The internationally-known author, Petros Markaris, who have already received the Goethe medal, will be honored. The author and translator will receive the Grand Cross of Order of Merit of the German Federal Republic at a special ceremony to be held at the German Embassy on Friday, May 9.

The medal will be awarded to Petros Markaris by the German ambassador in Athens, Dr . Peter Schoof.

Petros Markaris was born in Istanbul in 1937 and he first appeared in Greek literature in 1965 with the play “The Story of Ali Retzo”. He wrote many theatrical plays, film scripts and screenplays and he translated literary works and plays (he has translated and commented on both parts of Goethe’s Faust). His previous novels The Late-NightNews, Zone Defence, Deadline in Athens and Che Committed Suicide are translated and published in Germany, Italy, France, Spain, England, Turkey, the United States.

Last year, Petros Markaris was awarded the Goethe Medal for his contribution in transmiting German literature and international cultural exchanges. Accepting the award, the writer referred to his love and devotion in the German language and literature for 65 years and thanked his father, who persuaded him to learn German.