Professor Roderick Beaton took the oath to become a Greek citizen
Professor Roderick Beaton, Emeritus Koraes Professor of Modern Greek & Byzantine History, Language & Literature and Chair of Council of the British School at Athens took the oath to become a Greek citizen at a ceremony held at the Bank of Greece on Tuesday 28th March.
Professor Beaton is a Fellow of the British Academy and of King’s College, and was recognised by the Greek State with the Commander of the Order of Honour of the Hellenic Republic in 2019.
The request for honorary citizenship had been submitted to the government by Yannis Stournaras, Governor of the Bank of Greece, who said that “Beaton is already a Greek, and this honorary citizenship is simply the official recognition of a lifetime’s relationship with Greek letters and the Greek culture.”
Professor Beaton states that “It’s a fantastic honour to be granted honorary Greek citizenship! Greece is noted for being sparing with such distinctions, which makes me all the more proud to be welcomed officially into a ‘family’ that I’ve felt close to throughout my adult life. I’m also delighted on behalf of the BSA, which has always had a role in cultural diplomacy between our two countries. I hope my new status will strengthen even further my role as Chair of Council in supporting the Director, Staff and Members of the BSA in Greece.”