“Understanding the Balkans Through Literature”
International Literary Forum at Helikon
From September 25 to 28, 2025, in the heart of Helikon – the mountain of the Muses – a significant event will take place: The 1st International Conference of People of Letters, bringing together writers, literary critics, and literature lovers from various parts of the Balkans.
The forum will be held at the Cultural Center, located near the Monastery of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary (Evangelistria), Aliartos & Livadeia.
During the forum, the newest anthology “Balkans” will be presented, and the participants will engage in discussions and a variety of cultural events.
Topics and Participants
The program includes in-depth papers and discussions on intra-Balkan and intercultural literary processes, poetry, prose, and music.
The range of topics is broad and profound, covering:
• Conceptual papers on the place and significance of literature today and in the past.
• The work of writers from Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, Croatia, and others.
• Connections with other cultures and literatures (Armenia, Latin America, etc.).
• The work of bilingual authors and translators.
• The connections of Balkan literature with other arts in a dynamic and diachronic context.
Spotlight: Bulgarian Participation
Within the forum, topics related to Bulgarian literature and culture will also be discussed:
• Teodora Dimova will present a paper on the topic “The Trauma of the Totalitarian Past.”
• Guentcho Banev will present the contribution of Dimitar Shishmanov and Stefan Gechev to the Bulgarian-Greek literary dialogue in the interwar and post-war periods.
Congratulations to the organizers! Special thanks to Evi Voulgaraki, Μνήμη και Πρωτοπορία, and Εκδόσεις Μαΐστρος!
Wishing success to all participants!
The forum is open to all literature lovers, and admission is free.
