On Wednesday, 23 May 2018, the Alexandrion Foundation held the Constantin Brâncoveanu Awards Gala. At the event, now in its second international edition, awards were presented both to figures of culture and to business personalities with outstanding results in the Romanian or German economic landscape. More than 150 guests enjoyed a memorable evening at the Künstlerhaus in Munich. Nawaf Salameh, CEO of Alexandrion Group and President of the Alexandrion Foundation, gave a speech in which he stressed the importance of the diaspora and thanked all those who, through their work, change the lives of those around them for the better every day.
After last year’s awards for exceptional Romanians in the United Kingdom, this year the Alexandrion Foundation turned to Romanians in Germany. The Romanian diaspora has had, and continues to have, a very important role and a substantial contribution in German economy, science, culture and society.
At Wednesday’s gala, six Constantin Brâncoveanu awards and two Diplomas of Honour of the Alexandrion Foundation were presented. The honourees were Prof. Dr. Harald Zimmermann, businessman Teodor Garabet, Dr. Albrecht Hornbach, His Grace Sofian Brașoveanul and Father Simion Felecan, Prof. Dr. Adrian Ursulescu, Mircea Carp, Pavel Chihaia and Florin Zaheu.
“In 2014, the Alexandrion Foundation began a unique undertaking. By organising the Constantin Brâncoveanu Awards Galas, we set out to find and reward those exceptional people who embody the spiritual values of Romania and of Europe, of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Today the time has come to turn our attention to the diaspora, an inexhaustible source of inspiration and determination. We want high-achieving Romanians in Germany to know that we value them”, said Nawaf Salameh, President of the Alexandrion Foundation.
Mr Salameh also expressed his admiration for the rigour and determination of the German business model, noting that Germany is a country where Alexandrion Group has, in recent years, had and continues to have dynamic activity, as a region in which it seeks consolidation and development.
The jury president was Academician Dan Berindei, and the vice-president Prof. Dr. Andrei Marga. The other members of the jury were: Prof. Dr. Grigore Constantinescu, Ștefan Râmniceanu – visual artist, laureate of the Romanian Academy Award and of the Constantin Brâncoveanu Awards, Dr. Dana Safta, Magda Mihăilescu – film critic, Prof. Dr. Ioan Scurtu, Liviu Ioan Stoiciu, writer, Prof. Dr. Arch. Marian Moiceanu, rector of UAIM, Ileana Lucaciu – theatre critic and Dumitru Constantin – jury secretary. In accordance with the Regulations of the Constantin Brâncoveanu Awards Gala, each laureate received a special distinction and a bronze work by the renowned sculptor Ion Bolborea.
The laureates of the Constantin Brâncoveanu Awards Gala in Munich, 2018, are:
His Grace Sofian Brașoveanul and Father Simion Felecan, honoured for founding the Association of Young Orthodox Christians in Germany, for the lecture series “100 Years of Romania”, and for building the Church of the Annunciation in Munich, respectively.
Prof. Dr. Harald Zimmermann, honoured for his entire career devoted to research and writing on German history and for his works on medieval Transylvania.
Prof. Dr. Adrian Ursulescu, honoured for his unique achievements in minimally invasive cardiac surgery and for the courses he gives in Romania, at the universities of Arad, Timișoara and Oradea.
Mircea Carp, honoured for an exemplary career in journalism, lived after the years spent in the trenches of the Second World War. And also for the steadfast line he held at the radio stations Voice of America and Radio Free Europe.
Business people were also honoured:
Teodor Garabet, for the civil and industrial constructions built in Europe, Asia and America, and also for outstanding contributions to cooperation between German and Romanian companies.
Albrecht Hornbach, for the exceptional development of the Hornbach group in Germany, in Romania and in Europe.
The Alexandrion Foundation also presented two diplomas of honour to:
Pavel Chihaia, researcher of the history of Romanian art, author of novels and plays, member of the anti-communist organisation “Mihai Eminescu” and permanent collaborator of Radio Free Europe.
Florin Zaheu, president of the German-Romanian cultural association “Gerrum”, organiser of cultural events at the German-Romanian Forum in Stuttgart.
The event, held in the Bavarian capital, was attended by the Romanian Ambassador to Berlin, H.E. Emil Hurezeanu, the Consul General of Romania in Munich, Ms Iulia Ramona Chiriac, and other foreign diplomats accredited in Munich, as well as special guests from the chancellery and the authorities of the Bavarian state.
The Munich event, moderated by Mihai Rusu, was the second edition of the Constantin Brâncoveanu Galas around the world. The first international edition took place in 2017, in London. In Romania, the Constantin Brâncoveanu Awards Gala reaches its fifth edition in 2018. At the end of the Brâncoveanu awards ceremony in Munich, former colleagues Emil Hurezeanu and Mihai Rusu recalled the personality of Mircea Carp. At this gala, as a tribute to the Centenary of the Great Union, Bogdan Simion brought a hat, a kobza and a ballad, all 100 years old.
We invite you to watch the full replay of the gala:
Constantin Brâncoveanu Awards Gala Munich
Watch the live broadcast from the Constantin Brâncoveanu Awards Gala in Munich. The event starts at 20:00.
Posted by Fundația Alexandrion on Wednesday, May 23, 2018
