Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni reaffirmed the Greek Government’s steadfast commitment to supporting the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and their close collaboration in preserving and promoting the religious and cultural heritage of the Holy Land. This was emphasized during her meeting with Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem as part of her official visit to Israel and Palestine.

The Patriarch expressed his appreciation and gratitude for Greece’s longstanding support, highlighting its centuries-old presence in Jerusalem and the region, as well as its customary privileges and rights. He reiterated the Patriarchate’s willingness and readiness for close cooperation with Greece and the Ministry of Culture.

The Minister visited the Patriarchate’s Archive and discussed potential areas of collaboration with its officials. Special emphasis was placed on urgent conservation efforts needed for archival materials, as well as on organizing and digitizing the collection to ensure its optimal protection and accessibility. Specifically, discussions explored ways of cooperating to preserve the Patriarchate’s extensive historical archive, a valuable legacy and an essential source for documenting its long history.

Lina Mendoni also visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Tomb of Christ, and attended the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, celebrated at Golgotha, presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Isidoros of Hierapolis, Elder Sacristan of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. In Jerusalem’s Old City, she also visited the ancient Monastery of St. John the Baptist, where she was briefed on the restoration work that has taken place.

The Patriarch accompanied and guided the Minister of Culture through the historic Monastery of the Holy Cross, informing her about plans to establish the Center for Advanced Theological Studies and Research—a high-priority project for the Patriarchate. This initiative has the potential to renew, in a modern context, the tradition of the School of the Holy Cross and offer the Patriarchate a new framework for academic activities and partnerships. The Minister was accompanied by Greece’s Consul General in Jerusalem, Dimitrios Angelosopoulos.

Mendoni’s visit to Jerusalem concluded with a tour of the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. She laid a wreath in the Hall of Remembrance, paying tribute to the victims of the Holocaust. During her meeting with Museum President Dani Dayan, they discussed expanding collaboration between Yad Vashem and the Jewish Museums of Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as the Holocaust Museum under construction in Thessaloniki. Dayan expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the project in Thessaloniki, emphasizing the significant contribution of the Greek Government.

Yad Vashem has undertaken to provide expertise on the design and operation of the upcoming museum to ensure it also serves an educational purpose. During her visit, the Minister was accompanied by Greece’s Ambassador to Israel, Maya Solomou.