Students, university professors, writers, actors, musicians, and journalists will participate in the 10th International Student Literature Conference titled “Dido Sotiriou: The Asia Minor Greek”, exploring the life and work of the great Greek author.
The Conference is organized by the Zografeion Lyceum of Constantinople and Mandoulides Schools of Thessaloniki, part of the Dukes Education group, under the auspices of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It will take place in Istanbul, at the Zografeion Lyceum, from 11 to 15 March 2026.
The 10th International Student Literature Conference will feature discussions by distinguished scholars, writers, poets, journalists, artists, and students from 34 schools (public and private) from Greece, Istanbul, Nicosia, Larnaca, Imbros, Johannesburg, Lubumbashi, and New York, on topics such as:
• “Is there anything more fantastic than reality? Dido Sotiriou between journalism and literature”
• Portraits: Voices and characters in the work of Dido Sotiriou
• The woman of her life
• “When society falls out of tune, we have a duty to wake up at dawn”
• “A survival guide for the 21st century by Dido Sotiriou”
The Conference will be opened by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
Alongside the discussions, concerts, theatrical events, conversations, and excursions will take place, including visits to the Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmara, Büyükada (Prinkipo), and Halki. Indicative events include:
• “I Come from Smyrna” – Yiannis Kotsiras Concert – Grand Pera, 11/03 Yiannis Kotsiras will perform songs from Asia Minor as well as selections from his own repertoire.
• “Manolis Axiotis at the Zografeion Lyceum” – Zografeion Lyceum, 12/03 A performance combining spoken word, music, and visual elements with actor Renos Haralambidis.
Narration: Renos Haralambidis
Directing: Thodoris Gonis
Set Design: Andreas Georgiadis
Music Direction & Vocals: Dimitra Tsagkaraki, Petros Christakis
• “My Own Dido” – Galata School, 13/03
Moderator: Manolis Kostidis, Journalist
Participants:
Christos Asteriou, Author
Lena Divani, Author
Dr. Christina Zenginoglou, Ottoman Studies Scholar, Postdoctoral Researcher, Democritus University of Thrace, Lecturer at Yeditepe University
Thomas Korovinis, Author, Philologist
Alexis Panselinos, Author
Dr. Symeon Soltaridis, Educator, Journalist, Author
Erasmia – Louiza Stavropoulou, Emerita Professor of Modern Greek Literature, Department of Philology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Pavlos Tsimas, Journalist, Author
• “In the Traps of Our History” – Zografeion Lyceum, 12/03
Moderator: Apostolos Lakasas, Journalist
Participants:
Afroditi Athanasopoulou, Associate Professor of Modern Greek Literature, Department of Philology, University of Cyprus
Vasilis Vasileiadis, Assistant Professor of Modern Greek Literature, Department of Philology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Angela Kastrinaki, Professor of Modern Greek Literature, Department of Philology, University of Crete, Author
Fotini Tsalikoglou, Emerita Professor of Psychology, Panteion University, Author
The discussions will feature, among others, distinguished representatives of literature and the arts: Afroditi Athanasopoulou, Associate Professor of Modern Greek Literature, Department of Philology, University of Cyprus, Christos Asteriou, Author, Vasilis Vasileiadis, Assistant Professor of Modern Greek Literature, Department of Philology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Myrsini Gkana, Poet, Translator, Thodoris Gonis, Poet, Lyricist, Actor, Director, Nikos Davvetas, Author, Lena Divani, Author, Dr. Christina Zenginoglou, Ottomanist, Postdoctoral Researcher, Democritus University of Thrace, Lecturer at Yeditepe University, Kostas Karavidas, Member of the Special Teaching Staff (EDIP), Department of Philology, University of Ioannina, Thaleia Karamolegkou, Journalist, Radio Producer, Angela Kastrinaki, Professor of Modern Greek Literature, Department of Philology, University of Crete, Author, Thomas Korovinis, Author, Philologist, Evi Koutroubaki, Author, Philologist, Manolis Kostidis, Journalist, Apostolos Lakasas, Journalist, Eftychia- Alexandra Loukidou, Poet, Essayist, Nikos Mathioudakis, PhD in Stylistics, Member of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) Academic Staff (SEP), Grigoris Bekos, Journalist, Kostas Mpliatkas, Journalist, Author, Maria Nikolopoulou, Member of the Special Teaching Staff (EDIP), Department of Philology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Alexis Panselinos, Author, Yiannis Paschos, Author, Dr. Symeon Soltaridis, Educator, Journalist, Author, Michalis Spengos, Author, Erasmia – Louiza Stavropoulou, Professor Emerita of Modern Greek Literature, Department of Philology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Fotini Tsalikoglou, Professor Emerita of Psychology, Panteion University, Author, Pavlos Tsimas, Journalist, Author, Aspasia Chasioti, PhD in Philology.
Previous conferences on A. Papadiamantis (2012), C. P. Cavafy (2013), G. Seferis (2014), G. Vizyinos (2015), O. Elytis (2016), G. Theotokas (2018), A. Samarakis (2019), Yiannis Ritsos (2024), and Kiki Dimoula (2025) were held with the participation of 300 students and teachers from schools in Greece, Cyprus, Africa, Turkey, the United States, as well as distinguished representatives of letters and the arts.
Participating Schools
1st General Lyceum of Glyfada, 1st General Lyceum of Ilioupoli, 1st General Lyceum of Kifisia, 1st General Lyceum of Pallini “Pierre de Coubertin”, 2nd General Lyceum of Grevena, 2nd General Lyceum of Heraklion Crete, 2nd General Lyceum of Larisa – Hippocrates, 4th General Lyceum of Alimos, 6th General Lyceum of Glyfada, Pierce – The American College of Greece – Gymnasium, Vatheos Avlidas Lyceum, Sifnos Gymnasium with Lyceum Classes “Nikolaos G. Promponas”, Avgouleas–Linardatos Schools, Vassiliadis Schools, Georgios Zois Schools, Doukas Schools, Mandoulides Schools, Kaisaris Schools, “Nea Paideia” Schools, “Sygchroni Paideia” Schools, Greek Gymnasium–Lyceum of Imbros, Greek Lyceum of Lubumbashi, Congo, St. Demetrios Greek-American School, Astoria, New York, Jeanne d’Arc French-Greek School of Piraeus, Zappeion Lyceum, Zografeion Lyceum, Athens College, Psychico College, St. George Lyceum of Larnaca, Acropolis Lyceum, Pancyprian Gymnasium, Varvakeio Model Lyceum, AXION Schools of Xanthi, Saheti School, Johannesburg, South Africa.
More information about the International Student Literature Conference: www.islic.org
The Conference will be streamed online via: www.livemedia.gr
Program
