Greek Minister of Defense calls to protect Christians in the Middle East
An official meeting of the Ministers of Defense of Greece and Lebanon in Athens. Photo: Orthodoxia news agency
On November 13, 2025, the Minister of National Defense of Greece, Nikos Dendias, once again raised the issue of protecting the Christian population in the Middle East. This was reported by Orthodoxia news agency.
During a meeting in Athens with the Minister of Defense of Lebanon, Michel Menassah, the head of the Defense Department of Greece called the support of Christian communities in the region a priority for Athens. He emphasized that Greece consistently opposes any forms of violence aimed at restricting religious freedom.
According to Dendias, Christian communities in the Middle East are indigenous to the region and an important part of the cultural and historical tradition of countries, including Lebanon and Syria. In this regard, Greece intends to continue supporting the Greek Orthodox patriarchates operating in these territories.
The minister also recalled Athens' ongoing initiatives related to educational and cultural cooperation, particularly with the University of Balamand. He noted that Greece continues to deepen contacts with religious and academic centers in Lebanon.
In conclusion, Dendias confirmed that the protection of Christian communities remains one of the constant directions of Greece's foreign policy in the region.
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that Archbishop of Greece Ieronymos urged Trump to protect the monastery on Sinai.
Read also
Two more parishes in Sloviansk reregistered under OCU
The organizer behind the transfer of UOC communities in Sloviansk said the reregistration of churches would continue.
Hasidic pilgrims leave mountains of trash in Uman after Rosh Hashanah
Uman’s municipal services are struggling to clear residential neighborhoods after the Hasidic pilgrimage.
Ostapenko: Dormition Cathedral is one of the pantheons of Ukrainian history
Reserve director Maksym Ostapenko lamented that there are no graves of Ukrainian princes or hetmans around the Dormition Cathedral.
Montenegrin priest condemns Ukrainian authorities for persecution of UOC
Archpriest Slobodan Zeković said the Ukrainian authorities are persecuting the UOC.
Metropolitan Pimen of Rivne concelebrates with Jerusalem Church hierarch
Pilgrims from Ukraine prayed for peace at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
Zelensky named among world’s most influential Jews
The Ukrainian president ranked 21st in The Jerusalem Post’s annual list, topped this year by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump.