TEHRAN -- The immortal masterpiece of world literature Masnavi by the Persian mystic and poet Molana Jalal ad-Din Rumi (1207-1273) has been translated into Greek.

The valuable volume was rendered into Greek by Lina Mystakidou and was published by Sidres Publications. The translation was sponsored by Iran’s cultural office in Greece.
“Rumi’s Masnavi is a great masterpiece and can help guide and return any hopeless man back to life, assisting him even to achieve higher levels of personal development,” scholar Mystakidou told the Persian Service of IRNA in Athens.
“I became familiar with Rumi’s works when I was in total despair after I lost both my parents. I regained hope and found out how valuable its moral values are,” she said.
She also added that she spent ten years to complete the entire Masnavi and that was quite satisfied with what she did, “I believe that man needs Rumi’s words more than anything else in the world today. To study and act according to Rumi’s guidelines will help one find a prosperous life and will promote world peace,” she remarked.
UNESCO celebrated the 800th birthday anniversary of Molana Rumi in 2007.