On May 3d, Vassilis Papadopoulos, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Hellenic Republic in Romania visited Mariupol State University. The presentation of his book in the Ukrainian language "Olya: Two Winters and One Spring" was held at the Faculty of Greek Philology and Translation.

For the first time, Vassilis Papadopoulos visited Mariupol State University in 2013, being the Ambassador of Greece in Ukraine. Then he met with the students and Faculty of Greek Philology and Translation and highly appreciated the university's contribution to the promotion of Greek language and culture in Ukraine. This day he returned to the university not with a diplomatic but with a cultural mission.

the Greek diplomat was cordially congratulated by the Vice Rector for International Relations, Professor Mykola Trofimenko in Mariupol State University. The presentation of the novel "Oliia: Two Winters and One Spring" was attended by Elena Gergopoulou, Consul General of the Hellenic Republic to Mariupol, Nadiia Chapni, the chairwoman of Mariupol Society of Greeks, students and teachers of Mariupol State University, representatives of Greek public.

Vassilis Papadopoulos said that the book was based on the impression of post-Soviet Ukraine of 1995, in particular the changes in society that he observed.

The meeting was held in a format of a friendly conversation. The author gladly responded to the questions of the audience and presented copies of the book to the teachers and students who visited the event.

Mariupol State University and the Hellenic Republic have a fruitful cooperation in the field of education, science and culture. Greece was the first foreign partner of the university and actively supported the university at all stages of its development. The experience of such comprehensive cooperation is the basis of a unique model of development of international activities of Mariupol State University. Now, the University has implemented 14 agreements with Greek partners, including 10 leading universities in Greece: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of Ioannina, Ionian University and other universities.

The first Faculty of Greek Philology and Translation was established at Mariupol State University in 2002. Now, more than 300 students from different regions of Ukraine are studying there. About 100 students and teachers of the university have participated in educational, scientific and cultural internships in Greece for the last five years thanks to effective international cooperation.

The recognition of Mariupol State University as the leading center for high-quality training of specialists in the field of Greek philology is proven by the fact that at its premises the first national stage of the World Olympiad in Modern Greek was conducted in 2016 and 2018.