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Panos Kaltsis the president of the Ecumenical Delphic Union and the collaboration with the Modern Pythian Games:The history behind the Delphic Revival Ideal

20 February 2025 8:48 PM
Lena Kyropoulos

What means Delphi to you Mr. Panos Kaltsis?

Humanismus – Pacifismus – Civilismuss

https://www.delphiecumenicalcommittee.org/en/edu-family

Seed of Rebirth for Humanity to emerge from the fog and return to the higher Light is our vision. The Oracle does not say, does not hide, it means.

The harmonious coexistence of Apollo and Dionysus 3 to 1 affirms Human harmony, Divine and Earthlings. The Navel of the Earth marks the center of Sacred Geography. The Delphic Amphictyonia offers Peace and Friendship to people. The Delphic Maxims, Know Thyself, Everything in Moderation show Man the way to Happiness. The Charioteer controls the 4 horses’ chariot symbolizes the Bright Man controls the 4 elements of nature and he shines as the 5th.

Apollo Spendon 2,500 years ago prays for the protection of the environment that we furiously destroy.

The Colossal Sun rose, illuminated, and scattered and the universe flourished and rejoiced, but it was “deprived” of its Measure, and life on our privileged planet is in danger, the Pythians of the New Age are recharging this Sun with the Power of the Word and the majesty of Art,

This primordial creation is activated by Amphictyonic practice by the Universal Delphic Union in the Holy of Holies to compose the core of the Spiritual sun which will become the shining aura of Humanity. Convergence in the Navel of the Earth the visioners of the 5 Continents and as new Prometheus to donate to Humanity with the Festivals of the Games the Education of the Culture of Peace and the Environment.

The path is rough, but reading it makes the Soul Eternally Adolescent. Become fellow travelers in the Dream.

As consider the Pythia History,  Deputy Mayor of Delphi and President of Ecumenical Delphic Union, Mr. Panos Kaltsis writes:
Pythian Games , Pythia were Panhellenic athletic-artistic competitions which were held in Delphi in honor of the god Apollo. The first effort of the Revival Delphic Ideal took place in 1924, when Angelos Sikelianos and Eva Palmer set up the Organization of Delphic Festivals ODE and in 1927 they revived the Global Good of the PYTHIA, Grand Events of the time.
382/3/11/1934 and the famous architect Pikionis presents the drafts of the European Delphic center. 4) 1952 Caresse Crosby, after Women’s Against War USA, Black Sun Press Paris, founds ΄΄ Citizens of the World΄΄ in Delphi organizes a Picasso exhibition and buys land for the World Cultural Center where Pikionis creates the ΄΄ Convocation of 5 Continents- Epiron ΄΄ there in 1957 he initiates K. Karamanlis in the Delphic Idea and in 1958 101 acres are expropriated for 0.80 cents of the drachma for Public benefit, which the people of Delphi expect, with Gazette 645/1977 EPKE.D was born and 77 acres were contributed, the rest?
The… admirer’s of the Pythians Games:
Christian Kirsch in order to usurp the PYTHIA created the International Delphic Council in Berlin, with sponsorship from Nigeria he held the first ΄΄Delphic ΄΄ games in Moldova! Where, unfortunately, state-fed cultural representatives of our Country attended!!! The suitor tried also to threat Mr. Bijender Goel and all his efforts to revive the Pythian Gays in the modern era of culture a d traditional sports.
In Moscow, Vladimir Ponyavin with the International Delphic Committee are holding Delphic Games and here representatives from the state attended. All these years the Ecumenical Delphic Union has an excellent collaboration with the International Delphic Committe and suggested also The Isadora Duncan Institute and The Hellenistic Department Studies of  Harvard EDU to collaborate.
4 years ago Kirsch held Delphic Games in India, the late Spyros Merkouris also participated, I told him that the grandson of the Mayor of Athens is wrong and brother of the Minister of Culture to participate, he recognized the mistake when he returned. .
In India Kirsch met Mr. Bijender Goel who perceived inconsistency, separated his position and started an autonomous Culture Association,  the Modern Pythian Games .The Advisor to the Prime Minister of Greece Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Mr. Giorgos Kremlis invited Mr. Bijender Goel to be a speaker at the Economical Delphi Forum in 2022 to present to the Greek audience his plans about the revival of the Delphic Ideal world wide.
The journalist Mrs Emmy Livaniou, during the Presentation of the Modern Pythian Games in Delphi in the EDF

We misspoke in our humble opinion and we have to correct it, he agreed, we invited them to a dinner underlining our joy that our great friend India is participating in the Delphic Movement, they showed understanding, the day after the meeting in Delphi he invited us to a dinner at the Ambassador’s residence of India Mr. Armit Lugun.

I explained to Mr. Ambassador that the Pythias belong to Greece and it is our pleasure that our friend India is a member of the World Movement, he completely agreed and Mr. Goel without asterisks, in fact I invited him and we spent Easter together in Delphi and he also recommended us the Ambassador of India to UNESCO and excellent friend of Greece Vishal V. Sharma
Ecumenical Delphic Union has established all these 30 years international collaborations with eminent culture and academic assosiations such us Burkley University, the Isadora Duncan Dance Institute and the hellenistic Studies Department of Harvard EDU

 In December 2023 we were invited to the 1st PYTHIAN GAMES FESTIVAL Delhi with the General Secretary of Ecumenical Delphic Union, Ms Helena Kyropoulos and we accepted with the terms their movement is under the auspices of Delphi, the Festival will begin with the Orphic Hymn to Apollona to continue with Vangelis and close with Zorbas of  Mikiw Theodorakis, they accepted it and the whole Stadium applauded.
The Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture of India, Mrs Meenakshi Lekhi, together with the Mayor of New Delhi, Shelly Oberoi.

The Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture of India, Mrs Meenakshi Lekhi, together with the Mayor of New Delhi, Shelly Oberoi,welcomes us together with the Founder of the Modern Pythian Games , Mr. Bijender Goel to the Revival of the Delphic Ideal, after 1630 years in New Delhi, India, as the honored guests.

The President of the Ecumenical Delphic Union Mr. Panos Kaltsis and the President of the International Modern Pythian Games Counsil
Who is Mr. Bijender Goel and the history behind the 1st National Cultural Pythian Games 2024 which concluded on a high note, marking a significant milestone in the global cultural movement

He is the Founder of the Modern Pythian Games, India

How do you see the arts, culture, and technology as a means for social change in society and another motive towards growth and equality?
I am in the process of bringing about revolutionary change in society through the arts and preserving our cultures, and by introducing new technologies to help our environment, security and safety, and educational system. We are in the process of reviving the ancient Pythian Games as ” Modern Pythian Games” soon with the support of the representatives of  more than 80 nations in 2022 , Finally the participation in 2024 were (91 hybrid and 12 in physical appearance) Nations worldwide.

What means to be the Founder of the Modern Pythian Games?

The Ancient Pythian Games were held in parallel to the Olympics for art and culture in ancient Greece. Since October 2021, we have been leading the global “Pythian Movement for Arts and Culture,” which has obtained access to around 80 nations in a short period of time. I founded and led the “Delphic Movement for Arts and Culture” in 2021, establishing National Councils throughout South Asia and establishing 26 state units throughout India with the objective of bringing arts and cultural activities from the unorganized sector to the organized sector under the umbrella of “Modern Pythian Games.”

What where your first feelings as you have visited Delphi for your first time?

I was speechless. I directly felt connected and that God Apollo sent me to the place of light and internal Knowledge in aim to fostering the values of the Delphic Ideal to the world. I went to the dom of Pronea Athina, but also to the Archeological Delphi Museum. I will vever forget the eyes of Iniochos statue. I have, we have a mission to accomplish.

What kind of mission Mr. Goel?

The ‘Pythian Movement’ has gained widespread support from all strata of society, including artisans, bureaucrats, Bollywood superstars, and the general public. It was solely through my and our efforts that the sentiments of artisans were transformed into a public movement. The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India also emphasized on such movement for artisans in his recent speech in “MANN KI BAAT.” 2 I have already introduced a technology for onsite early warning of earthquakes in South Asia, keeping in view of the indications of severe earthquakes of magnitude 8 or more in the Himalayan Region and the potential loss of human lives, infrastructure, and economic growth. The solution has already been adopted by National Disaster Response Force and the Haryana government in India.

How did you start your career and your involvment with the sports society?

I started my career as an international sportsman. I am a Grand Master with a 7th Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo. I am an Asian Gold Medalist in the martial art of Taekwondo in 1983 and a forefather of Taekwondo in the state of Haryana. I hail from the modest Aggarwal family of Ganaur, District Sonepat, Haryana, and started my public career as President of the Student’s Union of the Government Institute of Engineers, Sonepat, in 1984. I have been involved with the Haryana Olympic Association as Treasurer to promote sports in Haryana from 1994-2000. I have been a national player for Tenni-Koit and played cricket at university level. IMPORATANT ASSIGNMENTS 1. Initiator and Founder, Modern Pythian Games. 2. Founder, International Pythian Council. 3. Managing Trustee, Delphic India Trust and Pythian Council of India and Indian Delphic Council. 4. Appointed as Special Representative (Minister of State rank), Government of Jharkhand in New Delhi during the period of the UPA Government in 2007-2008. handled different jobs by coordinating with the central and different state governments, including the job assigned in the Presidential Elections in 2007. 5. Appointed as adviser to Shri K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), Hon’ble Union Labour and Employment Minister, Government of India, New Delhi, during the UPA Government in 2006-2007. 6. Attached to Smt. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil during her election campaign for President of India. 7. Chairman, ASSOCHAM’s National Council on Disaster Management (since 2019) 8. Bhartiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal, an organization that fights for the trading and business community in India, was elected National General Secretary. 9. Chef-de-Mission, Haryana Contingent, Bangalore National Games. Business Profile Work experience of 34 years in the field of Security Manpower, Hotel & travel Industry, Education and New Technologies. 1. Managing Director, Terra Techcom Private Limited – working on early warning of earthquakes. 2. Managing Director, Soldat Securitias Private Limited – dealing in Manpower Security Services. 3. Member, Governing Board, Bir Tikenderjit Univeristy, Manipur.

Ecumenical Delphic Union, even before covid period has collaboration with Pr. Bisswas from Bagladesh and the Canadian University for Film and Industry in aim to promote the Delphic Ideal.

 

The tragedy of our era confirms more than ever that humanity needs a new Renaissance with seed the humanitarian values of Delphi. Delphi is the Navel of the world.

According to Wikipedia:

Delphi inspired literature as well. In 1814 W. Haygarth, friend of Lord Byron, refers to Delphi in his work “Greece, a Poem”. In 1888 Charles Marie René Leconte de Lisle published his lyric drama L’Apollonide, accompanied by music by Franz Servais. More recent French authors used Delphi as a source of inspiration such as Yves Bonnefoy (Delphes du second jour) or Jean Sullivan (nickname of Joseph Lemarchand) in L’Obsession de Delphes (1967), but also Rob MacGregor‘s Indiana Jones and the Peril at Delphi (1991).

The presence of Delphi in Greek literature is very intense. Poets such as Kostis Palamas (The Delphic Hymn, 1894), Kostas Karyotakis (Delphic festival, 1927), Nikephoros Vrettakos (return from Delphi, 1957), Yannis Ritsos (Delphi, 1961–62) and Kiki Dimoula (Gas omphalos and Appropriate terrain 1988), to mention only the most renowned ones. Angelos Sikelianos wrote The Dedication (of the Delphic speech) (1927), the Delphic Hymn (1927) and the tragedy Sibylla (1940), whereas in the context of the Delphic idea and the Delphic festivals he published an essay entitled “The Delphic union” (1930). The nobelist George Seferis wrote an essay under the title “Delphi”, in the book “Dokimes”

In 2024 me as the President of the Ecumenical Delphic Union and  the General Secretary , Ms Helena Kyropoulos we went again to India invited by Mr.  Bijender Goel to participate to the first Culture Modern Pythian Games which took place in the green city of beautiful Chandigarh. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 5,000 participants and representatives from 12 countries, highlighting the unifying power of arts, culture, and international traditional games.

What will be the  Major Initiatives for 2025?
Building on the success of the National Games, the Modern Pythian Games movement is now gearing up for an exciting year ahead with the following major events planned:
 1. An International Conference of Ambassadors – A platform to promote cultural diplomacy and international collaboration.
 2. The 1st Global Para Pythian Games – Celebrating the talents and abilities of para-artists and athletes worldwide.
 3. The 2nd Pythian Games Festival 2025 – To be hosted in South India, continuing the tradition of promoting arts and culture.
 4. A Global E-Sports Event – Bringing together gaming enthusiasts from across the globe to celebrate digital culture and sportsmanship.
“We are exploring the launch of a National Level Award Program to recognize and honor excellence across various categories in arts, culture, and traditional games” said Mr Goel.
A Call for Continued Support
The organizing committee extends its gratitude to all partners, participants, and supporters who contributed to this movement. The success of the Pythian Games is a testament to the shared vision of unity through culture and tradition.

 

This landmark achievement was made possible by the unwavering support and collaboration of key stakeholders, for which the organizing team expresses its heartfelt gratitude.

Reflecting on the event’s success, Bijender Goel , the Founder of the Modern Pythian Games said, “The Modern Pythian Games, with its slogan ‘We Are One,’ has successfully showcased the immense talent and cultural diversity that exists across the globe. We sincerely thank everyone who contributed to this remarkable event and look forward to even greater collaborations in the future.
The President of the International Pythian Council, Mr. Panagiotis Kaltsis and President of the Ecumenical Union deliver a message to youth about unity, green justice, and social duty about the enviroment and the civil duty.