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An event for World Greek Language Day (February 9) was held on Saturday morning at the Assumption Cathedral in north London, in the presence of the Commissioner for Humanitarian and Expatriate Affairs, Fotis Fotiou.
In his speech at the opening of the event, Mr. Fotiou noted, among other things, that "the future of the Greek language is identical with the future of Hellenism and it is the duty of the Greeks and the Greek-speaking people to support and honour the Greek language and education, especially where linguistic islands and pockets of Greek-speaking communities and historical centres of the expatriate diaspora survive, which retain this primary element of their cultural identity".
For this reason, he added, the Cypriot government promotes special programmes for the learning and dissemination of the Greek language and history among expatriates, in cooperation with universities and other educational institutions and bodies, as well as with organisations of expatriates everywhere.
He noted that English, the most widely spoken language in the world, has 490,000 words, of which 41.616 words come from the Greek language, which has 90 million words!
Referring to the national issue, Fotiou said that "every day that passes our soul and heart remain committed to our goal of ending the occupation and abolishing the symbol of separation that is engraved on the Pentadaktylus and penetrates the bowels of our martyred land."
Referring to the national issue, Fotiou said that "every day that passes our soul and heart remain committed to our goal of ending the occupation and abolishing the symbol of separation that is engraved on the Pentadaktylus and penetrates the bowels of our martyred land. At the same time, Greece is tested daily with various challenges.
"We insist on a solution to the Cyprus problem that will justify our positions and ensure the survival of the Hellenism of Cyprus in the heartland of the Eastern Mediterranean where it was born and rooted."
"We insist on a solution to the Cyprus problem that will justify our positions and ensure the survival of the Hellenism of Cyprus in the heartland of the Eastern Mediterranean where it was born and rooted.
In a statement to CNA on the importance of the event, Fotiou said that "the establishment of the World Greek Language Day is an opportunity to raise awareness, especially among the younger generation of the diaspora who we want to know our language, as well as a basic condition for the work of the community organizations to continue." He added that for this reason the event to celebrate Greek Language Day is being taken to various countries, as it has been done in Italy, for example, and as it will be done in March in Canada.
The event was also welcomed by Andreas Katsaniotis, Greece's Deputy Foreign Minister for Expatriates, as well as (with a video message) Adria Zafeirakou, the expatriate teacher who was named "Best Teacher in the World" in 2018.
The keynote speaker was Savvas Pavlidis, former Inspector-General of the Cyprus Educational Mission in Britain, who referred to the importance of the Greek language "as a true treasure of immense value" for expatriate Greeks.
The event closed with an artistic programme provided by students from parochial schools in London and Birmingham.
Source: Cyprus Times
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