Prague, September 26: It’s time to announce that this year’s Europa Nostra European Heritage Awards Grand Prix for International Relations has been posthumously awarded to the founder of the Hellenic Society for the Environment and Culture, Costa Carras (1938-2022), who has passed away. in February. The award ceremony was the main event of the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2022 as part of the official program of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union. At the sound of the Karras name, over 600 heritage professionals, supporters and volunteers from all over Europe stand up and applaud with a unique and emotionally charged ovation. In a few minutes, his wife and fellow traveler, Lydia Karras, will go up to the stage of the hall and receive an award. A surprise was the presence at the event of the mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, who called Kostas Karras “a hero of cultural heritage and Athens”, mentioning, among other things, that the rescue of Plaka was “a gift” of the deceased to all Athenians today, but also to future generations.

“Kostas Karras has had a profound and lasting impact on the field of cultural heritage in Europe,” the award documentary says. “His dynamic leadership and activism has inspired generations of heritage professionals and volunteers.” Europa Nostra General Secretary Snieszka Kvaedvlig-Mihajlovic, for her part, noted that “Kostas Karras was more than a champion of heritage: he was a true heritage missionary for Greece and for all of Europe, of which I am one of the representatives. more diligent students. I had the privilege of learning from Costa Carras and advancing with him the mission and activities of Europa Nostra for a long period of 30 years. Without his tireless and generous volunteer work, Europa Nostra simply would not be as influential and respected as it is today.” Costas Karras was Vice President of Europa Nostra from 1976 to 2020.

On the occasion of the award, we asked prominent cultural figures and friends of Costa Carras to share some thoughts with us. “Kostas Karras was a cultural landmark, since the creation of a civil society as a decisive and decisive factor in the field of protection and promotion of the cultural heritage of Greece is connected with him,” emphasizes the Curator of Antiquities of the Cyclades, Dimitris Atanasoulis. And he continues: “By substantiating the constitutional right of citizens to the protection of monuments, he helped turn it from a state issue into a public demand, offering invaluable assistance to all of us, scientists and statesmen in our monumental heritage.” And the president of the A.G. Leventis Foundation, Tasos Leventis , emphasizes that “K. Karras was a valued advisor to the A.G. Leventis Foundation for Environment and Culture. His life has been marked by his unparalleled devotion to truth and the foundations of human existence on the planet, and he is highly respected for his support of these principles at all levels society.” And finally, Mr. Giorgos Agouridis, Member of the Board of Directors of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, notes: “For all of us left behind, the K. Karras award is a source of joy and tenderness. And the Greeks in particular are very proud.”

zeal: Margherita Purnara