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
NBU presents commemorative coin “Spirit of Christmas” featuring didukh
The new commemorative coin with a face value of 10 hryvnias, according to the designers’ concept, brings together Christmas motifs and Ukrainian tradition.
Zelensky tells Patriarch Bartholomew about power outage problems
The president spoke about humanitarian difficulties in Ukraine related to the energy situation.
Metropolitan Nafanail consecrates iconostasis in temporary church in Lutsk
On the feast day of St. Spyridon of Trimythous, a hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church presided over the parish’s patronal celebration.
Pat Daniel awards Pat Bartholomew with order for overcoming schism in BOC
The award was bestowed for organizing the 1998 Council, which conciliar-ly resolved the crisis caused by the schism in the Bulgarian Church.
Persecuted UOC parish in Chernivtsi celebrates its feast day
A festive divine service in honor of St. Spyridon of Trimythous was held in a parish that remains faithful to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church despite attempts to seize the church.
Bulgarian Church Primate arrives in Istanbul
The first official visit of Patriarch Daniel to the Phanar has begun.