Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni held a working meeting with Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine following the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Greek Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Culture for the protection, conservation, and documentation of the relics and manuscripts of the ancient Patriarchate.
The Memorandum was formally signed at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and aims to safeguard the rich historical and spiritual heritage of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
During their meeting, Minister Mendoni and Patriarch Theophilos discussed the next steps required for the immediate implementation of the agreement. Particular emphasis was placed on launching projects for the preservation and restoration of the Patriarchate’s metochia in Greece.
Among the issues examined was the need for conservation and restoration work at the complex of the Metochion of the Holy Sepulchre in the historic Plaka district of Athens, as well as at Goumeno in Ilia, a significant Byzantine church that suffered damage during a recent earthquake in the region and is in urgent need of restoration.
Minister Mendoni reaffirmed the Ministry of Culture’s commitment to supporting the Patriarchate and assured Patriarch Theophilos that work would begin promptly on a program for the documentation and digitization of the sacred relics and treasures preserved in the Patriarchate’s metochia throughout Greece.
Source: Greek Ministry of Culture, translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
