Regularity of origin and international recognition — a dossier for fraternal review, presented with the record of nearly four decades of uninterrupted, sovereign Craft government.
This dossier sets out the regularity of origin, constitutional foundations, and international recognitions of the National Grand Lodge of Greece (NGLG). Established in 1986 by six regularly warranted Craft Lodges, the NGLG has preserved an unbroken record of constitutional continuity, observance of the Ancient Landmarks, and sovereign self-government across nearly four decades of uninterrupted operation.
It is presented in response to enquiries from fraternal Grand Lodges considering recognition, addressing questions of doctrine, governance, jurisdiction, and coexistence with the Grand Lodge of Greece.
The universally accepted foundations of Regular Freemasonry, observed by the NGLG since its constitution in 1986.
1. Regularity of Origin and Lawful Constitution
2. Belief in the Great Architect of the Universe and His Revealed Will
3. Obligation on the Volume of the Sacred Law
4. Exclusive Male Membership and Masonic Association
5. Sovereign, Independent and Undivided Jurisdiction over Craft Freemasonry
6. The Three Great Lights of Freemasonry
7. Strict Prohibition of Religious and Political Discussion in Lodge
8. Strict Observance of the Antient Landmarks, Customs and Usages of the Craft
i.e. each Grand Lodge shall have been established lawfully by a duly recognized Grand Lodge or by three or more regularly constituted Lodges.
and His revealed will shall be an essential qualification for membership.
That all Initiates shall take their Obligation on or in full view of the open Volume of the Sacred Law, by which is meant the revelation from above which is binding on the conscience of the particular individual who is being initiated.
That the membership of the Grand Lodge and individual Lodges shall be composed exclusively of those who were made Masons as men; and that each Grand Lodge shall have no Masonic association of any kind with bodies which make women Masons.
That the Grand Lodge shall have sovereign jurisdiction over the Lodges under its control; i.e. that it shall be a responsible, independent, self-governing organization, with sole and undisputed authority over the Craft or Symbolic Degrees (Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason) within its Jurisdiction; and shall not in any way be subject to, or divide such authority with, a Supreme Council or other Power claiming any control or supervision over those degrees.
That the three Great Lights of Freemasonry (namely, the Volume of the Sacred Law, the Square, and the Compasses) shall always be exhibited when the Grand Lodge or its subordinate Lodges are at work, the chief of these being the Volume of the Sacred Law.
That the discussion of religion and politics within the Lodge shall be strictly prohibited.
That the principles of the Antient Landmarks, customs, and usages of the Craft shall be strictly observed.
Membership is restricted exclusively to free men of good character and reputation. The NGLG does not admit women, mixed membership, or maintain relations with mixed, feminine, or irregular Masonic organisations.
Partisan politics and sectarian religion are strictly prohibited within the Lodges. The NGLG firmly upholds the Lodge as a place of harmony, fraternity, and moral instruction, free from controversy.
The National Grand Lodge of Greece (NGLG) fully complies with the principle of sovereign and independent Masonic jurisdiction. It exercises exclusive and undivided authority over its constituent Lodges and the three Symbolic Degrees — Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason — within its jurisdiction.
Six regularly constituted Craft Lodges — acting unanimously in the exercise of their inherent Masonic rights — withdrew from the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Greece to constitute an independent, sovereign Grand Lodge, in accordance with the Ancient Landmarks and the universally accepted principles of Regular Freemasonry.
This was not a schism over doctrine or ritual, but a constitutional response to disagreements over governance and the future direction of Greek Craft Freemasonry. The founding Lodges possessed valid Masonic warrants, an established succession of duly initiated, passed and raised members, and an unquestioned origin within Regular Craft Freemasonry — comfortably exceeding the minimum of three regularly constituted Lodges required to constitute a new Grand Lodge.
The soundness of their decision subsequently received significant institutional confirmation. In 1993, only seven years after the establishment of the National Grand Lodge of Greece, the United Grand Lodge of England withdrew its recognition from the Grand Lodge of Greece and formally recognised the National Grand Lodge of Greece instead. This important development provided strong international confirmation that the NGLG’s origin, constitution and Masonic standing satisfied the fundamental requirements of Regular Craft Freemasonry.
The Constitution adopted was substantially based upon the 1984 Book of Constitutions of the United Grand Lodge of England, expressly incorporating the 1929 Basic Principles for Grand Lodge Recognition.
Together representing approximately 250 Master Masons of unbroken regular Masonic lineage.
Original minutes of the Constitutional General Assembly, held at 19:00 on 7 June 1986 at 8 Evryali Street, Glyfada, Attica, bearing the signatures of all Master Masons present.
The NGLG is founded in Athens by six regularly constituted Lodges.
Recognised by the Grand Lodge of Ireland (3 October).
Recognised by the Grand Lodge of Scotland (4 May) — all three Home Grand Lodges now in amity.
UGLE transfers recognition to the Grand Lodge of Greece to encourage dialogue — expressly stating the NGLG remains Regular. Ireland & Scotland maintain recognition, uninterrupted to this day.
102 mutual recognitions worldwide; active participation in the World Conference of Regular Grand Lodges and the European Conferences.
The NGLG does not claim exclusive territorial sovereignty over all Craft Freemasonry in Greece. Since 1999, the practical reality within Regular Freemasonry has been one of jurisdictional coexistence between the NGLG and the Grand Lodge of Greece (GLG) — a position acknowledged by numerous Regular Grand Lodges that today maintain fraternal relations with both.
There is no bilateral treaty between the NGLG and the GLG governing coexistence; the situation has developed through the independent recognition policies of individual Regular Grand Lodges. The NGLG exercises exclusive jurisdiction over its own Constitution, Lodges, and members — consistent with practice recognised throughout the regular Masonic world.
Recognition is a sovereign, diplomatic decision by one Grand Lodge concerning Masonic intercourse. Regularity concerns whether a Grand Lodge conforms to the established principles of Regular Freemasonry — the two are not the same. UGLE concerns the National Grand Lodge of Greece as a uninterrupted Continious Regular Grand Lodge.
Constituent Lodges of the NGLG are active in seventeen cities across Greece, with further Lodges in Nicosia and Limassol, Cyprus.
Fourteen Grand Masters have governed the NGLG since its foundation in 1986.
102 mutual recognitions from Regular Grand Lodges and Orients across the world, by region.
Ireland & Scotland have maintained uninterrupted recognition since 1994–1995, continuing to this day.
World Conference of Regular Masonic Grand Lodges; European Conferences of Grand Masters, Grand Secretaries & Grand Chancellors.
Supreme authority is vested in the Grand Lodge, presided over by the democratically elected Most Worshipful Grand Master, assisted by Grand Officers and constitutional committees. The Grand Lodge governs 83 Lodges across 5 Provinces and 1 District, exercising exclusive authority over the three Craft Degrees.
Administratively separate, governing only their own additional degrees — none exercises authority over the Craft or the NGLG's internal government:
Authorised to operate with, or to accept as members, Brethren of the National Grand Lodge of Greece:
Supporting documents, images, and reference links.
the official website of the NGLG
the list of the 102 mutual recognistions
The NGLG's regularity of origin rests upon four clear and cumulative foundations.
By six regularly constituted Lodges — exceeding the minimum of three required to found a Grand Lodge.
The founding Lodges carried uninterrupted regular Masonic lineage, with valid warrants and succession.
Continuous adoption and observance of the universally accepted principles of Regular Freemasonry.
Historical and continuing recognition by long-established Regular Grand Lodges, including Ireland and Scotland.
