K. Mitsotakis: Historical relics cannot be treated as spoils of wartranslated

The protocols of the historical cultural exchange agreement between Greece and Bulgaria were signed at the Byzantine Museum of Thessaloniki, in the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his Bulgarian counterpart, Rumen Radev. The agreement foresees the return to Greece of 48 historical relics that had been taken from the Holy Monastery of Panagia Eikosifinissa, the Holy Monastery of the Holy Forerunner of Serres and the Holy Metropolis of Serres and Nigritis, while Greece will hand over to Bulgaria the remains of Tsar Samuel.

"There are now 48 objects of inestimable cultural, spiritual, and emotional value returning to our homeland", Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized during his speech at the Byzantine Museum of Thessaloniki, on the occasion of the signing of the protocols of the cultural exchange agreement between Greece and Bulgaria.

As the prime minister mentioned, these are holy icons and crosses, vestments, reliquary, but also the episcopal throne, relics that had been detached in 1917, in the midst of the First World War, from the Metropolis of Serres and Nigrita and the monasteries of Timi Prodromos and Panagia Eikosifinissa.

The objects will initially be housed in the Byzantine Museum...