The imperative need for United Europe to return to Man and the values ​​of Humanism, the roots of which are found in Ancient Greek Thought was the common conclusion of all the eminent Academicians and Scientists who participated in the Scientific Conference “Europe in the Future, Return to the Man”, which was organized and moderated at the Athens Conservatory on Monday, by journalist-classical philologist and ND MEP candidate Vicky Flessa.

In the crowded Amphitheater of the Athens Conservatory, in the presence of His Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece His Excellency Hieronymos, the “elite” of Science and Intelligence, forty-five Academicians and Scientists not only gave their “attendance”, but also proposed certain actions and interventions , which, if implemented through the European Parliament and the European institutions, will contribute to the vision of European convergence.

The journalist-classical philologist, ND MEP candidate Vicky Flessa pledged that the purpose of her term in the European Parliament, if elected, is to undertake specific initiatives for the promotion of European legislation and other common actions, in order to promote the promotion of the Greek and European spirit in EU policies.

She stated, in fact, that in this effort the participating Academics and Scientists, as well as other scientists and experts, will form the scientific groups, which will support her interventions in the European Parliament depending on the action.

His Beatitude Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Mr. Ieronymos, who was present at the Scientific Conference, in the greeting he addressed, wished that Hellenism and Christianity would find their rightful place in Europe and that Man would be at the center of European concern .

The Metropolitan of Belgium, Mr. Athenagoras, asked in his speech that “Europe should find its soul” in the dystopia that affects everyday life, especially of young people in Europe.

The Professor of Linguistics, pr. Rector of EKPA and former Minister of Education and Religion Mr. George Babiniotis referred to Panagiotis Kanellopoulos and the History of the European Spirit, saying that “The genesis and essence of the European world cannot be
conceivable, if we do not reduce it to the Ancient Greek Spirit, to the Roman State Tradition and Legislation, to Christianity and to the barbaric and prosperous blood of the peoples of the North”.

Mr. Babiniotis pointed out the need to return the teaching of Classics to European schools, in order to strengthen the Chairs of Classics in European Universities, as Europe is forgetting its Culture: “I used to go to Europe or Unesco Conferences in the past and they spoke to me with verses from Homer, Sophocles, they told me thoughts of Plato, Aristotle, Thucydides. Now, unfortunately, this is not the case…” said Mr. Babiniotis characteristically.

Also, the second proposal of Mr. Babiniotis at the Scientific Conference was to officially establish (UN, UNESCO) a World Day of Celebration of the Greek Language as a minimum recognition for the contribution of the Greek language to the linguistic recording and dissemination of European Culture.

The President of the Academy of Athens, Professor of NASA Space Programs Mr. Stamatis Krimizis spoke about the great change in education, which is the cultivation of critical thinking through the Humanities.

The Professor of Computer Science at MIT, Mr. Konstantinos Daskalakis, speaking about algorithms and Artificial Intelligence, pointed out how the algorithm is trained by people and therefore, these people, the programmers, must have a humanitarian education, know who they are and what Aristotle teaches us.

The President of the European Cultural Center of Delphi and Professor at Harvard, Mr. Panagiotis Roilos, spoke about “neo-medieval post-capitalism”, which globalizes Culture, leveling cultural particularities, while Mr. Dimitrios Giatromanolakis, Professor of Classics at Johns Hopkins University, asked of the Humanities to radically redefine man, who lives in a stressful environment in terms of a competitive economy.

The Philosopher (Alpen-Adria University) Mr. Theofanis Tassis addressed the challenges of the virtual society, focusing on the dangers of Artificial Intelligence and Human Upgrade, proposing Digital Humanism as an answer.

History Professor Mrs. Maria Efthymiou spoke about the necessity to highlight and teach the children of Europe the common elements of European Culture and the characteristics of the individuality of the member states, in order to cultivate the European consciousness of the young.

The necessity to establish a European Academy of Classical Letters in Greece was spoken by the Academic Professor of Latin Philology, Mr. Theodoros Papagelis, and the Academic Professor of Ancient Greek Philology, Mr. Antonios Regakos, spoke about a new Renaissance of Classical Education.

Professor and Co-Founder – together with the late Spyros Evangeliatos – of the Department of Theater Studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mr. Walter Puchner, referred to the Theater, which is the founding condition of the Ancient Greek Civilization, but also of the European one, as well as of the World as a whole. , wondering if the Theater can endure as a philosophical entity in a world dominated by numbers, measurements and quotas? The measurable that favors the mediocre and ends up in cash?”, characteristically said Mr. Puchner.

In Europe, which has stopped producing original thought, mentioned the Sculptor and Professor of Visual Arts of the AUTH, Mr. Costas Varotsos, criticizing the perception that has prevailed in modern Art “whatever is sold expensive, has value”.

International visual artist Mr. Kostis Georgiou referred to the frenzy of lifeless modernity, pointing out that “it leads many so-called creators to meaningless extremes and superficial works, which shock, to shock, thus pursuing these awkward insignificances like… art paratroopers to impose a distorted code, which supposedly represents the modern, but has nothing to do with artistic creation”.

The Dean of the Theological School and Master Teacher of the Great Church of Christ Mr. Chrysostomos Stamoulis emphasized that: “European Culture is based on the mystery of love, which is the heart of Christian Theology and life. That’s where human freedom originates and where it flows,” said Mr. Stamoulis, referring, indeed, to the “Blue Tape” by Krzysztof Kieslowski.

Dr.Philosophy, Researcher at the University of Ioannina and Author Mr. Panagiotis Iliopoulos wondered who Culture in Europe concerns today, he invoked the meeting of Socrates with the young Phaedrus in the Platonic dialogue of the same name, to demonstrate that the issues of Education and Culture, as well as overcoming delusion are not issues that concern only the intellectual elites but also everyday people.

For his part, the Poet Mr. Antonis Fostieris reminded us that Poetry is a founding condition of Greek Culture and a product of time, in a dystopian era like the present one, its hegemonic value in our lives is reinforced.

The Academicians, the General Secretary of the Academy of Athens Mr. Christos Zerefos and the Professor of Natural Disasters Mr. Kostas Synolakis emphasized the change of mentality, the concept of “self-restraint” in the protection of the Environment and the education of children.

The Academic Professor of Pediatrics and Endocrinology, Mr. Georgios Chroussos, mentioned how Europe must invest programs and money for infants, in the first five years of life, in the preschool age, where the foundations of our lives are laid.

And Mr. Agis Tsouros, Director of WHO in Europe spoke about the need to support the vulnerability of Man, children from low economic strata and people of the Third Age, because this means Humanism and Civilization.

The Director of the Office of the Representation of the Church of Greece in the EU, Regular Member of the National Mental Health Committee, Bishop Tanagras, Mr. Apostolos, referred to the priority of Mental Health in Europe.

About the effects of the Climate Crisis on demographics and infertility – an issue not particularly well known – the Professors, Mr. Konstantinos Stratakis, Mrs. Sofia Kalantaridou, Mr. Antonis Makrygiannakis, Mrs. Melpomeni Peppa, and Mrs. Pantelis Messaropoulos spoke, while the Architect, Mrs. Emmanuela Myrtakis presented the new ecological trend of Architecture, biomimicry.

The Director of the Folklore Center of the Academy of Athens, Mrs. Aikaterini Polymerou-Kamilaki, spoke about the utilization of our cultural heritage, while three products that are our ambassadors in Europe and the world, Chios mastic, mushrooms and raisins, were mentioned by the Rector of Harokopio University, Mr. Georgios Dedousis, speaking about European synergies and economic development, as well as the Vice-Chancellors of EKPA, Mr. Aristides Samitas and Mr. Christos Karagiannis.

The way in which children are taught our ancient language was analyzed by the Musician-Director of Greek Education Mrs. Eugenia Manolidou, while the President of the Association for the European Emergency Number 112, Coordinating Director of Medical Services of EKAV Mr. Dimitris Pyrros pointed out the value of educating children in European Good Samaritan First Aid programs, as well as learning to swim.

Psychiatrist Mr. Dimitris Karagiannis referred to the urgent need to treat depression, which plagues teenagers and the elderly, while Child Psychiatrist Mrs. Eleni Karagiannis emphasized the need to support the family, in order to have solid social cohesion.
Finally, Archimandrite Mr. Meletios Zacharopoulos pointed out the necessity to support European programs of Parenting Schools, Cardiology Professor Mrs. Aikaterini Naka emphasized the importance of Prevention Programs for the Third Age, from Computer Science Mr. Nikolas Myrtakis presented the challenges of Artificial of Intelligence in the field of Health, while the Osteopath-Physiatrist Mr. Georgios Il. Gudevenos proposed, following the example of Children’s Hospitals, that money be invested in Hospitals especially for the Elderly, as Humanism means respect for human dignity and indeed, the care of the vulnerable.

The Scientific Conference ended symbolically as a message of love and hugs to the people of the Third Age with the late Kiki Dimoulas from the show of Vicky Flessa in STA AKRA reading her poem “The rare gift”:

“New theories.
Babies should not be left to cry. Immediately embrace them.
Otherwise, the feeling of abandonment is subject to premature development, their childhood trauma unnaturally matures, teeth, hair, claws, barbed knives emerge.
For the grown-ups, so to speak, the elders – what is not spring is old age – old-fashioned opinions always apply.
Never hug.
Let them cry until they’re out of breath, that’s how their silencers get stronger.
Let the grown-ups cry. He doesn’t have a hug.
Just fill their baby bottle with a sweet promise – deprivation does not make them fat – that one day they will fall asleep emaciated in their mother’s arms.
Put the machine that records the baby’s noises near them, so you can hear from afar if their breathing is rhythmically lonely.
Never laugh to hug them. Wrapping wildly around the rare neck of this gift, they will suffocate you.
Nothing.
When they ask you for a hug, just take it, baby, just take it back.”