In the company of the friends of culture we celebrated the birthday of the cultural centre Hellenic Cosmos.

The main elements that characterized the event were enthusiasm and a lot of wishes for the eight years of operation of the cultural centre Hellenic Cosmos (and of the 12 years of the Foundation of the Hellenic World). The event took place at 7.30 at Buildings 1 and 2 of the Cultural Centre, and especially at the brand new and brightly lit foyer of the "Tholos", which was packed with politicians, scientists, journalists and friends of the Foundation, exceeding the 600 people. The highlight of the event was the presentation of the first unit of the digital "Encyclopedia of the Hellenic World", which records the history and culture of Asia Minor Hellenism from antiquity to 1930.

Mr Lazaros Efraimoglou, President of FHW, opened the event, addressing the people who attended, while then Mr Petros Moliviatis, Honorary Vice President of FHW, took the stand and he supported and encouraged the Foundation's work from its beginning.

Mr George Voulgarakis, Minister of Culture, honored the event, and while referring to the presentation of the "Encyclopedia of the Hellenic World" he said among others: "We celebrate as well, because this multi-dimensional and long effort will truly be a work of reference for future historians". At another part of speech: "History gives meaning to the present and provides for the future, if we comprehend it as not a wondrous fossil, but according to Aristotle's universal way, in other words as a living and complete organism, in direct relation to our life today".

Then spoke Mr Dimitris Efrtaimoglou, the Foundation's Managing Director, who, after thanking those present, said: "We plan that Hellenic Cosmos will function as an innovative educational and cultural area. The modern technological applications in the service of knowledge and culture will travel visitors through time and space, while the structured environment will provide him a special aesthetical experience. Our main concern is to satisfy continuously our public's demands, a public that consists of people of all ages and categories".

The event continued with the analytical presentation of the "Encyclopedia of the Hellenic World" by Dr Kleopatra Ferla and concluded with the congratulations and the wishes of all those present for the further development and progress of the Foundation of the Hellenic World.