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Religious Diplomacy

Greece maintains strong historical ties with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek-Orthodox Primeval or Ancient Patriarchates in Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem. It also maintains ties with the Latter Orthodox Patriarchates and the Autocephalous Churches and supports their initiatives on issues related to the interreligious and intercultural dialogue, the protection of religious freedom, the protection of the environment and of the religious heritage. It, also, stands by the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine in Mount Sinai, the oldest Christian monastery, having unique spiritual and cultural treasures, a sacred place revered by Christians, Muslims and Jews.

​The Ministry of Foreign Affairs closely monitors the relations between the Orthodox Churches, as well as the relations of the Orthodox Church with other Christian Churches.

​The dialogue between the Orthodox Church and other Christian Churches and confessions has led to cooperation on the promotion of human values and the protection of the environment. This very dialogue was part of the agenda of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church that took place between 16 to 27 June 2016 at the Orthodox Academy of Crete. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assisted in the preparations of the event by establishing a Special Committee to coordinate the public sector involved therein.

​The Ministry of Foreign Affairs participated in the International Web Conference on Religious Diplomacy (9-10 December 2020), held under the auspices of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the Foreign Affairs Institute and the Holy Archdiocese of Athens. The members of the Hellenic leadership highlighted the fact that Greece supports religious diplomacy, as well as interreligious and intercultural dialogue, while endeavouring to understand different religions and paying respect to the rights of religious communities.

​​Greece closely monitors the developments and expresses its strong interest for the protection of the local Christian communities, Christian shrines and Monuments in the Middle East, where the Greek-Orthodox Primeval Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem and Saint Catherine’s Monastery in the Peninsula of Sinai are seated. Within this context, two International Conferences on the religious and cultural pluralism and peaceful coexistence in the Middle East were organized in Athens in October 2015 and October 2017.

​Recently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated a program for the revival of Greek Letters in the Middle East, including Greek-taught courses and seminars in the Theological University of Lebanon (University of Balamand, Institute of Theology “Saint John of Damascus”). The newly launched program, initiated during the academic year 2022-2023, has created the conditions for the strengthening of the relations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Greek-Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, as well as the Greek-Orthodox communities in the Middle East.

​Mount Athos is the most important monastic centre, one of the holiest shrines of the Orthodox world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Religious diplomacy endeavours to promote Mount Athos as a major cultural heritage centre and enhance the relations of the Holy Community of Athos with the Greek State.

​The Ministry of Foreign Affairs closely cooperates with the Church of Greece on issues related to international activities, religious diplomacy and the promotion of religious tourism in Greece.