The Hellenic Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies in Venice pays tribute, with profound respect, to Helen Glykatzi-Ahrweiler, an eminent Byzantinist and one of the most authoritative figures in contemporary historical thought. Her passing is felt with particular poignancy within the community of Byzantine studies, of which she was for decades a luminous point of reference.

Her scholarly work brought to light the administrative and political organisation of the Byzantine Empire, the relations between East and West, and the role of Constantinople as a centre of power and civilisation. With intellectual sobriety and interpretative boldness, she contributed decisively to restoring Byzantium to its rightful place within the European historical horizon, transcending outdated paradigms and underscoring its dynamic function as a constitutive element of European identity.

Her intellectual engagement with Venice was essential and enduring. Venice, as a place of encounter between the Byzantine legacy and the Western tradition, offers a privileged vantage point for understanding the transformations of the Greek world following the Fall of 1453. In this perspective, her work enters into direct dialogue with the mission of the Institute: the study of the continuity and evolution of Byzantine and post-Byzantine Hellenism, and the investigation of the historical bonds linking the Greek tradition to the Serenissima and to the wider European sphere.

As a member of the academic staff of the Sorbonne and the first woman to serve as Rector of the University of Paris, she enhanced the international prestige of Byzantine studies and strengthened their presence within the European scholarly discourse. Through her sustained public engagement, she consistently upheld the necessity of historical self-awareness, education, and intellectual responsibility –principles that remain fundamental to the activity of our Institute.

Helen Glykatzi-Ahrweiler was not only a distinguished scholar; she was also a bridge between Greece and Europe, between historical memory and the contemporary search for identity. Her work, her students, and her international influence continue to inspire research and to sustain the dialogue on Byzantium and its place within European civilisation.

The Hellenic Institute in Venice acknowledges the enduring value of her work and honours her memory. Her contribution will remain alive in the field of Byzantine studies and will continue to inform the Institute’s mission, as it continues to serve scholarship and the preservation of the historical heritage of Hellenism in Venice and beyond.