Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended a festal doxology on Sunday at the metropolitan church of the of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, patron saints of Serres, to welcome the official handover of relics returned by Bulgaria to the church.
Commenting on the return of the relics to Serres, Mitsotakis called it “a tangible result of the multiple capabilities that our cultural diplomacy does have, with a patriotic policy that proves and states that Greece is strong, her standing is high and her reputation is strong, her voice is heard clearly and she is not afraid, therefore, to discuss and pursue her claim and be finally vindicated. This is what justification means, with historical memory returning to its natural place.” He said the relics are priceless historically, artistically, and religiously.
The PM added that this event proves that this channel of communication remains active, opening the way to the documentation and return of all treasures that still remain in Bulgaria. “This is perhaps the best response to those who rushed to complain about this development,” he noted.
Metropolitan Theologos of Serres and Nigrita welcomed the premier and Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, both of whom he thanked for the returned of the relics. He underlined that the stolen treasures were the so-called Elgin marbles of Macedonia and Thrace, and pointed out that although the relics returned are small in number, “their value and meaning are immense”. He also expressed the deep wish, as he said, of the people of Serres to have all stolen relics returned. “Now we know the way and the means,” he said.
The representative of Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, Nektarios, also praised the efforts of the Greek government and the personal contribution of the prime minister in the return.
Following the doxology, the premier participated in the procession of the icon of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel and the relics. The procession stopped at the building housing relics and the returned objects were placed in a specially made glass case.
Monastery visit
After visiting the city centre, PM Mitsotakis paid a visit to the Monastery of St John the Baptist (Timiou Prodromou), from where two more relics had been removed in 1917, namely two silver liturgical fans adorned with Byzantine cloisonné enamels.
At the monastery, Mitsotakis was given a tour by abbess Fevronia and nuns on the monastery’s long history and the work during the last three years to restore sections that were affected by the 2010 fire. He also had the opportunity to visit the monastery’s main church, dating to the 14th century, the rooms with relics and the library.
“I want to reassure you that our effort and struggle for the return of all relics stolen during turbulent times will be given by me a constant priority,” the PM told the abbess. A doxology toook place at the monastery for the return of the relics, which were placed in cases at the monastery.
Besides Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, the prime minister was accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Tasos Chatzivasileiou, Deputy Foreign Minister for Macedonia-Thrace issues Konstantinos Gioulekas, and New Democracy MPs from Serres, Fotini Arabampatzi and Theofilos Leontaridis.
