Greece to Ratify Agreement on the Protection of the Cultural Heritage of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem

The Greek government has submitted a memorandum of cooperation with the Patriarchate of Jerusalem to parliament for ratification, aimed at preserving and protecting its tangible cultural heritage. According to Orthodox Times, a vote on this document is expected as early as next week.

The agreement, concluded between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture of Greece, and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, was signed in June of this year during a visit by Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem to Athens. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized that this step is clear evidence of the state’s commitment to preserving holy sites, which must be “protected, preserved, and passed on to future generations intact and undamaged”.

For his part, Patriarch Theophilos III called the signing of the memorandum a “historic moment” for the Patriarchate. He noted that this agreement strengthens the bond between the Church of Jerusalem and Greece, which he called a “caring mother” to all Greek clergy serving outside the country.

In addition to the religious agreement, two defense documents have been submitted to parliament for consideration. They concern cooperation with NATO in the field of missile defense systems, as well as technical cooperation with the German Ministry of Defense to conduct tactical exercises at the NATO base on the island of Crete.