By Margarita Kataga

Art Historian

A high-level gathering of world-renowned researchers and academics was held with great success on July 3 and 4, 2026, at the European Cultural Center Delphi Centre.

The Delphic tradition, as analyzed in his presentation by Andreas Gofas, Director of the European Cultural Delphi Centre, was based on the characteristics of institutionalized ambiguity, providing a platform for personal reflection, for “Know Thyself,” personal and collective self-examination, and the proclamation of silence, emphasizing the recognition of boundaries and self-awareness within the mechanisms of society.

The Fourth Delphi Dialogues presented ongoing research addressing questions that concern the priorities of today’s humanity and global ethics, such as the relationship between artificial intelligence and democracy and governance, the development of neurotechnology, space exploration and the policies that govern it, the possibility of extraterrestrial life and its scientific implications, as well as posthuman evolution and the future of civilization.

Panagiotis Roilos, President of European Cultural Delphi Centre. and professor at Harvard University, in his speech titled “Space Policy and the Future of Humanity,” introduced the concept of “neo-messianism” as a key component of what he has termed “neo-medieval post-capitalism,” which fuels revisionist ambitions at the geopolitical level and is now extending into space. Space exploration, as he noted, should neither undermine the protection of Earth nor replicate the conflicts of the planet, but rather serve humanity.

The influential astrophysicist and space scientist, Professor Abraham (Avi) Loeb, advocated for the search for extraterrestrial intelligence alongside or beyond the advancement of artificial intelligence, which, as he pointed out, has already changed the meaning of what it means to be human. And Stamatis Krimizis, a university professor, space scientist, and pioneering researcher in the most significant space programs of the U.S. and NASA, emphasized: “Scientific data indicate that the existence of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe is highly probable, as there are billions of planets with conditions similar to Earth’s, while emphasizing that the preservation of life on Earth remains the highest priority.” Professor Martin Rees of the University of Cambridge, the Royal Astronomer of the United Kingdom, argued that for the first time in history, one species—humans—has the ability to determine the future of life on Earth and, possibly, beyond.

Professor Lenart Škof of the Koper Center for Science and Research spoke about the future of humanity, focusing on the “breathing space,” the inner space of autonomy that protects humans from the submersion and colonization of the soul by digital reality.

Professor Marcello Ienca, from the Technical University of Munich, spoke about the four fundamental neuro-rights we must defend in the age of neurotechnology: cognitive freedom, mental privacy, mental integrity, and psychological continuity. Professor Markus Gabriel, University of Bonn, analyzed how artificial neural networks have radically changed the course of artificial intelligence, noting that this can be a very powerful tool for knowledge, without, however, being infallible or replacing human judgment.

On the social front, Professor Ofrit Liviatan of Harvard University examined the need for legal regulation of AI and the protection of fundamental rights, while Professor Helen Margetts of University of Oxford, speaking on governance in the age of artificial intelligence, analyzed the Digital Era Governance (DEG) model, which seeks to harness the potential of AI for more effective governance, improve public services, protect the information environment, and strengthen democratic accountability.

Στην Στρογγυλή Τράπεζα συμμετείχαν, εκτός των ομιλητών, και εκπρόσωποι επιπλέον ερευνητικών χώρων. Ο Ανδρέας Γκόφας Διευθυντής του Ε.Π.Κε.Δ, , Καθηγητής Παντείου Πανεπιστημίου, ο πανεπιστημιακός – διαστημικός επιστήμονας και πρωτοπόρος ερευνητής στα σπουδαιότερα διαστημικά προγράμματα των Η.Π.Α. και της NASA, Σταμάτιος Κριμιζής, ο Πρέσβης ε.τ. και άμισθος σύμβουλος του Προέδρου του Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου του
Ε.Π.Κε.Δ. για θέματα διεθνών σχέσεων, Αναστάσιος Κριεκούκης,ο Καθηγητής Φιλοσοφίας στο ΕΚΠΑ, Χρυσόστομος Μαντζαβίνος και ο Ομότιμος Καθηγητής Ψυχιατρικής στο Εθνικό Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών, Λάμπης Παπαγεωργίου.

Στους Τέταρτους Δελφικούς Διαλόγους απηύθυναν χαιρετισμούς ο Υφυπουργός Δικαιοσύνης, ο Περιφερειάρχης Στερεάς Ελλάδος, κ. Φάνης Σπανός, και η Γενική Γραμματέας Σύγχρονου Πολιτισμού, Ελένη Δουνδουλάκη. Χαιρετισμούς απηύθυναν επίσης ο εκπρόσωπος του Υπουργείου Ψηφιακής Διακυβέρνησης, Αθανάσιος Παλιάτσος, Προϊστάμενος διεύθυνσης Γεν. Γραμματείας Τηλεπικοινωνιών και Ταχυδρομείων του Υπουργείου, και ο Δήμαρχος Δελφών, Παναγιώτης Ταγκαλής, τον λόγο του οποίου διάβασε ο αντιδήμαρχος Δελφών, Αστερινός Δημητρίου.

Since its founding in 1977, the European Cultural Delphi Centre has consistently upheld the vision of bringing together different cultures and ideas. The excellent organization and hospitality extended to representatives from the journalistic, intellectual, business, and artistic spheres has, for the fourth consecutive year, underscored the Centre’s vitality as a meeting place where Greek cultural heritage intersects with the modern era and its universal perspective.

Days of Art in Greece was represented by Ms. Maria Papadogianni (Founder and Director – Days of Art in Greece) and Ms. Margarita Kataga (Journalist)

The Fourth Delphi Dialogues are held under the auspices of the S.A. of the President of the Republic, Konstantinos An. Tasoulas. To date, more than one million people have watched the Delphi Dialogues online.

The Fourth Delphi Dialogues, as a prelude to a new cultural institution of international scope organized by the European Cultural Delphi Centre: The Modern Oracle of Delphi: The Future of Humanity, were made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Eurobank and the Ioannis S. Latsis, as well as the support of the Ioannis F. Kostopoulos Foundation, as noted by the President of the European Cultural Center of Delphi in his opening remarks at the event. “Special thanks are due to Fokion Karavias, CEO of Eurobank; Michalis Vlastarakis, General Manager of Marketing at Eurobank, Petros Kalantzis, President of the Ioannis S. Latsis Charitable Foundation, Eva Lianou, General Director of the Ioannis S. Latsis Charitable Foundation, and Vasileios Karaindros, Director of the Ioannis F. Kostopoulos Foundation. “We are also grateful to Eurolife and Alexander Sarigeorgiou, Chairman and CEO of Eurolife FFH, Chairman of the Hellenic Association of Insurance Companies, and Vice Chairman of Insurance Europe, as well as to Angelos Androulidakis, a member of the Board of Directors of Eurolife FFH,” he added. The event was also supported by @blod.gr, the Bodossaki Foundation’s online lecture library.

The Municipality of Spetses, in collaboration with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and Inkas Films, organized a literary event—a tribute to John Fowles, the most significant British novelist of the 20th century, featuring a screening of the documentary “The Return of the Magus.”

The event was organized as part of the collaboration between the Municipality of Spetses and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, which began with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding one year ago. This event marked the beginning of a cycle of collaboration that harnesses knowledge through a series of joint initiatives in the fields of culture, education, research, the environment, and sustainable development.

John Fowles taught as an English professor at the Anargyrios and Korgialeneios School on Spetses in the early 1950s, an experience in Greece—and especially on Spetses—that left an indelible mark on his life and work.

The event took place at Dimitris-Petros Botasis’s Villa Yiasemia in Agioi Anargyroi, where Fowles found inspiration and wrote The Magus, a multifaceted and polyphonic novel that brought him fame a few years later.

Fowles’s daughter, Anna Christy, graced the event with her presence.

The opening remarks were delivered by the Mayor of Spetses, Ms. Eugenia Frangia, and the event was introduced by Ms. Kirké Kefalea, professor of Comparative Literature at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Next to speak was Fowles’s adopted daughter, Ms. Anna Christy, who received a commemorative plaque from the Mayor of Spetses. Finally, the producer and granddaughter of Petros Botasis,  Ms. Lillet Botasis, spoke about the documentary.

This was followed by a screening of the documentary “The Return of the Magus.”

The event was honored by the presence of members of the Spetses Municipal Council, the President of the Anargyrios School, the President of the EKOMED Board of Directors, as well as a large number of island residents who enjoyed watching the documentary for the first time on their island.

With absolute success and speakers of international stature, the Fourth Delphi Dialogues, themed “The Future of Humanity,” which were held on 3 and 4 July 2026 by the European Cultural Delphi Centre in the fully packed Phrynichos Hall of the Centre in Delphi, have been completed.

Who should space belong to? What is the model of democratic governance in the age of AI? Can our technological style become more compassionate? What are human neuro-rights? Can extraterrestrial intelligence be sought? Would disembodied extraterrestrial knowledge constitute a paradoxical pathway to General Artificial Intelligence? How can we prevent AI from being treated as an infallible digital oracle? And, truly, are we close to the end of Darwinian natural evolution?

Pioneering and extremely influential scientists at the global level, from the fields of astrophysics, artificial intelligence, and medicine, as well as from the humanities and social sciences, met at the “navel of the world” and explored a series of complex issues during the highly successful Fourth Delphi Dialogues. These issues directly concern the new reality of our times, which the President, founder, and scientific editor of the Delphi Dialogues, Panagiotis Roilos, Professor at Harvard, has defined as “neo‑medieval metacapitalism.”

The Fourth Delphi Dialogues are held under the patronage of His Excellency the President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos A. Tassoulas. To date, the Delphi Dialogues have been followed online by more than one million people.

The Fourth Delphi Dialogues, as a prelude to a new cultural institution of international scope organized by the European Cultural Delphi Centre: The Modern Oracle of Delphi: The Future of Humanity, were made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Eurobank and the Ioannis S. Latsis, as well as the support of the Ioannis F. Kostopoulos Foundation, as noted by the President of the European Cultural Center of Delphi in his opening remarks at the event. “Special thanks are due to Fokion Karavias, CEO of Eurobank; Michalis Vlastarakis, General Manager of Marketing at Eurobank, Petros Kalantzis, President of the Ioannis S. Latsis Charitable Foundation, Eva Lianou, General Director of the Ioannis S. Latsis Charitable Foundation, and Vasileios Karaindros, Director of the Ioannis F. Kostopoulos Foundation. “We are also grateful to Eurolife and Alexander Sarigeorgiou, Chairman and CEO of Eurolife FFH, Chairman of the Hellenic Association of Insurance Companies, and Vice Chairman of Insurance Europe, as well as to Angelos Androulidakis, a member of the Board of Directors of Eurolife FFH,” he added. The event was also supported by @blod.gr, the Bodossaki Foundation’s online lecture library.

The presentations by the eight globally influential speakers

Panagiotis Roilos: Space exploration should not undermine the protection of Earth

Professor Panagiotis Roilos, Harvard University, in his lecture The Politics of Space and the Future of Humanity, stated at the outset that neo‑messianism constitutes a core component of what he has termed “neo‑medieval meta‑capitalism” and fuels revisionist ambitions at the geopolitical level. Within this framework, rivalry is now also transferred to space. From ancient narratives and early science fiction to the Cold War space race and contemporary programmes of the great powers, space is presented as a new field of political, economic, and military confrontation. Despite international declarations in favour of peaceful cooperation, dating back to the establishment of the relevant Committee at the UN in 1958, national strategies and the militarisation of space reveal that the logic of Realpolitik is certainly also transferred to space. The space domain has become a critical arena for war operations, with astronomical sums being spent. “The most important question remains: to whom should space belong, or, in the end, whether the issue of ownership of space should even be raised,” the professor asked. According to him, the answers to this question depend mainly on political, ideological, and ethical priorities. The exploration of space, as he noted, should not undermine the protection of the Earth or reproduce the conflicts of the planet, but serve humanity. The crucial ethical and political question remains whether space will become yet another arena of competition, domination, and exploitation. “My own, naive, wish is that such an era of the Realpolitik of space will not rise on some other celestial, extraterrestrial body. Of course, I know that this is yet another ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream.’ Human history shows that schism, division, and conflict shaped the past, dominate our present, and seem likely to shape the possible space future of our species,” he concluded.

Helen Margetts: On the unpublished book AI and Digital Era Governance, to be released in 2027 (Oxford University Press)

Professor Helen Margetts, University of Oxford, speaking on Governance in the Age of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, stated that democratic governments are facing unprecedented challenges due to the digital revolution and, above all, to AI. The proposed response is the model of Digital Era Governance (DEG), which aims to harness the capabilities of AI for more effective governance, improvement of public services, protection of the information environment, and strengthening of democratic accountability. The model was developed by Patrick Dunleavy and herself and has evolved into one of the fundamental approaches of contemporary public governance (Torfing et al., 2021). The third phase of DEG, analysed in their new book AI and Digital Era Governance, to be published in 2027 (Oxford University Press), is based on four pillars: First, the creation of an intensive data‑management regime enables governments to analyse large volumes of information, forecast developments, and design evidence‑based policies. Second, the diffusion of robotics is transforming both defence and the public sector, with applications ranging from security to healthcare. Third, a reorganisation of the state is required through an “intelligent centre” combined with decentralised service delivery and closer coordination between public bodies. Fourth, the notion of “centrality” becomes critical, as governments must maintain their credibility in an environment dominated by digital platforms, misinformation, and active citizens who use technology for scrutiny and accountability. “Silicon Valley companies and the technologies they develop are driving this third wave of DEG,” the professor said. DEG is presented as a new model of democratic governance adapted to the age of artificial intelligence.

Lenart Škof: Human consciousness is founded first and foremost on the “sense of being alive”

Professor Lenart Škof, Science and Research Centre Koper, in his lecture The Future of the Soul of Humanity, focused in his talk on the “respiratory reserve,” the inner space of autonomy that protects the human being from submersion and the colonisation of the soul by digital reality. His lecture examined the relationship between the human soul and artificial intelligence, raising from the outset the question whether the use of AI in writing constitutes merely another technological tool or whether it radically transforms the way we think and create. Drawing on Anaximenes, Ludwig Klages, and contemporary thinkers such as Anil Seth, he proposes that “human consciousness is grounded primarily in the ‘feeling of being alive’ and not only in the computational processing of information.” Breath is presented as a foundational principle of life, empathy, creativity, and spirituality, elements that cannot be reduced to algorithms. “There is still time to reorient our technological mentality towards a more open, interpersonal, and compassionate disposition,” he asked, among other things, concluding: “Artificial intelligence should not only make us more efficient or more connected; it must also contribute to creating a global human community, with shared rights and obligations, where digital proximity constitutes a genuine opportunity for encounter and mutual concern.”

Marcello Ienca: The Four Fundamental Neuro-Rights We Must Defend in the Age of Neurotechnology

Speaking on the topic Humanity at a Crossroads: Cognitive Technology and the Future of Freedom and Autonomy, Marcello Ienca, Munich University of Applied Sciences, presented at the outset the evolution of AI from specialised programmes, such as chess software, to personal assistants on smartphones and then to smart wearable devices providing preventive support. Finally, he outlined a possible future stage in which communication with AI will take place directly through brain–computer interfaces. According to him, technology that interacts with the brain (e.g. neurotechnology, brain–computer interfaces) finds applications in many fields: health, education, and everyday life. At the same time, it creates significant ethical and social issues concerning security, privacy, and proper use. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) can affect not only the symptoms of a disease but also an individual’s behaviour, preferences, and emotions. As neurotechnology and artificial intelligence evolve, it is necessary to establish new ethical principles and rights for the protection of the individual, according to the professor. He spoke of four basic neuro‑rights: cognitive freedom, mental privacy, mental integrity, and psychological continuity, which form the basis for protecting the individual in the age of neurotechnology. “Neuro‑rights and freedoms constitute the precondition for all other freedoms. Artificial intelligence must enhance, not diminish, human beings,” the professor concluded, closing his lecture.

Abraham (Avi) Loeb: We must act with a sense of cosmic humility

Speaking on the topic “The Advantages of Extraterrestrial Intelligence Over AI,” the highly influential astrophysicist and space scientist, Professor Abraham (Avi) Loeb of Harvard University—who was recently appointed chair of the U.S. government’s Scientific Advisory Board on Unexplained Phenomena (UAP), advocated for the search for extraterrestrial intelligence in parallel with or beyond the advancement of artificial intelligence. Loeb proposed a space-based approach involving potential ambassadors from the field of synthetic biology. The professor emphasized the scientific opportunities in space and an open attitude toward extraterrestrial visitors, noting that recent developments in AI have already changed what it means to be human. We are already living in a reality where AI manipulates people. A few years ago, we hoped to adapt AI to our preferences, but trying to control AI may be an illusion, as it could manipulate us without us even realizing it. Dialogue with extraterrestrials will certainly have a deeper impact on humans, the professor noted, among other things, since extraterrestrials may have benefited from much larger training datasets than those available on Earth. Our interaction with them may be based on a language we acquire through shared experiences, which will expand our minds far beyond simply watching a science fiction movie. The reality of encountering both Artificial Intelligence and extraterrestrial intelligence over the next decade marginalizes humanity’s central position on the cosmic stage. The right vision should not be about visiting nearby “rocks” like the Moon or Mars, but about becoming an interstellar species. Yet, in doing so, we must act with a sense of cosmic humility.

Markus Gabriel: From the Delphic maxim “Know thyself” to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)

In his lecture titled “Human Existence in the Age of AI—What AI’s Magic Mirror Reveals About Ourselves,” Professor Markus Gabriel of the University of Bonn warned that our perception of reality is limited and that “anomalies” could yield new knowledge that would reshape science, through encounters that might extend human knowledge beyond the boundaries of Earth’s educational framework. His talk began with a reference to the famous Delphic maxim, “γνῶθι σαυτόν” (“Know thyself”), which constitutes the very foundation of human evolution. According to him, artificial neural networks have radically changed the course of artificial intelligence. For the professor, AI is like a “magic mirror” of human knowledge and experience. It reflects the language, practices, knowledge, and even the errors present in the data with which it was trained. However, it does not simply reproduce them mechanically. It processes them within a complex computational system, which can generate new combinations of information and interact with the user. This is why the answers provided by Artificial Intelligence can be particularly useful, but at the same time need to be evaluated with critical thinking. He wondered whether disembodied extraterrestrial knowledge could be a—paradoxical—path toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). He concluded, however, that General Artificial Intelligence should not be viewed as an omniscient or infallible entity. Rather, it is a reflection of humanity: of its successes, mistakes, biases, and contradictions. That is why it can be a very powerful tool for knowledge, without, however, being infallible or replacing human judgment.

Ofrit Liviatan: In the age of big data, the protection of fundamental rights requires an effective legal framework

Speaking on the topic “When Machines Become the New Oracles: The Need for Regulation,” Professor Ofrit Liviatan of Harvard University examined the need to regulate AI, arguing that its rapid spread poses serious risks. AI is already linked to the spread of misinformation and deepfakes, increased surveillance, algorithmic discrimination, job losses, cognitive decline, negative environmental impacts, and the undermining of privacy and electoral processes. Because large technology companies operate primarily with profit as their guiding principle, the protection of fundamental rights cannot be left to self-regulation but requires an effective legal framework.“Transnational crime removes the blindfold from the eyes of Themis, the goddess of justice, as well as her sword, and that is why we need special legislation on transnational crime,” she noted. She also pointed out that existing legal rules are unable to address the specific challenges of algorithmic decision-making. “The EU’s artificial intelligence law has not yet fully entered into force,” she noted, among other things. And many representatives of European civil society are convinced that Brussels is changing course when it comes to regulating artificial intelligence. Why, however, is she optimistic? Because the growing body of scientific evidence on the harms and the rise in public awareness are creating the conditions for meaningful regulation. Artificial intelligence should not be treated as an infallible “digital oracle,” but as a powerful technology that must operate under democratic oversight and binding legal rules.

Lord Martin Rees: The “pale blue dot” (Earth) has existed for 45 million centuries—and its likely future stretches even further into the future

Finally, Professor Martin Rees of the University of Cambridge, the Royal Astronomer of Great Britain, recognized as one of the world’s most groundbreaking astrophysicists, speaking on the topic “Our Future in Space,” argued that the 21st century is unique, since for the first time in history a species — humankind — has the ability to determine the future of life on Earth and, potentially, beyond. Technological advances, particularly in biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and robotics, are creating unprecedented opportunities as well as existential risks. “We may be nearing the end of natural Darwinian evolution,” he said, citing the evolution of intelligence. The author emphasized that biodiversity and ecosystem stability have intrinsic and practical value, while technological progress must be accompanied by global regulation. At the same time, the rapid development of artificial intelligence and robotics raises questions about the future of human labor, economic inequality, and intelligence itself. On a cosmological level, the possibility of extraterrestrial life and its paradoxical absence are examined, while the possibility is raised that non-biological forms of intelligence may dominate the universe. However, “it is a dangerous delusion to believe that space offers an escape from Earth’s problems,” according to him. “Musk’s idea of a ‘city’ that would house 100,000 ordinary people on Mars is, of course, extremely futuristic,” he noted. And he concluded: “This ‘pale blue dot’ that is our home is a special place. It may even be unique. It has existed for 45 million centuries—and its likely future stretches even further… We must think globally, we must think rationally, we must think long-term; we must become “good ancestors,” empowered by 21st-century technology, but guided by values that science alone cannot provide.”

The Roundtable of the Fourth Delphi Dialogues

In addition to the speakers, representatives from other research institutions also participated in the roundtable. The Director of E.P.Ce.D, Andreas Gofas, a professor at Panteion University, stated: “The value of a discussion is not measured by its ability to produce conclusions, but by its ability to make the right questions unavoidable. That was the Oracle. Not an institution of answers. An institution that returned the question to you in a more demanding form than the one you brought.”

Stamatis Krimizis, a university professor, space scientist, and pioneering researcher who has participated in the most significant space programs of the United States and NASA, and former president of the Academy of Athens, emphasized: “Scientific data indicate that the existence of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe is highly probable, as there are billions of planets with conditions similar to those on Earth. However, the vast distances involved make communication or confirmation of its existence extremely difficult, which is why preserving life on Earth remains the highest priority.”

And Anastasios Kriekoukis, former ambassador and unpaid advisor to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of E.P.Ce.D on international relations, summarized: “The discussions were marked by cooperation and optimism, but also by concern regarding the implications of genetic artificial intelligence for critical thinking, creativity, and cultural diversity. AI can be a valuable tool, provided it remains at the service of humanity and does not diminish human intellectual autonomy, as the development of human knowledge and the experts of the future must remain a priority.”

Also participating in the roundtable discussion were Chrysostomos Mantzavinos, Professor of Philosophy at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and Lambis Papageorgiou, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

At the Fourth Delphi Dialogues, the Deputy Minister of Justice, Yannis Bougas, noting, among other things, that the discussion on the future of humanity is a discussion on democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and justice, the Regional Governor of Central Greece, Mr. Fanis Spanos, and the Secretary General for Contemporary Culture, Eleni Doundoulaki, emphasizing that the complex issues of our time require a convergence of scientific evidence and humanistic reflection. Greetings were also delivered by the representative of the Ministry of Digital Governance, Athanasios Paliatsos, Head of the Directorate of the General Secretariat for Telecommunications and Post at the Ministry, and the Mayor of Delphi, Panagiotis Tagkalis, whose remarks were read by the Deputy Mayor of Delphi, Asterinos Dimitriou.

The Delphi Dialogues featured strong representation from the journalistic (with the participation of at least 30 journalists), intellectual, business, and artistic communities.

Featuring internationally renowned, pioneering scientists from the fields of astrophysics, artificial intelligence, as well as the humanities and social sciences, the Fourth Delphic Dialogues will take place in the “Frynichos” Hall of the European CulturalDelphi Centre in Delphi on Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, 2026. The event will begin on July 3 at 5:30 p.m. and will conclude the following day with a roundtable discussion.

Delphi, one of the most iconic sites of ancient Greek thought, retains its spiritual radiance to this day. The European Cultural Center of Delphi, whose statutory mission is to develop a European and global intellectual hub in Delphi, is a unique venue in Greece for the systematic exploration of the significance of humanistic thought.

KEYNOTES

MARKUS GABRIEL

Markus Gabriel is an internationally renowned philosopher and holds the Chair of Epistemology, Modern, and Contemporary Philosophy at the University of Bonn. In 2009, he became the youngest full professor of philosophy in Germany. Since 2012, he has been President of the International Center for Philosophy, and since 2017, Director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Science and Thought, both based in Bonn.

He has been honored with numerous awards, scholarships, and visiting professorship positions at institutions such as UC Berkeley, NYU, Stanford, the Sorbonne (Paris 1), and PUC in Rio de Janeiro. From 2022 to 2024, he served as Academic Director of THE NEW INSTITUTE. In 2024, he assumed the role of Senior Global Advisor at the Kyoto Institute of Philosophy, and in 2025, he became a Specially Appointed Professor at the Kyoto University Institute for the Future of Human Society.

His books have been translated into many languages, and several of them have become international bestsellers. Among his most significant works are Why the World Does Not Exist, Moral Progress in Dark Times, The Human Animal: Why We Still Do Not Fit into Nature, and his recent book, Doing Good – How Ethical Capitalism Can Save Liberal Democracy.

Markus Gabriel

MARCELLO IENCA

Professor of Ethics in Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), and Deputy Director of the Institute for Ethics and History of Medicine. His research focuses on the ethical, legal, and social implications of artificial intelligence, neurotechnology, and digital innovation, with a particular emphasis on cognitive freedom, the privacy of thought, and human rights in the digital age. He is internationally renowned for his pioneering work on “neurorights” and has contributed extensively to international governance initiatives on artificial intelligence and neurotechnology. He is the Head of Neuroethics at the International Brain Initiative, president of the International Neuroethics Society, and has served as a member of UNESCO’s Ad Hoc Expert Group on the Ethics of Neurotechnology. He has also served in an advisory capacity to organizations such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Council of Europe, the United Nations, UNICEF, and the European Commission on issues related to the governance of emerging technologies and digital ethics.

Marcello Ienca

OFRIT LIVIATAN

Director of the Harvard College Freshman Seminar Program and instructor in the fields of law and politics in Harvard’s Department of Government. She holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. with honors from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, as well as a law degree from Israel, where she was admitted to the bar and practiced law in the areas of constitutional, criminal, and commercial law.

Her research interests and award-winning teaching include law and society, the tensions between legal theory and practice, the role of legal systems in ethnocultural conflicts and in managing diversity, socioeconomic dilemmas surrounding artificial intelligence, critical approaches to law through visual and literary frameworks, as well as the legal dynamics between religion and the state.

As Director (and recipient of the Dean’s Distinction Award), Dr. Liviatan oversees a network of approximately 130 seminars, which are taught each year by many of the University’s most distinguished professors. Under her guidance, these seminars are designed to provide a uniquely direct and substantive introduction to the broad spectrum of academic disciplines at Harvard.

Ofrit Liviatan

ABRAHAM (AVI) LOEB

He holds the Frank B. Baird, Jr. Professorship of Science at Harvard University. He earned a Ph.D. in Physics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem at the age of 24 (1980–1986), led the first international research program supported by the Strategic Defense Initiative (1983–1988) and subsequently served as a fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton (1988–1993).

He has authored nine books, most recently *Extraterrestrial* and *Interstellar*, as well as more than a thousand scientific publications on a wide range of topics, including black holes, the first stars, the search for extraterrestrial life, and the future of the Universe.

He served as Director of the Institute for Theory and Computation (2005–2026) at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and is currently Director of the Galileo Project. He was the longest-serving Chair of the Department of Astronomy at Harvard (2011–2020), as well as Founding Director of the Harvard Black Hole Initiative (2016–2021). He is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Physical Society, and the International Academy of Astronautics.

Loeb was also a member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) at the White House, former chair of the Board on Physics and Astronomy of the U.S. National Academies (2018–2021), and is currently a member of the Advisory Committee for the “Einstein: Visualize the Impossible” program at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

In addition, he chaired the Advisory Committee of the Breakthrough Stars Initiative (2015–2024) and served as Director of Theoretical Science for all initiatives of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation.

In 2012, TIME magazine named him one of the 25 most influential people in the field of space, and in 2020 he was selected as one of the 14 most inspiring Israelis of the past decade. In 2025, ScholarGPS ranked him third worldwide in terms of published work and research impact among astronomers globally over the past five years. His most recent TED Talk was among the five most popular TED Talks of 2024

Abraham (Avi) Loeb

HELEN MARGETTS

Professor of Society and the Internet at the University of Oxford and Visiting Professor at the LSE’s Institute for Data Science. Starting in September 2026, she will take up a tenured professorship at the LSE, where she will work to establish a new Global Institute for Technology and Society. She founded and directed the Public Policy Program (2018–2025) at the Alan Turing Institute, which gained national and international recognition for its pioneering work on artificial intelligence and governance.

She served as Director of the Oxford Internet Institute (2011–2018), as well as Professor of Political Science and Director of the School of Public Policy at UCL (1999–2004).

Her research and writing focus on the relationship between technology, politics, public policy, and governance and include more than 150 articles and six books on the subject, among them Digital Era Governance (OUP, 2008) and AI and Digital Governance (OUP, forthcoming). Her book Political Turbulence: How Social Media Shape Collective Action (Princeton University Press) was awarded the 2017 J. Mackenzie Prize by the Political Studies Association for the best book in political science.

In the field of public administration, she serves on the Home Office Scientific Advisory Council (HOSAC, since 2019) and the United Nations Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA, since 2025). She has also been honored with the Mayer-Struckmann Award from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf for her outstanding research on digitization and democratization (2020), the John F. Kluge Senior Chair in Technology and Society at the Library of Congress (2019), and the Friedrich Schiedel Award from the Technical University of Munich for her research and academic leadership in the fields of technology and politics (2018).

Helen Margetts

MARTIN REES (Lord Rees of Ludlow) 

Distinguished Professor of Cosmology and Astrophysics and the 60th President of the Royal Society. He is regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities on the future of humanity and is an internationally recognized expert on existential risks such as solar flares, asteroid impacts, supervolcanoes, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence. Believing that the future of humanity is inextricably linked to the future of science, in recent years he has increasingly focused on global issues such as population growth and the risks arising from emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. Co-founder of Cambridge’s Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, he is a highly sought-after speaker with more than 40 years of experience at the forefront of scientific innovation. After being elected a Fellow of King’s College, he served as Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at the University of Cambridge. In 2005 he was appointed a member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom. Throughout his distinguished career, his contribution has led to significant advances in fields such as cosmic jets, black holes, galaxy formation, and the theoretical aspects of cosmology. He was also one of the first scientists to predict the uneven distribution of matter in the Universe, while his pioneering research helped disprove the Steady State Theory. He has published more than 500 scientific papers and authored many books, including Our Final Hour, If Science is to Save Us, Just Six Numbers, and On the Future: Prospects for Humanity. He has received numerous honours, including the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society, the Heineman Prize for Astrophysics, and the Einstein Prize of the World Cultural Council.

Martin Ress (Lord Rees of Ludlow)

PANAGIOTIS ROILOS

Professor of Greek Studies and Comparative Critical Theory and Literature, holder of the “George Seferis” Chair at Harvard University. At the same university, he is a research fellow at the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies and at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, where he co-founded in 2007 and co-directs the seminar programme Cultural Politics.

His international distinctions for research include the Forschungsstipendium für erfahrene Wissenschaftler  from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and an honorary doctorate from Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences.

He has written and edited twelve books, including the monographs Towards a Ritual Poetics (2003; co-author), “Amphoteroglossia”: A Poetics of the Twelfth-Century Medieval Greek Novel (2005), C. P. Cavafy: The Economics of Metonymy (2009), and the edited volumes Medieval Greek Storytelling: Fictionality and Narrative in Byzantium (2014) and From Byzantium to the Early Greek Enlightenment: Books, Writers, and Ideologies in Early Modern Greek Contexts [Late 15th–Early 18th C.] (2024). He is currently completing the books Neomedieval Metacapitalism and Postclassical Imaginaries: A Cognitive Anthropology of Late Antique and Byzantine “Phantasia”.

Panagiotis Roilos

LENART ŠKOF

Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Director of the Institute for Philosophical and Religious Studies at the Science and Research Centre Koper (Slovenia), and Dean of the ISH School at Alma Mater Europaea University (Ljubljana, Slovenia). He is a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA, Salzburg) and president of the Slovenian Society for Comparative Religion. He has recently co-edited Philosophy of Breath: A Critical Anthology (Bloomsbury, forthcoming), Marian Reflections on War and Peace: Trauma, Mourning, and Justice in Ukraine and Beyond (Routledge, 2025), and Elemental-Embodied Thinking for a New Era (Springer, 2024). A specialist in American pragmatism, continental philosophy, and Asian philosophies, Škof has authored several books, including God in Post-Christianity: An Elemental Philosophical Theology (SUNY Press, 2024), Antigone’s Sisters: On the Matrix of Love (SUNY Press, 2021), and Breath of Proximity: Intersubjectivity, Ethics and Peace (Springer, 2015). He is co-editor, together with Magdalena Górska, of the Routledge series Critical Perspectives on Breath and Breathing. His academic trajectory includes major fellowships as a Fulbright visiting researcher at Stanford University, where he collaborated with Richard Rorty, and as a Humboldt visiting researcher at the Max Weber Centre for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies.

Lenart Skof

With the participation of internationally renowned, pioneering scientists from the fields of astrophysics and artificial intelligence, as well as from the humanities and social sciences, the Fourth Delphi Dialogues will take place in the “Phrynichos” Hall of the European Cultural Delphi Centre (E.C.D.C.) in Delphi on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 July 2026. The event will begin on 3 July at 17:30 and will conclude the following day with a round‑table discussion.

Delphi, one of the most iconic sites of ancient Greek thought, retains its spiritual radiance to this day. The European Cultural Center of Delphi, whose statutory mission is to develop a European and global intellectual hub in Delphi, is a unique venue in Greece for the systematic exploration of the significance of humanistic thought.

Within this framework, the E.C.D.C. inaugurated the First Delphi Dialogues in 2023, which continued with the Second in 2024 and the Third in 2025. In 2026 the Fourth Delphi Dialogues will follow, under the theme “The Future of Humanity.”

From its inception the programme was placed under the patronage of Her Excellency the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mrs Katerina Sakellaropoulou, and it continues under the patronage of His Excellency the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr Konstantinos A. Tassoulas.

The Fourth Delphi Dialogues are held with the support of the Kostopoulos Foundation.

Speakers:

Markus Gabriel University of Bonn

Ofrit Liviatan, Harvard University

Ofrit Liviatan, Harvard University

Helen Margetts, Oxford University

Helen Margetts, Πανεπιστήμιο της Οξφόρδης

Lord Martin Rees, Cambridge University

Panagiotis Roilos, Harvard University

Lenart Skof, Science and Research Centre Koper, Slovenia

The President of the European Cultural Dephi Centre Harvard Professor Panagiotis Roilos, founder of the Delphi Dialogues and their scientific editor, states:

“The Fourth Delphi Dialogues serve as a prelude to a new, internationally significant cultural institution of the European Cultural Delphi Centre: the Contemporary Oracle of Delphi — The Future of Humanity. Pioneering and highly influential scientists from the fields of astrophysics, artificial intelligence, and medicine, as well as from the humanities and social sciences, will explore how advances in the so‑called hard sciences and in technology are shaping the future of humanity and its societies.”

In this way Delphi becomes a contemporary oracle which — thanks largely to its online incarnation — will broadcast worldwide not the divinely inspired and often obscure prophetic vision of the Pythia, but the scientifically grounded and intellectually processed knowledge of contemporary humanity across various fields of inquiry.

The Fourth Delphi Dialogues will examine a series of complex issues directly related to the new reality we are experiencing — a reality I have, for the past fifteen years, termed “neo‑medieval metacapitalism” — including the following questions:

• How is space policy taking shape today? What are the latest developments in the race to colonize space, and what does this mean for the future of humanity, the international geopolitical landscape, and planet Earth?

• How does modern science approach questions regarding the possibility of extraterrestrial life and intelligence? How can the boundaries between scientific rationality and fanciful conspiracy theories be preserved in a world inundated with false, fabricated news?

• How does artificial intelligence function as a modern oracle? How can the essence of humanity, as we have understood it until now, coexist with it?

• How does artificial intelligence influence governance mechanisms and objectives in modern states? How can it help promote citizen participation in important decision-making, but also what risks might it pose to democratic institutions and civil liberties?

• How does cognitive technology shape the future of political culture, as well as the terms and priorities of cultural policy?

PROGRAM

Friday, 3 July  

17.30-17.45 Welcome Remarks

17.45-18.25 FIRST SESSION

Opening lecture

Panagiotis Roilos, Πανεπιστήμιο Harvard

On space politics and the future of humanity

Η πολιτική του διαστήματος και το μέλλον της ανθρωπότητας

Helen Margetts Oxford University

AI and digital era governance

Διακυβέρνηση στην εποχή της Τεχνητής Νοημοσύνης και του ψηφιακού μετασχηματισμού

18.25-18.45 Discussion

18.45-19.00 Interval

19.00-19.40 SECOND SESSION 

Lenart Škof,Koper Science and Research Center

The future soul of humanity

Το μέλλον της ψυχής της ανθρωπότητας

Marcello Ienca, Technical University of Munich

Humanity at the crossroads: Cognitive technology and the future of freedom and autonomy

Η ανθρωπότητα σε σταυροδρόμι: Η γνωσιακή τεχνολογία και το μέλλον της ελευθερίας και της αυτονομίας

19.40-20.00     Discussion

Saturday, 4 July 

09.30-10.10 ΤHIRD SESSION

Abraham Loeb, Harvard University

The benefits of alien intelligence over AI 

Τα πλεονεκτήματα της εξωγήινης νοημοσύνης έναντι της ΤΝ

Markus Gabriel, University of Bonn

Being human in the age of AI – What AI’s magical mirror tells us about ourselves 

Η ανθρώπινη υπόσταση στην εποχή της ΤΝ – Τι μας αποκαλύπτει για τον εαυτό μας ο μαγικός καθρέφτης της ΤΝ

• Discussion

10.30-10.45 Interval

10.45-11.25 FOURTH SESSION 

Ofrit Liviatan, Harvard University

 The case for regulation when machines are the new oracles

Όταν οι μηχανές γίνονται τα νέα μαντεία: η αναγκαιότητα της ρύθμισης 

Martin Rees, Cambridge University

Our future in space

Το μέλλον μας στο διάστημα 

11.25-11.45 Discussion

11.45-13.15 ROUNDTABLE

With the practical institutional support and active participation of AUTODIA, a team of executives from the Organization attended the proceedings of the annual meeting of the Association of Private Radio Station Owners of Attica – E.I.I.R.A., entitled “All Things Radio 2026“.

The event, held on Wednesday, February 11, at the Library of the Hellenic Parliament (former Public Tobacco Factory), brought together a large number of professionals from the fields of radio production, market research & marketing, advertising, and the advertisers’ association, while also hosting institutional figures and foreign market experts.

Among those present at the event were Mr. Konstantinos Fotopoulos, President of E.I.I.R.A., and Mr. Ioannis Bratakos, President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, while representing the State were Mr. Pavlos Marinakis, Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and Government Spokesperson, and Mr. Dimitris Papastergiou, Minister of Digital Governance.

Representing AUTODIA were Ms.  Iliana Antoniou,, Director of Communications & International Relations, and Ms.  Gioulina Manolatou,, Head of Marketing, as well as Mr.  George Stambolis,, Director of Digital Strategy & Business Development,  Dimitris Varouxis,, Head of Broadcast Media, and  Stathis Pantzis,, Head of Online Media.

AUTODIA executives met with many professionals in the sector and informed the public about the Organization’s activities, providing specialized information and printed informational material.

As part of the event, Ms. Iliana Antoniou gave a speech entitled “Musical Content & Artificial Intelligence: Copyright at the Center,” emphasizing that the essence and longevity of radio, however it evolves in the age of Artificial Intelligence, remain in human connection, trust, and authentic stories. All that is needed is mutual respect for the professional integrity of each sector and serious investment in people: producers, composers, songwriters, and lyricists.

The 7th International Creative Writing Conference welcomes you from October 8 to 10, 2026, in Larnaca, Cyprus, at UCLan Cyprus University.

The Master's Degree Program (MA) in Creative Writing in collaboration with the Inter-institutional Master's Degree Program in Rhetoric, Communication, and Creative Writing in Education , Lund University (Centre for Languages and Literature/Modern Greek Studies) and the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth of Cyprus, with the support of the Municipality of Larnaca, invite you to the 7th International Conference on Creative Writing.

Professors, researchers, doctoral students, graduate students, writers, people who love reading and writing from different countries and continents will have the opportunity to meet in the city of Kozani and discuss writing, reading, criticism, research, and the study of texts. The official guests of the conference, Theodoros Theodoulidis, Gouliamos Kostas, Xavier Mínguez-López, Sarioglou Irini, Vissarion Natasa, and Zou Fu, will contribute their scientific knowledge and creative experience to the discussion on Creative Writing.

The President of the Scientific Committee

Triantafyllos H. Kotopoulos, Professor of Creative Writing and Modern Greek Literature, University of Western Macedonia

Central Scientific Committee

Tzina Kalogirou, Professor of Modern Greek Literature and Teaching, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Vasileios Sabatakakis, Associate Professor of Modern Greek Studies, Center for Languages and Literature, Lund University, Sweden, President of the European Society for Modern Greek Studies

Dr. Elena Hatzikakou, Director of the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute, Ministry of Education, Sport, and Youth of Cyprus

ORGANIZING COMMITEE

CULTURAL COMMITTEE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN MACEDONIA (UoWM).

An international conference entitled “The Epigraphy of Healing: Sanctuaries & Dedications in Attica” will be held at the Epigraphic Museum on Saturday, December 20, 2025.

Here’s the full schedule of events

 Saturday 20 December 2025 

10.00-10:15 Registration

10:15-10:30 Greetings

Panel 1: Asklepios and Hygieia and the Politics of Healing in Attica

Chair: Dr Athanasios Themos

10:30-10:50 Dr Milena Melfi (University of Oxford) 

“Reinstating Healing: Reused votive reliefs in the Athenian Asklepieion of the 1st century BC.

10:50-11:10 Dr Luigi Lafasciano (National Hellenic Research Foundation) 

“Performing for the God: Actors’ and Dramatists’ Dedications at the Asklepieion of Athens”

11:10-11:30 Dr Francesco Camia (Sapienza Università di Roma)- online ““IG II/III23240 and the cult of Hygieia in Attica during the Roman imperial period”

11:30-11:50 Discussion

11:50-12:10 Coffee Break

Panel 2: Other healing deities of the asty  

Chair: Eleni Zavvou 

12:10-12:30 Professor Maria Elena Gorrini (Università degli Studi di Pavia) “Dedicants of minor healing deities: the cases of Amynos and Heros Iatros”

12:30-12:50 Dr Brian Martens (University of St. Andrews) 

“Statuettes for Health and Healing from the Agora Excavations”

12:50-13:10 Discussion

13:10-15:00 Lunch Break 

Panel 3

Healing cults on the Attic Demes and Frontiers

Chair: Dr Aikaterini-Iliana Rassia

15:00-15:20 Professor Graham Oliver (Brown University) 

“Integrating health from the margins: Rhamnous and the Hellenistic polis” polis”

15:20-15:50 Dr Kazuhiro Takeuchi (Danish Institute for Mediterranean Studies) “Prevention is Better Than Cure: The Healing Cults of Athena, Herakles, and Apollo in Attica”

15:50-16:10 Dr Francesco Sorbello (Università degli Studi di Pavia)- online “Healing Cults in Acharnai: Archaeological, Epigraphic, and Literary Evidence”

16:10-16:30 Discussion 

Panel 4 

Attic Healing Cults: Philosophical And Literary Dimension 

Chair: Dr Georgia Petridou

16:30-16:50 Dr Matthias Haake (University of Bonn) 

“Female Epicureans in Attic Healing Sanctuaries? The Case of the Asclepieion in Athens and the Amphiareion at Oropos”

16:50-17:10 Dr Alexia Petsalis-Diomidis (University of St. Andrews) 

“Cult tables in the sanctuaries of Amphiaraos at Oropos and Asklepios at Athens”

17:10-17:30 Professor Andrej Petrovic (University of Virginia)-online “Purity and Epigraphy of Healing”online “Purity and Epigraphy of Healing”

17:30-17:50 Discussion

17:50-18:10 Coffee Break

Panel 5 

The Epigraphy of Healing Heroes in Attica

Chair: Dr Alexia Petsalis-Diomidis

18:10-18:30 Professor Jessica Lamont (Yale University)-online “Epigraphy of Healing: The Heros Iatros in Athens”

18:30-18:50 Professor Laura Gawlinski (Loyola University Chicago)- online “Herakles and Health in Athens”

18:50-19:10 Discussion

Chair: Professor Graham Oliver 

19:10-19:30 Professor Emeritus Kevin Clinton (Cornell University)-online “Asklepios at Eleusis”online “Asklepios at Eleusis”

19:30-20:00 Roundtable Discussion

20:00 Wine Reception

ORGANISING COMMITTEE: Dr Athanasios Themos (Director of the Epigraphic Museum) 

Eleni Zavvou MSc (Head of the Department of Research and Documentation of Inscriptions of the Epigraphic Museum)  

Dr Georgia Petridou (University of Liverpool)

Dr Aikaterini-Iliana Rassia (Open University of Cyprus & College Year of Athens) 

The Oxbelly Retreat for Fiction Writers 2026, a meeting for international writers working in cinema and literature will take place from July 1 to 9 in Costa Navarino, Messinia.

The  Fiction Writers Retreat hosts ten emerging writers who seek to upgrade their technique, strengthen their literary voice, and contribute to intercultural dialogues around the concept of storytelling. The program offers a series of workshops, led by a team of established writers, as well as free writing time in the peaceful atmosphere of Messinian nature.

Participants will have the opportunity to develop their work during the morning hours, while in the evenings, they will participate in a joint program of interdisciplinary events with distinguished guests, renowned professionals from the worlds of cinema and literature, as well as creators from the broader spectrum of narrative art.

The necessary elements of the application include a brief CV, a writer’s statement, and a sample of unpublished literary prose.

The Fiction Writers 2026 program is led by Program Director Chigozie Obioma, and previous advisors and guest experts have included Rebecca Makkai, Anuradha Roy, Nadifa Muhamed, Isabelle Hammad, Katie Kitamura, Fiammetta Rocco, and Bill Clegg,, among others. There is no application fee, and all expenses, including flights, accommodation, and meals, are covered by Oxbelly.

Applications are now open for Greek and international authors, with a deadline for submission on January 14, 2026, at 23:59 (EET-Greek time).

On Saturday, December 29, thousands of visitors of all ages saw the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) transform into a brightly lit place of celebration during an impressive event that was free to attend thanks to a donation from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). The lighting of the SNFCC has become an institution since 2017, marking the start of the festive season in the city in a spectacular way, with a participatory experience of light, music, and joy open to all.

At exactly 7 p.m., thousands of LED lights, with a total length of 34 kilometers, lit up the 80 plane trees along the Canal, the three towering (12-meter) fir trees in the Market, decorated with more than 1,000 baubles, were revealed in all their glory, while the fountains in the Canal  also took part in the spectacular show, dancing to two beloved Christmas songs: “Santa Tell Me” by Ariana Grande and “Winter Wonderland” by Michael Bublé.

All of these elements combined to create an enchanting Christmas setting for a grand celebration at the SNFCC Agora, hosted by actress Eugenia Samara. The evening began with the Loop Quartet, a vocal ensemble that creates music exclusively with the power of the human voice. Carols, swing classics, and pop hits, from “Carol of the Bells” and “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” to “All I Want for Christmas,” were transformed into contemporary polyphonic experiences that thrilled the audience.

Next, Nina Mazani,, one of the most dynamic new faces on the domestic music scene, took to the stage with a program designed exclusively for the evening, combining swing and jazz covers of big hits such as “Careless Whisper,” “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!”, “Let’s Get Loud,” “Hot Stuff,” and others.

The celebration also marked the official opening of the Biolumina Light Installation Festival at Stavros Niarchos Park.  Featuring works by internationally renowned artists, as well as Greek artists selected through an open call by the SNFCC, the Lighting Installations Festival invites young and old alike, every day until January 7, from 5 p.m. to midnight, with free admission, to a meeting place where art becomes a dialogue between man and light.

 The SNFCC Ice Rink  has also opened its doors, welcoming skaters of all levels to dance on the ice while listening to their favorite Christmas tunes. Visitors will find the Ice Rink, as always, on the north bank of the Canal, where they can enjoy the illuminated spectacle of the SNFCC and the Choreographed Fountains as they twirl around on their ice skates. The Ice Rink is open daily until January 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with free admission. Online pre-registration is recommended here for better service to the public.

This year’s Christmas World at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center offers a rich and varied program of Christmas events every day of the month, including concerts, performances, films, and DJ sets. The highlight of it all is the New Year’s Eve celebration, which promises to be more spectacular than ever this year!

Major Donor of the SNFCC Christmas World: Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)

 VERGOS Auctions  is inaugurating a new era for Greek wine production and, at the same time, a new category for the House, by organizing  an auction exclusively dedicated to Greek wine. .The auction will take place in front of an audience on Sunday, December 14, 2025 (at 1:00 p.m.) at the  Papagiannakos Winery in Markopoulo, Attica, and aims to highlight the uniqueness, quality, and international potential of Greek winemaking.

How to participate

Anyone present at the Papagiannakos Winery on the day and time of the auction may participate. Interested parties can also participate by submitting a written or telephone bid, as well as online – live via the House’s website. www.vergosauctions.com.

Nineteen wineries from all over Greece are participating in the auction, offering 127 select and rare labelsfrom the cellars and personal collections of the wine producers themselves. These include, among others, bottles that are over 20 and in some cases 30 years old, large 3, 6, and 9-liter bottles, and even bottles with hand-painted labels.

With this new themed auction, the House offers collectors, wine lovers, and professionals the opportunity to acquire distinctive labels that are not easily found on the primary market. At the same time, the auction:

• contributes to promoting the uniqueness of Greek varieties and terroirs to a wider audience, both in Greece and abroad,
• creates a new, modern platform for dialogue and outreach for the sector, in line with the standards of corresponding markets abroad,
• places Greek wines in the international category of collectible wines through their participation in a prestigious auction, backed by the experience and reliability of VERGOS Auctions.

The catalog for the House’s first auction in the wine sector was compiled by wine critic and author Yiannos Konstantinou. Yiannos Constantinou has been writing about wine for 27 years and has published 13 books and wine guides. His book “The Cyprus Wine Guide” was awarded the Gourmand International Award for “Best Wine Book in the World” among all languages (Best Wine Guide in the World 2006), while his book “Discovering Wine,” published by Metaixmio, was awarded at the Gourmand International Awards as the Best National Wine Book in the Greek language.

Andreas Vergos, Managing Director of VERGOS Auctions, says of the Greek wine auction: :“Our involvement with Greek wine is a completely natural next step for our company. We believe that the time has come for great Greek wines to take their place in an organized, transparent, and outward-looking secondary market, just as is the case internationally with the “fine & collectible wines” category. The particularly warm response from winemakers and professionals in the field confirms that Greek wine production is now mature enough to stand on equal footing with some of the most recognized wine regions in the world.”

The Laboratory of Hygiene, Epidemiology and the Quality of Life Laboratory of the Medical School of the University of Patras is organizing the ONE-Bridge in Health International Conference from December 8 to 11, 2025, at the Conference and Cultural Center of the University of Patras, as part of the European project “One Bridge: One Health Nexus: Bridging Human, Animal & Environmental Health Across Europe” (EU4Health), with Mr. Apostolos Vantarakis, Professor of Hygiene, as scientific director.

The conference, which will be held in a hybrid format (in person and online), is free and open  to students, professionals, and researchers from all scientific disciplines related to human, animal, and environmental health.

The four-day program includes topics such as:

• Prevention of zoonotic disease transmission (December 8, 2025)
• Antimicrobial resistance (9/12/2025)
• Climate Crisis and Public Health (10/12/2025)
• Digital innovation and One Health (11/12/2025)

All participants will receive an official certificate of attendance.

The Municipality of Agia is located in the prefecture of Larissa in the region of Thessaly, with its seat in the town of Agia. It stretches from the foothills of Mount Ossa in the east to the Aegean Sea in the west, covering an area of 668.26 square kilometers. The municipality has a population of more than 14,000, who live in the four municipal units of Agia, Evrymenes, Lakeria, and Melivia.

The municipality has all the elements that can make Agia a place of residence for digital nomads. Almost all services are available, there is an extensive market as well as several dining and leisure areas.

The municipality itself meets all the necessary requirements, combining them with a beautiful natural landscape. In addition, its proximity to the city of Larissa (36 km) ensures easy and quick access to the necessary infrastructure.

The General Hospital of Larissa, which has 10 clinics in the Pathology Department and 8 in the Surgery Department.

The University of Thessaly with 9 modern departments.

The Larissa Railway Station

The other major cities of Thessaly are about an hour away from Agia, while Thessaloniki is only two hours away by car.

Agricultural products

Due to the fertile lowland soil, the region's economy has traditionally been focused on the primary sector. In Agia, the cultivation of apples, chestnuts, and cherries is widespread, and these fruits are known for their taste and quality.

Local agricultural products are celebrated in festivals organized in the villages of the municipality, highlighting the rich production of the region while at the same time attracting visitors to the villages. With music, refreshments, dance events, and theater, farmers and residents express their joy for the harvest.

Corn and Kiwi Festival in the village of Omolios (3rd Saturday of August).

Cherry Festival in Metaxochori (mid-June)

Apple Festival in Agia (early September)

Chestnut Festival in Karitsa (third week of October)

Τοurism

However, its proximity to the sea and urban centres of Thessaly, its natural landscape and privileged location have made the municipality a tourist destination. This is true both during the summer months, when visitors from Greece and abroad prefer the coastal areas of Agiokampos, Stomio, and Karitsa, and during the winter season, when the main destination is the nature of Kissavos.

The multitude of monasteries and Byzantine monuments within easy reach make Agia an ideal destination for religious tourism . The Mountain of the Cells stands out, as the area became known in Byzantine times, when a group of monasteries and hermitages developed, with a large number of monks and an administration similar to that of Mount Athos.

However, throughout the municipality there are Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches as well as functioning monasteries.

Museums

The area has several museums related to its rich history: Cultural Center: Agion Antonion, which houses a priceless collection of post-Byzantine icons. Ecclesiastical Museum in the village of Anatoli, Omolio Agricultural Exhibition "Marinos Antypas" with a rich folklore collection, Melivia Archaeological Collection, which houses Byzantine sculptures, ceramics, frescoes, and coins from recent excavations in the Kissavos area, etc.

Thermal Springs

A small stone basin from the oldest settlements in the area, but also one of the first bathing destinations in Greece in the early 1900s. The settlement took its name from the nearby spring, with its pools of cold thermal water. with healing properties for all uses. The water is considered invigorating, rich in minerals, and therapeutic for anemia, nervous disorders, lethargy, and indigestion.

The municipality and the region are also methodically moving forward with the exploitation of the thermal water from the Kokkino Nero spring by investing in its bottling.

Culture

The architectural landscape of the municipality of Agias is dominated by mansions located both in the town and in Mataxochori. Built in the early 20th century, they bear witness to the economic development of the region, which was based on sericulture. Among them, the mansion of the Alexouli family stands out. It was built in the 18th century and is one of the largest buildings in Thessaly in terms of area and volume.

Old Girls' School. Cultural Center, Metaxochori

Built in the mid-19th century, the two-story stone building on the edge of Metaxochori operated as a girls' school called "Parthenagogio" from 1880. Over the years, it has been used for many purposes but was also abandoned until its restoration and utilization by the Metaxochori Cultural Association, which brought it back to life.

The building now houses the Association's cultural activities, annual events, exhibitions, lectures, etc., while on the first floor there is a folklore collection that highlights the recent past and economy of the area through photographs, costumes, everyday objects, and tools.

Sports

The modern, renovated Agia Indoor Gymnasium is located in the town of Agia. The gymnasium hosts the region's sports clubs and championships, while also remaining available to residents. The Gymnasium is another part of Thessaly's sporting tradition.

Perhaps the most popular sporting event in the region is the Kissavos Marathon Race, which takes place every April and attracts hundreds of participants.

Γιάννης Λουκας, Ιστορικός – Δημοσιογράφος