On April 20th, Mariupol State University held a ceremony of awarding the title of Honorary Professor of Mariupol State University to the director of the Anastasios G. Levendis Foundation, Professor Charalambos Bakirdzis. The visit of a foreign guest was dedicated to the 2nd stage of the All-Ukrainian Student Olympiad in Modern Greek and Literature, which traditionally takes place at the premises of Mariupol State University under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

A good friend of the university was warmly welcomed and congratulated by rector of Mariupol State University, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Cyprus in Mariupol, Professor Kostyantyn Balabanov. By the tradition, students greeted the Cypriot guest in Greek with a loaf of bread and salt.

During his stay at University, professor Bakirdzis for the first time visited the Greek Philology Faculty, where he attended the opening ceremony of the All-Ukrainian Student Olympiad. At the opening ceremony, participants and guests of the Olympiad were greeted by head of the Department of Education of Mariupol City Council Svitlana Dobrovolskaia, head of the Education Coordination Office at the Consulate General of Greece in Mariupol Chrysa Tamisoglou, Head of the Department of Education of the Federation of Greek Societies of Ukraine Olena Dobra, Head of the Greek Society in Mariupol Nadiia Chapni.

The guests paid special attention to the library of Hellenistic Studies named after Konstantinos Levendis, which was established and regularly updated thanks to the support of the Anastasios G. Levends Foundation, as well as the Museum of History and Archeology of Mariupol State University, which opening was dedicated to the University’s Anniversary.

Charalambos Bakirdzis is a doctor of sciences, professor at the University of Thessaloniki, founder and director of the Center for Contemporary Archeology, director of the Greek Archaeological Commission in Pathos, Cyprus. Professor Bakirdzis is the editor of a large number of publications and also delivered lectures at leading universities in Europe and the United States, conducted archaeological exhibitions around the world, has experience in archaeological excavations and restoration of monuments of Byzantine and early Ottoman periods, as well as Byzantine frescoes and mosaics.

Mariupol State University and the Anastasios G. Levendis Foundation have developed long-standing partnerships and friendly relations. The Foundation makes a significant contribution to the facilities and research and methodological resources of University, and also provides active assistance in promoting the Greek language and culture in Ukraine.

Within the framework of a visit of the Director of the Anastasios G. Levendis Foundation, a meeting was held in the assembly hall of Mariupol State University. Members of the Academic Council, teachers and students were present at this event while the famous Cypriot historian, archaeologist and good friend of University Charalambos Bakirdzis was awarded the title of Honorary Professor of Mariupol State University. Rector Konstantin Balabanov gave him the mantle and diploma of the Honorary Professor.

Also during the meeting, the winners of the 2nd stage of the XVI All-Ukrainian Student Olympiad in Modern Greek and Literature were awarded. The Olympiad was attended by students from leading universities of Ukraine: Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv National Linguistic University, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Tavrida National V.I. Vernadsky University (Kyiv) and Mariupol State University. The tasks of the Olympiad included listening, tests and speaking.

The winners of the Olympiad were awarded diplomas for the 1st, 2nd, and 3d places and gifts from the sponsors - collections of teaching and literature in the Modern Greek language. Director of the Anastasios G. Levends Foundation Charalambos Bakirdzis awarded scholarships to the best experts in the Greek language and literature. Also at the ceremony of awarding prizes to the winners of the Olympiad visited chairwoman of the Federation of Greek Societies of Ukraine Oleksandra Protsenko-Pichadzhy, who awarded them with the Panteleimon Bumburas’ grants. The winner of the All-Ukrainian Student Olympiad in Modern Greek and Literature became a student of Mariupol State University Valeriia Zubochek; a student of Kyiv National Linguistic University Elena Krasnokutska who took the second place and Marina Kosteniuk (Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv).