Today, having crossed the threshold of the 21st century, living as members of the global society in the spirit of the United Europe, the Europe of Citizens, experiencing what constitutes Democracy, we are able to appreciate our own fate in contrast to the unfavorable position of the inhabitants of some countries who do not have the right to the obvious, to daily sustenance, to the pursuit of justice in individual freedom, to equality before the Law. Knowledge of reality on a global level makes us feel infinite appreciation, admiration, and gratitude for those centuries ago who laid the foundations on which the modern European perception of democracy was based.

Taking over the presidency of the Soroptimist Union of Greece immediately after the Olympic Games, I observed the Soroptimist emblem representing a Woman, the Soroptimist, with her hands open, a sign that her heart and mind are open, she has rays of light around her head, indicating her International radiation, in one hand she holds an Olive branch, the symbol of Peace, and in the other hand an Oak branch symbolizing her constructive action.

The symbolism of this image brought to mind the symbolism of the Olympic idea, the idea of unity, the breadth of thought that proper education generates and results in respect for the human being and his rights, peace and democracy.

Thus, I conceived the idea of writing this book on the contribution of the Greek Spirit to the spread of the European Idea.

I want to thank Mrs. Sotiria Triantari-Mara, Lecturer at the Pedagogical School of the University of Western Macedonia, who voluntarily undertook the writing of the book, and the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace, Mr. Nikos Tsiartsionis, who assisted in the implementation of the publication of this book with the financial support of the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace.

(from the preface by Nelly Zeka-Tselemegkou, President of the Soroptimist Union of Greece)