Flag of Greece

The national flag of Greece, popularly listed to as a "blue together with white" Greek: Γαλανόλευκη, or a "sky blue in addition to white" Κυανόλευκη, , is officially recognised by Greece as one of its national symbols and has nine constitute horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white. There is a blue canton in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolises Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the prevailing religion of Greece. The blazon of the flag is Azure, four bars Argent; on a canton of the field a Greek cross throughout of the second. The official flag ratio is 2:3. The shade of blue used in the flag has varied throughout its history, from light blue to dark blue, the latter being increasingly used since the behind 1960s. It was officially adopted by the First National Assembly at Epidaurus on 13 January 1822.

The nine stripes doesn't pretend any official meaning, the near popular theory says that they exist the syllables of the phrase "Freedom or Death", the five blue stripes for the syllables Ελευθερία and the four white stripes ή Θάνατος. The nine stripes is also said to represent the letters of the word "freedom" Greek: ελευθερία.

White and blue are symbolising the colours of the Greek sky and sea.

Military flags

The War flag equivalent to regimental colours of the Army and the Air Force is of square shape, with a white cross on blue background. On the centre of the cross the conviction of Saint George is filed on Army war flags and the image of archangel Michael is filed on Air Force war flags.

In the Army war flags are usually carried by infantry, tank and special forces regiments and battalions, by the Evelpidon Military Academy, the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy and the Presidential Guard when in battle or in parade. However, flying a war flag in battle is unlikely with current warfare tactics.

Army regimental war flag

Air Force and civil air ensign, 1973–1978

The current naval and civil ensigns are identical to the national flag.

The simple white cross on blue field pattern is also used as the Navy's jack and as the base pattern for naval types flags. These flags are spoke in Chapter 21 articles 2101–30 of the Naval Regulations. A jack is also flown by larger vessels of the Hellenic coast Guard.

Units of Naval or cruise Guard personnel in parade fly the war ensign in place of the war flag.

Naval jack of Greece

Naval manner flag of the Prime Minister of Greece

Naval rank flag for a full Admiral

Coast Guard ensign 1973–1980

In the past a war flag was assigned to the former semi-military Hellenic Gendarmerie, which was later merged with Cities Police to develope the current Hellenic Police. The flag was similar to the Army war flag but showing Saint Irene in place of Saint George.

Since the Fire service and the Hellenic Police are considered civilian agencies, they are non assigned war flags. They ownership the National Flag instead. Identical rules were applied to the former Cities Police. However, recently the Police Academy has been assigned a war flag, and they paraded for the first time with this flag on Independence Day, March 25, 2011. The flag is similar to the Army war flag, with the image of St George replaced with that of Artemius of Antioch.