The European Centre fosters the idea of Europa in many ways.

Foto: Prof. Evangelos Konstantinou

The European Centre for scientific, ecumenical and cultural cooperation - Greek-German Initiative- was found in 1979 on the initiative of Evangelos Konstantinou, Professor for Byzantine and Modern Greek Literature at the University of Würzburg, and a number of other academics, politicians and students.

The main purpose of the Initiave consists in developing and enchancing the greek-german relationships that have a long standing and reach tradition in science and cultute, but the understanding between the European people in the frame of the enlarging European Union as well.

In order to fulfil this purpose and the reach the goal of European mutual understanding and cultural cooperation the European Centre has developed a number of activities some of which are:

A major field of scientific work comprises the research of the European and international Philhellenism on which our efforts have been concentreted over many years. Thanks to the generous support of the Stavros S. Niarchos-Foundation we have been able to create a documentation centre and engage a research assistant. The main focus of the researc work will consint in exploring the vast field of the European philhellenic movements and gathering all the relevant sources.

Another main preoccupation of our Centre lies by the ecumemische cooperation. Our contribution to the mutual understanding between the churches consists in lectures and above all the organisation of seminar in Naupaktos/Greece that usually takes place at the end of September or the beginning of October. In this seminar the participants, professors and students, come from the catholic, orthodox and protestant theology. Their contributions have an essential impact on the present ecumenic dialogue.

Our main interests lay by science and culture. We contribute to the anvancement of knowledge and culture with our numerous lectures, Symposia, exhibitions, poetry evenings, cultural travels etc.

The Greek-German Initiative Würzburg takes also part in the school partnerships between Greece and Germany. Thans to our untiring efforts it has been made possible for many students to enjoy these partnerships.

The president of the European Centre for scientific, ecumenical and cultural cooperation documents the work done in the magazine of the Centre "FILIA" that comes out twice a year and also contains important contributions to scientific, cultural and ecumenic issues.