Popular British author Victoria Hislop was officially sworn-in as a Greek citizen during a special ceremony held at the Interior Ministry on Thursday.
“Today is a very important day because, for many years, I have loved Greece. It is no secret that I love the people, the landscape, the culture, all that…Thank you very much for the great honour today,” she said after she was sworn in.
After the ceremony the General Secretary of Citizenship, Athanasios Balerbas offered Hislop a sculpture composition from the Benaki Museum.
Victoria Hislop is the renowned author of bestsellers including “The Island”, “Those Who Are Loved”, “The Return” and “Cartes Postales from Greece.
Two months ago, Greece’s President, Katerini Sakellaropoulou signed an honorary naturalisation order, allowing the 61-year-old novelist to claim Greek citizenship.
She was named an honorary Greek by decree “for her important services toward Greece, for the international exposure she gave to the historic site of Spinalonga and her promotion of modern Greek culture and history.”
“I visited Greece for the first time when I was 17, and it was love at first sight. I had only left the UK once before, so the bright Aegean light and the heat from the sun seemed magical.From that year onwards, I visited every year, and now, under normal circumstances, I spend a few months a year there researching, writing and travelling. And, of course, swimming, eating and spending time with friends, too,” she told DailyMail earlier this year.