The honorees of the AHEPA Munich awards for 2025. From left to right: Mr. Savas C. Tsivicos (past president of the AHEPA association), Dr. Florian Knauß (director of the Munich State Collections of Antiquities), Mrs. Andrea Betz (spokesperson for the Diakonie Munich and Upper Bavaria) and Florian Hahn, (State Secretary in the Federal Foreign Office). 
Photo: Mike McKee

Munich, October 26, 2025
 

On October 25, 2025, the AHEPA Munich-Chapter presented the 2025 Friedrich von Thiersch-Awards at a charity dinner in Neubiberg near Munich. The awards, named after the German scholar and philhellene Friedrich von Thiersch, have been presented annually since 2023 to individuals who have contributed to the promotion of philanthropy and Hellenism in the State of Bavaria through their actions and work. 

At the event, Mrs. Andrea Betz, spokesperson for the board of the charity association Diakonie München und Oberbayern, was honored for her social commitment, and Dr. Florian Knauß, director of the State Collections of Antiquities in Munich, was honored for his contribution to the promotion of Greek culture, while Minister of State Florian Hahn was awarded the award for philhellenism. A special prize for his overall contribution to the Greek diaspora was awarded to the former president of the AHEPA association, Mr. Savas Tsivicos. 

Andrea Betz is the first woman on the board of Diakonie Munich and Upper Bavaria. Diakonie even has a special connection to the Greek community, as it has been providing significant support to Greek immigrants through the "Greek Center" institution since 1965. After receiving the award from the renowned Professor Dr. Wassilios Fthenakis, Ms. Betz, who is also the first woman to be honored with the "Friedrich von Thiersch" Prize, said that this award was an incentive for her to continue to work with the same passion for social cohesion and the elimination of educational inequalities, and did not fail to mention the special relationship between Diakonie and the Greek community in Germany. She even announced that the funds donated to Diakonie from the proceeds of the charity dinner would be given to the counseling center, which also supports Greek citizens. 

Archaeologist Dr. Florian Knauß, director of the State Collections of Antiquities, was honored for his contribution to the promotion of Greek culture through his work. Under his leadership, the Glyptothek became a vibrant institution that took a special place in Munich's cultural scene. Upon receiving the award from theology Professor Dr. Konstantinos Nikolakopoulos, Dr. Knauß expressed his love for Greece and noted that anyone who works at Munich's Königsplatz is, by definition, a philhellene. 

The Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office and Member of the German Bundestag, Mr. Florian Hahn, was awarded the Philhellenism-Award by AHEPA Munich. The award was presented to Minister Hahn by the former director of the King Otto of Greece Museum in Ottobrunn, Prof. Dr. Jan Murken. In his speech, the Minister of State said that he saw the award as a call to work to strengthen Greek-German relations, which is a topic close to his heart, and he would therefore like to contribute to it. Upon referring to his earlier trip to Crete, the Bavarian politician discussed in detail the atrocities committed by the Nazis in Greece during World War II and concluded that historical memory must serve as a bridge and starting point for cooperation between the two countries. 

Savvas Tsivicos, former president of the Greek-American AHEPA association, was honored for his lifetime achievement in the service of Hellenism. He emphasized the need for members of the Greek community to participate in public life in Germany, following the example of Greeks in the United States. 

Among others, the 3rd Mayor of Neubiberg, Mr. Reiner Höcherl, and the Greek MP and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Greeks Abroad, Mr. Filippos Fortomas, addressed the audience. Mr. Fortomas even announced an initiative to convene a special session of the Greek Parliament on Greek-Bavarian relations. 

The conference entitled "Greek-Bavarian Friendship: Tradition and perspectives/ Griechisch-bayerische Freundschaft: Tradition und Perspektiven" took place on 25.10.2025. The event was organised by AHEPA Munich - "Friedrich von Thiersch" in cooperation with the King-Otto of Greece-Museum at the Wolf-Ferrari-Haus in Ottobrunn.

Speakers included the former Minister and current Commissioner for Anti-Semitism of the Bavarian Government, Dr Ludwig Spaenle, the founder and former Director of the Museum for King Otto of Greece, Prof. Dr Jan Murken, the new Director of the Museum, Ms Tabea Förth, the Professor of Modern Greek Studies at the University of Munich, Prof. Dr Lilia Diamantopoulou, and the Member of the German Bundestag, Mr Florian Hahn.

Dr. Spaenle gave an eloquent speech on the philhellenic movement in Bavaria during the years of the Greek Revolution, a topic which was the subject of his doctoral thesis. Prof. Dr. Murken referred to monuments and objects in Greece and Germany that are elements of the historical memory of Otto's reign, while Mrs. Förth presented exhibits from the Museum's rich collection. Professor Diamantopoulou spoke about the foundation and history of the German-Greek Society in Munich, while the event was concluded by a speech by MEP Hahn, who spoke of the need for cooperation between the states of Europe in order to preserve in the EU freedom and democracy, which are currently threatened by Russian expansionism. 

The speakers were introduced by the lawyer and secretary of AHEPA Munich, Mr. Christos Perperidis, while greetings to the participants were given by the historian and president of AHEPA Munich, Mr. Christos Kafasis, the Consul General of Greece in Munich, Mr. Konstantinos Kodellas, the Mayor of Ottobrunn, Mr. Thomas Loderer and AHEPA's Supreme President, Mr. Savas Tsivicos. Finally, the event was greeted by a written message from the Member of Hellenic Parliament and Chairman of the Standing Committee for Hellenism in the Diaspora, Mr. Filippos Fortomas.

At the end of the event and as part of the customary offer of gifts to the participants, the President of AHEPA Munich presented the King-Otto-Museum with a rare edition of the works of Friedrich Thiersch, whose name bears the local chapter of AHEPA. Finally, on behalf of the chapter's Board, its Vice-President, Mr Manolis Kugiumutzis, presented Mr Hahn, who is also President of the Foundation ''Lebenshilfe München'', with a cheque for a donation of 1000 euros to this charity.

AHEPA Supreme President Savas Tsivicos visited Munich on October 27th accombanied by AHEPA Canada's President, Emmanuel Constas, and the Governor of AHEPA Europe, Dimosthenis Mammonas. AHEPA Munich organized an official dinner in honor of it's special guests. During this event Supreme President Tsivicos awarded the AHEPA medal for special services to Hellenism to Professor Dr. Wassilios Fthenakis and to the treasurer of AHEPA Munich, Emmanuel Kugiumutzis.

The District 28-Mid-Term-Conference 

                                      
The District 28-Mid-Term-Conference was hosted in Munich by the AHEPA chapter A 618 between 27. and 29. January 2023. The conference was attended by delegates from Western European countries with large Greek communities such as Germany, United Kingdom, Belgium and Austria, representatives of AHEPA Greece, as well as the Supreme Secretary of the AHEPA, Br. Savas Tsivicos. The delegates presented the activities of their chapters and discussed about joint actions to enhance the promotion of Hellenism and philanthropy in the countries where they live and work. During their stay in Munich, the participants had the opportunity to visit the city-center and learn about the close historical ties between Munich and Greece. The next district-conference will take place between 23. and 25. June in London.