On Thursday 20 February 2025, the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias attended the honorary event for the contribution of Motor Oil (Hellas) to the Hellenic Navy held at “Ioannis Kapodistrias” hall of the Ministry of National Defence.
The event was also attended by the Deputy Minister of National Defence Giannis Kefalogiannis, the Chief/HNDGS, General Dimitrios Choupis, the Chief/HAGS, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief/HNGS, Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras HN, the Chief/HAFGS, Lieutenant General (HAF) Dimosthenis Gregoriadis, and the Chairman and CEO of Motor Oil Group, Yannis V. Vardinoyannis.
The event was also attended by general and senior Armed Forces officers, a representative of the Chief of the Hellenic Coast Guard, as well as members of Motor Oil (Hellas).
During the event, Mr. Yannis V. Vardinoyannis, Chairman and CEO of Motor Oil Group, was awarded the honorary rank of Reserve Commodore. In addition, following a proposal of the Minister of National Defence, it was announced that the Grand Cross of the Order of Phoenix will be awarded to the late Honorary Rear Admiral Vardis J. Vardinoyannis by the Presidency of the Republic during a ceremony which will take place in the near future.
Also, during the event, a donation of €5 million by the Motor Oil Group to the Hellenic Navy was announced, in memory of honorary Rear Admiral Vardis J. Vardinoyannis.
In particular, it was announced that €4.5 million will be allocated for the construction of the 4th and 5th floors of the Athens Naval Hospital and the new hospital wings, whereas 500,000 Euros will be allocated for the reconstruction of the infrastructure of the treatment centre of the Hellenic Naval Academy, as well as for the purchase of new medical equipment.
The Minister of National Defence stated in his address:
“Ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to welcome you to today’s event. An event during which the Armed Forces of our Country award the rank of Honorary Commodore to Mr. Yannis Vardinoyannis.
Mr. Vardinoyannis stands actively by the side of the Armed Forces, with a sense of responsibility and interest in the country’s protection. With significant donations made by his family for the upgrade of the facilities of the Hellenic Naval Academy and the Hellenic Navy NCO Academy, for the modernisation of Athens Naval Hospital, for computer equipment for the HNDGS, with a particular interest for the Hellenic Navy General Staff.
All these constitute a tangible commitment for the great national effort, the support of the Country’s Armed Forces.
As he himself told us just before, the contribution concerns mostly the improvement of the living conditions and training of the personnel and the restoration of our servicemembers’ health.
Because he correctly diagnosed that the Armed Forces are first and foremost and above all the people who serve them. The women and men who defend the Country with devotion and who are entitled to every possible support for this.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Hellenic national narrative has always been based on the institution of the choregia.
The Athenian Democracy, without the choregia and without the trierarchy, would not have existed. This has continued through the ages as a national patronage. That is, as a contribution of people who succeeded in life and who chose to support the Country in hard times.
On behalf of the Ministry of National Defence and me personally, Mr. Vardinoyannis, allow me to express my appreciation for your contribution.
I would like to say that donations are a tangible statement of contribution to the vision of a powerful Country.
And from now on, both myself and the family of the Armed Forces, will have the honour of calling you “Commodore”.
With this honorary distinction we include you in the ranks of the active army, as a person who, through his actions, contributes to the common effort, as your father did before you and whose example you follow.
Admiral Vardis Vardinoyannis excelled as a Navy officer and he was persecuted by the dictatorship for his democratic beliefs. However, he always felt as a Navy officer. A straightforward person, with a high sense of patriotism, he greatly contributed to the Armed Forces.
“Mr. Vardis”, as he was known to many of us that met him, personified the example of a strict paternal figure.
At this point, I feel the need to refer to his better half and partner in his life’s work, Marianna Vardinogianni, who personified the yin to his yang of a strict paternal figure, a figure of maternal hug and care, especially for the children with cancer, to whom she devoted her life; for this work, she was awarded during my tenure in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the highest distinction, the Nelson Mandela Prize, by the UN Secretary-General.
For the contribution of your father, Mr. Vardinoyannis, we feel the obligation not only to express our gratitude as Hellenic Republic, but also to award him the Grand Cross of the Order of Phoenix.
The Phoenix, as you all know, is the Kapodistrian symbol of the constant rebirth of the country from its woes. A symbol of honour that belongs to extraordinary Greeks.
The relevant Presidential Decree, upon my recommendation, has been signed by the President of the Hellenic Republic and this honorary award will take place in the near future at the Presidency of the Republic.
Vardis Vardinoyannis is no longer with us, but I am certain that if he could hear us, he would feel proud and humble, because he did not seek recognition.
I would like to say though that the memory of those who make donations to the Country remains alive in eternity.
Thank you”.
