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Retired Greek Teacher in Birmingham Awarded British Empire Medal

Christoforos CartoudisOver 500 people gathered outside Birmingham’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. Andreas in order to attend a special ceremony held in honor of retired Greek teacher Christoforos Cartoudis.

Among the ceremony attendees were Birmingham’s Deputy Lord Mayor Coun John Lines, Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands Paul Sabapathy and His Excellency The High Commissioner of Cyprus Euripides Evriviades.

The 90-year-old teacher received the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Honours List for dedicating six decades of his life teaching Greek. Over the course of his career, Cartoudis has taught over 5,000 pupils at the city center’s Apostolos Andreas Greek School. He finally retired this summer but he stills volunteers at the school.

“It was getting a bit tiring for me so I had to retire,” he said. “But I still help out regularly and my heart will always be there, it will always be part of my life.”

He was overwhelmed when he found out he had been chosen to receive such a prestigious award. “It was the best feeling in the world,” he said. “What an honour. I have been teaching Greek for over 60 years now and I am passionate about keeping the language alive. I have taught thousands of pupils and they have all given me so much joy.”

Chairman of the Apostolos Andreas Greek School John Stylianou said he was “thrilled” that Cartoudis’ work had been recognized. “He is an extraordinary man who has devoted tireless efforts for the education and nurture of the children of his community,” added Stylianou, who himself was taught by Cartoudis. He is a man with so much passion and drive for the success of every pupil. His devotion is immense. Even after open heart surgery a few years ago, he was back at school six weeks later. It would have been sooner but we insisted he stayed away until he was fully recovered.”

The 90-year-old pensioner was invited to Buckingham Palace next summer, for a garden party to mark the occasion.

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