times started their mission to teach Christianity and the alphabet to the Slav tribes of the Balkans from Thessaloniki. Cyril and Methodius, the missionary brothers, invented and used the Cyrillic Alphabet and brought literacy and Christianity to the Slavs.
Some other notable personalities who raised the name of the city through their scholarly works include historian John Cameniates, Archbishop Eustathius of Thessaloniki and theologian Gregory Palamas. Also, note that the flourishing of the city those times was such that the Byzantine churches of Thessaloniki have today been declared by Unesco as World Heritage Monuments. Even when Thessaloniki fell to the hands of the Turks in 1430, the residents struggled to preserve their language and culture and succeeded to a great extent.
Today Thessaloniki is a modern city that has a lot to offer from terms of culture. Apart from its historical monuments and numerous museums, Thessaloniki organizes regular fairs and competitions. The International Trade Fair that organizes every September/ October is the largest trade fair of the Balkans. Moroever, the city also hosts an annual International Film Festival where renowned and new film-makers take part and present their work. Furthermore, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is one of the most remarkable institutions of Greece and gives esteem to the city.
Taking into account these historical and cultural features, Thessaloniki was chosen as the Cultural Capital of Europe in 1997. Many celebrations and exhibitions were organized to broaden the history of the town all over Europe. From street performances and photo exhibitions to competitions among European artists, theatre performances and lectures, Thessaloniki had the chance for a whole year to prove her role as a powerful and important town. |
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