Address by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yiannis Loverdos to H.H.B. the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III on the occasion of the Ceremony for the Reception of the Holy[...]

Your Beatitude,

Reverend Fathers,

We stand today at the Holy Sepulchre, the holiest site of Christianity, from which the timeless Message of the Resurrection, a message of hope and peace for all humanity, continues to emanate.

The mission to convey the Holy Light to Greece is an act of profound spiritual significance for me personally, but also for the Greek people, who have maintained unbreakable bonds with the Holy Land and with the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem for centuries.

This year's ceremony takes place at a time of particular hardship for the wider Middle East region. The developments taking place remind us how precious it is to safeguard the Holy Sites, as places of prayer for the peaceful coexistence for peoples and religions.

Greece remains firmly committed to respecting the historical Status Quo of the Holy Land and to ensuring free access thereto. The Holy Light is not only a religious symbol, but also a message of reconciliation, especially in times of adversity.

With profound reverence, we receive the everlasting Holy Light, in order to carry it to Greece, so that it may convey the message of hope, unity, and spiritual renewal to every corner of our homeland.

Christ is Risen, Happy Easter to all.

April 11, 2026