The Governing Council of Athens, in its meeting held on 22nd January 2009, and with a unanimous verdict of all its members, decided to honour His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa as a figure of international renown, distinguished for his cultural and humanistic work, within the framework of the annual fuctions of the “AMBASSADORS OF HELLENISM 2009”, which will take place on the 5th March 2009 at the Megaro Mousikis Athinon, in the presence of the State and Political Leaders of the country.
The function is being organized by the Prefecture of Athens in memory of the unforgettable Melina Mercouri from 1997, on the exact date of her death and it rewards international personalities, the only criterion being their unselfish contribution and effort for the spreading of the Hellenic Culture to the World.
The election of the personalities is done by a special committee following an international announcement, in which apart from the Prefecture of Athens , Cultural Institutes, Social Agents, organizations and Chambers of Commerce participate.
This year, apart from His Beatitude, others chosen were: Didier Prador, Professor of Greek language and Literature at the University of Provence , Luo Jinlin, Professor of Ancient Greek Drama at the Central Academy of Beijing, Dr Amor Lopez-Jimeno, Professor of Greek Literature at the University of Valladolid in Spain and John Simonides, Founder of the Greek Theatre of New York .
