Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias on Friday reiterated Athens’ interest in the protection of the Christian Orthodox communities in the Middle East, during his official visit to Lebanon for talks with the country’s leadership.
After his contacts, Dendias underlined that during his meeting with the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, His Beatitude John X, the issue of protecting the Greek Orthodox faithful in Syria and Lebanon was discussed in detail, in light of a deadly terrorist attack last month at the Mar Elias Church in Damascus, Syria during the Divine Liturgy.
Dendias was received and held meeting with the president of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, National Defense Minister Michel Menassa, and also spoke with Culture Minister Ghassan Salamé.
Dendias underlined that Greece’s armed forces and the ministry are ready to support the military of Lebanon, with the main aim and goal being the protection of the Greek Orthodox populations – a primary goal of the Greek government.
I met with His Beatitude the Patriarch of Antioch John X at the Patriarchal Seat in Balamand, North Lebanon, accompanied by Secretary General for Religious Affairs Mr. George Kalantzis.
We discussed the issue of protecting Christian populations in the region, Lebanon and Syria… pic.twitter.com/g7jXZwH2iJ
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) July 18, 2025
During my visit to Beirut, I had the honour of being received by the President of Lebanon Joseph Aoun, in the presence of the Minister of Defence Michel Menassah.#Lebanon pic.twitter.com/qvicsd2HvQ
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) July 18, 2025
During my visit in Beirut, I spoke on the phone with Minister of Culture of Lebanon @GhassanSalame, who has served as Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Libya (UNSMIL). pic.twitter.com/prT0qgltFO
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) July 18, 2025
Είναι μεγάλη τιμή να βρίσκομαι σήμερα στο Μπαλαμάντ του Λιβάνου για να συναντήσω τον Μακαριώτατο Πατριάρχη Αντιοχείας Ιωάννη. Θα πρέπει να πω, όμως, μετά λύπης μου, ότι η συγκυρία της επίσκεψής μου συμπίπτει με τα τραγικά γεγονότα που λαμβάνουν χώρα στη Συρία και την ευρύτερη… pic.twitter.com/Yi8wJVtKSq
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) July 18, 2025
