Greece and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem signed a memorandum on the preservation of cultural heritage

The Greek government is taking decisive action to protect and promote the religious and historical heritage of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, thereby establishing long-term cooperation at the government level. The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture have ratified a Memorandum of Cooperation that establishes a ten-year plan to support this historic ecclesiastical institution.

The document, signed by in Athens , is aimed at the comprehensive scholarly study and preservation of holy sites, churches, and monastic complexes under the Patriarchate’s jurisdiction. The agreement places particular emphasis on the protection of works of art, religious artifacts, and the priceless collections of the Historical Archive and the Patriarchal Library.

To achieve these objectives, the Greek government has committed to providing annual funding of 1 million euros, with the costs to be split equally between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture of Greece. According to ministry officials, this step provides the Patriarchate of Jerusalem with a stable institutional, technical, and financial foundation.

An official communiqué emphasizes that Greece views its support for the Patriarchate as a significant contribution to the preservation of the world’s cultural heritage and the strengthening of an institution that has championed peace, dialogue, and interfaith coexistence for centuries.