Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni has embarked on an official visit to Israel and Palestine to assess the condition of Byzantine monuments requiring urgent protection and restoration.
Accompanied by representatives of the European Centre for Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments, Mendoni is focusing on key historical and religious sites in Jerusalem and Ramallah, particularly those under the care of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
During her visit, Mendoni is set to hold high-level meetings with key figures in the region. In Jerusalem, she will meet with Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III and Israel’s Minister of Culture and Sports, Makhlouf Miki Zohar, to discuss cultural heritage preservation efforts.
In Ramallah, Mendoni will engage with Palestinian Ministers of Tourism and Antiquities Hani Al-Hayek and Culture Imad Hamdan, as well as Mayor Issa Kassis. Her agenda includes visits to significant historical sites, such as the archaeological site of St. Stephen’s Monastery (Khirbet al Tireh) and the Arafat Museum.
As part of her itinerary, the Greek Culture Minister will also attend the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem and lay a wreath at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, underscoring Greece’s commitment to historical memory and cultural diplomacy.
This visit highlights Greece’s ongoing efforts to safeguard Byzantine heritage beyond its borders, reinforcing its deep-rooted historical and religious ties with the region.
