awards be a symbolic gesture of support and participation of the state in the long process of alleviating suffering and transforming mourning into memory; memory full of pride for the values represented by Angela Moira and Philip Antonis.

We honour them with immense respect.”