With emotion and in a very friendly Greek-Bavarian atmosphere, the tribute and memory ceremony of Constantine Carathéodory, the world-famous Greek mathematician, took place, on July 8, 2019 in Munich.
He was born in Berlin in 1873 and lived all his life as a cosmopolitan in various cities in Europe, such as Brussels, Athens, Smyrna, Hannover, Gottigen etc.
Carathéodory settled in Munich in 1924, taught mathematics at the University of Munich, died on February 2, 1950 and was buried at the Forest Cemetery in Munich.
His scientific work has been universally recognized and appreciated by the world’s largest and most prestigious universities and by prominent personalities of the mathematical sciences, like Albert Einstein and others.
He also taught at the Universities of Berlin, Breslau, Hannover, Gottigen and Harvard, and he is the founder of the Ionian University of Smyrna “Light from the East” (1922).
When his wife Efrosini died in 1947, Carathéodory placed on her tomb in Munich a large Ionian column, as an example of his Greek education and as a memory of his lost dream, the Hellenic University of Smyrna, which he wanted to become a scientific and cultural bridge between East and West.
This column, on receiving authorisation, was transferred to the courtyard area of the church of All Saints in Munich.
A Memorial service was held afterwards by Bishop Eumenios of Lefki, representative of Metropolitan Augustine of Germany, the Archieratic Commissioner of Bavaria and head of the church Salvatorkirche, Archimandrite Peter Klitsch, the Head of the church of all Saints in Munich, Archimandrite George Siomos, the Archieratic Chargé d’affaires for public relations with the Bavarian State, Protopresbyter Apostle Malamousis and deacons Gregory and James from the Metropolis of Maroneia and Komotini.
Metropolitan Panteleimon of Maroneia and Komotini was also present and prayed with them.
