An institution of universal resonance

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (l), seen present with Stavros Andreadis, president of the Governing Council of the Theophano Foundation, has thrown his weight down the institution.

What is the astir almighty enactment of taste diplomacy Greece has undertaken successful caller years? A motion that showcases some its humanities bequest and the very principles upon which Europe was built?

The Empress Theophano Prize, though established lone successful 2020, has already brought Greece enviable prestige and planetary reach. Still successful its aboriginal years, it carries a universal quality and enjoys a level of designation that galore long-established institutions would admire.

Even much singular is that the effect of its instauration came from a starring European statesman – Herman Van Rompuy, erstwhile president of the European Council. He understood firsthand that the bonds holding the European Union together could not remainder solely connected economics, but indispensable beryllium grounded successful shared values.

Herman Van Rompuy, erstwhile European Council president and president of the advisory assembly of the Theophano Foundation.

His thought was not implemented by the state, but by a radical of inspired Thessalonians who invested time, resources and networks to bring a vision to life. Some of them, led by Stavros Andreadis, president of the Governing Council of the Theophano Foundation, visited Athens connected Wednesday to speak to the property astir this singular initiative.

“Our extremity was to project, done Greece and its culture, the timeless European values that unite the world,” emphasized the ever-modest entrepreneur, who has softly and consistently contributed to his city’s development.

The 2025 Empress Theophano Prize will spell to Europa Nostra – the umbrella enactment for Europe’s taste practice institutions

Rooted successful the past yet oriented toward the aboriginal – and named aft a Byzantine princess who managed successful her beingness to span East and West – the awards person assembled an awesome advisory assembly featuring distinguished figures from crossed Europe.

It is nary coincidence that the spot of the prize, and the venue for its yearly grant ceremony, is the Rotunda successful Thessaloniki. Once a fragment of history, it has go a fitting stage for each that brings radical person together. Indeed, the institutions and individuals honored implicit the past 5 years embody the founding spirit of universality.

In 2020, the prize went to the Erasmus student speech programme of the European Union, which has helped generations of young Europeans broaden their horizons beyond their homelands.

In 2021, it honored Dr Ugur Sahin and Dr Ozlem Tureci, the mates who developed the archetypal vaccine against the coronavirus. In 2022, it recognized Daniel Barenboim, the renowned pianist and conductor who believes that euphony offers the privileged crushed where erstwhile enemies tin go friends – bringing together Israeli and Palestinian soloists.

In 2023, the prize was awarded to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and successful 2024, to Tim Shriver, president of the Special Olympics.

Speaking astatine the ceremony, Shriver said with emotion: “The Empress Theophano Prize is acold up of its clip compared to different planetary prizes. It asks: How bash we span divides? How bash we trim contempt?”

On Wednesday, Stavros Andreadis, together with Nikiforos Diamandouros, erstwhile European Ombudsman, and Vassos Konstantinidis, representing some the governing and advisory councils of the Theophano Foundation, announced that the 2025 Prize will spell to Europa Nostra – the umbrella enactment for Europe’s taste practice institutions, which has fought large battles for culture, the environment, and sustainability.

The ceremonial will take spot connected November 6 successful Thessaloniki, with galore planetary figures expected to attend.

During Wednesday’s property briefing, we journalists besides heard a justified enactment of regret: It is simply a pity that when our state excels successful such a demanding field, we bash not beforehand this accomplishment much actively astatine home.

The grant ceremonial is held annually astatine Thessaloniki’s Rotunda, a historical monument that serves arsenic a fitting stage for bringing radical together.