Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni on Thursday met in Belgrade with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, to discuss issues related to strengthening cultural cooperation between the two countries, protecting cultural heritage, and establishing closer collaboration between related cultural institutions.
In an Instagram post, President Vučić described his meeting with the Greek minister as “excellent,” expressing his gratitude to Greece for preserving Serbian cultural heritage. “I emphasized the importance of preserving Serbian cultural and spiritual heritage in Greece, with gratitude for the care and dedicated attitude toward our sacred sites, especially the Hilandar Monastery. I also stressed the importance our country places on Greece’s continued support for Serbia’s European path,” Vucic wrote.
The Serbian president also personally thanked Mendoni for granting permission to loan relics from the Hilandar Monastery, which will be displayed in an exhibition marking the 850th anniversary of the birth of Saint Sava, currently taking place in Belgrade.
Mendoni arrived in Belgrade earlier in the day, where she was welcomed by her Serbian counterpart, Nikola Selaković. At Belgrade Airport, an official reception ceremony was held for seven emblematic relics from the Hilandar Monastery, situated in the Mount Athos peninsula.
Among the objects that arrived in Belgrade is the rare 12th-century mosaic icon of the Virgin Hodegetria, as well as 13th-century icons of Christ Pantocrator and the Virgin Hodegetria, and a 17th-century icon of Saints Sava and Simeon. Of particular historical significance is the 1199 manuscript scroll containing Saint Sava’s Typikon of Karyes. The collection also includes a replica of the scepter of Emperor Alexios III Angelos and a replica of Saint Sava’s staff.
“I feel especially honored and blessed to be present today at the reception of these priceless relics in Belgrade. The relations between Greece and Serbia have always been friendly, forged through strong historical and cultural ties, with Orthodoxy as their common foundation. The figure of Saint Sava is central to the Church of Serbia and important to Orthodox Christians everywhere,” Mendoni stated after the handover ceremony.
The exhibition, titled “ Saint Sava,” is hosted at the gallery of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts in Belgrade and serves as a milestone of spiritual reflection marking the 850th anniversary of the saint’s birth.
The exhibition presents a multidimensional approach to the iconic founder of the autocephalous Serbian Orthodox Church, who, as a teacher, legislator, diplomat, and founder, shaped the cultural and national identity of the Serbian people.
The event also highlights the deep historical connection between Greece and Serbia, focusing on the Hilandar Monastery. The seven works from Mount Athos are accompanied by numerous exhibits from museums and ecclesiastical institutions in Serbia, Russia, Croatia, Czech Republic, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The participation of so many international institutions underscores the universal significance of Saint Sava and transforms the exhibition into a bridge of cultural diplomacy and mutual trust.
