ATHENS – In a charming video, part of the Staying at Home effort, Menoume Spiti, diplomats from around the world, including Austria, France, Sweden, Mexico, China, Slovenia, Israel, the Netherlands, and the UK, recite from some of the most well-known authors of Greek literature. Some of the diplomats chose to recite in their own language while others chose English or Greek.

An initiative of the ministry’s General Secretariat for Public Diplomacy, Religious and Consular Affairs, the first of a two-part video titled ‘We #stayhome and travel through literature’, shows some of the ambassadors reciting Greek text, while others recite in their native language and a few recite in English. All excerpts are the ambassadors’ personal selections.

“Through the universality and timelessness of Greek literature, from Homer to the present day, they are sending their own message of international solidarity against the pandemic,” the General Secretariat said in a statement.

The texts included works by Homer, Constantine Cavafy, Odysseas Elytis, and Titos Patrikios and is apparently the first of a series.

The video is available on Facebook and YouTube.