Greece Pledges Restoration Assistance for Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

ATHENS — Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni has expressed Greece’s support for Ukraine following damage to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra during a Russian attack on June 15, pledging assistance for preservation and restoration efforts at the historic monastery complex.

In a letter to Ukrainian Culture Minister Tetyana Berezhna, Mendoni conveyed Greece’s condolences and condemned the strike on the Lavra. She described the monastery as a place of exceptional architectural, historical, cultural, and religious significance and stressed that cultural heritage should not become a target during armed conflicts.

Beyond its statement of support, Greece also outlined practical measures aimed at helping safeguard Ukraine’s cultural patrimony. Mendoni announced that the Greek Ministry of Culture intends to finance the preparation of restoration studies for the monastery’s cave complex, an important component of the centuries-old site.

The minister also said Greece plans to advance a memorandum of cooperation between the European Centre for Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments and Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture. The proposed agreement would facilitate specialized training workshops in Thessaloniki for Ukrainian conservators responsible for preserving antiquities and works of art.

The initiative reflects ongoing efforts to support the protection and restoration of cultural heritage sites affected by the war in Ukraine.

Previously, the UOJ reported that the Ecumenical Patriarchate condemned the strike on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.