Αdministrative Board

The Board consists of the following regular and alternate members:

Regular Members

Natalia Poulou – President of the Administrative Board Professor of Byzantine Archaeology, Department of History and Archaeology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Dr Natalia Poulou studied Archaeology and Art at the Department of History and Archaeology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She pursued postgraduate studies in Paris – Université Paris I-Panthéon Sorbonne – as a fellow of Foundation Alexandros Onassis and the French Government and received her PhD from the same university ( Université Paris I-Panthéon Sorbonne) (Dissertation title: “Samos paléochrétienne: l’apport du matériel archéologique » (Très Honorable).

In 1989, she was a DAAD fellow for research in the Römisch-Germanisches Museum Köln and the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum, Mainz. She was also a post-doctoral fellow researcher in the Centre d’Histoire et Civilisation de Byzance in Collège de France (Paris). During the period 1994-1997, she was a regular researcher in the IHR/NHRF. She has taught courses at AUTh as well as at universities abroad as the Université Paris Ι, Panthéon Sorbonne, the Università di Bologna and the Université Aix – Marseille.

In 2011-2017 she was a member of the Comité scientifique of the École française d’ Athènes and from 2020 she is member of the Comité de lecture του Bulletin de correspondance hellénique. She is member of the International Committee of Late Roman Pottery in the Mediterranean and member of the editorial boards of several scholarly journals and series in Europe. She is the President of the administrative broad of the European Center of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments as well of the Center of Byzantine Research. She has directed research projects and she has received the Dumbarton Oaks’ Project Grant and that of GABAM (Koç University).
She has been conducting excavations in various archaeological sites (Samos, Kythera, Crete, Philippi) and she is the director of the excavations in Philippi and Loutres, Mochlos. She has participated in many conferences in Greece and abroad and has organized International Conferences and Seminars. She has published books and more than 60 papers in international journals.

Her research centers on Byzantine architecture, Byzantine and post-Byzantine pottery, archaeometry, and maritime routes and communication in Byzantium.

Georgios A. PanetsosProfessor of Architecture and Urban Design, Chair, Department of Architecture, University of Patras

Diploma of Architecture, National University of Athens (1984). Master in Architecture, Graduate School of Design, Harvard University (1986). Herder Fellow, Hochschule fuer Angewandte Kunst and Technische Universitaet, Vienna (1987-88). Scientific consultant, Mayor of Athens (1991-94), City of Rotterdam (1994-5), Organization for the Master-Plan of Athens, ORSA (2002). Curator of exhibitions, Parthenon: Architecture and Preservation (Osaka, 1996) and Parthenon and the West Frieze: Restoration and Preservation (Bucharest, Belgrade, Skopje, Alexandria, Nicosia, Zagreb, 1999-2001). Proposal for the urban restructuring of Athens (1996). Publications of ten architectural projects and fifteen scientific studies concerning the classical tradition in architecture, architectural theory, vernacular architecture, the architecture of the 19th and 20th century, urban design, architectural heritage. Co-editor, Domes, international architectural review, Athens. Since 1984, runs own practice in Athens; participated in eight architectural competitions (1984-1990) with nine prizes.

Maria LeontsiniSenior Researcher, Section of Byzantine Research, Institute of Historical Research, National Hellenic Research Foundation (IHR/NHRF)

Maria Leontsini is senior researcher at the Institute of Historical Research-Section of Byzantine Research of the National Hellenic Research Foundation (ΙΗR/NHRF). She studied History at the Department of History and Archaeology of the University of Ioannina (Greece, 1986). She has completed her master’s degree in the field of “Historical Geography of the Byzantine World” at the University of Paris-I (1988). She gained her Ph.D. at the University of Athens (2001), where she specialized in Byzantine History. Among her interests is the study of historical geography (urban and rural space in Byzantium, insular history, East-West divisions and boundaries), as well as of issues related to the history of the environment. Her research focuses also on the society and institutions in Byzantium, aspects of everyday life and diet behaviors. She has corroborated to international academic projects: MenSALe (Mense Storiche ed Artistiche Lucane). Storie e rappresentazioni della cultura dell’alimentazione regionale, Istituto per i Beni Archeologici e Monumentali, Italia (2012–2014) and Seasides of Byzantium. Harbours and anchorages of a Mediterranean Empire, Römisch–Germanisches Zentralmuseum, Mainz (2015–2016). She was member of the international academic project: Byzantine Art and Archaeology. Thematic Channel on Europeana, (Σεπτέμβριος 2017–Μάρτιος 2019) and research coordinator of the Programs: Networks of Communication. Sea paths and coastal roads in the Ionian Islands (6th–13th c.), http://kyrtouplegmata.eie.gr/index.php/2015–03–08–11–36–09/1/ee1–3–6–13 and Domestic and wild fauna in the Greek territory (7th-14th c.)” (Αnavathmis, 2017–2020). She currently supervises (with T. Kolias and D. Letsios) the Program: Byzantine Literary Sources for the History and Civilization of Arabs and Arabia (3/1/2019-1/1/2022). Her publications include a book, chapters in collective works, a number of articles and conference reports.

Ioulia Papageorgiou Acting Head of Directorate of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Antiquities and Head of the Department for the Supervision of Greek  and Foreign Scientific Foundations and the Coordination of Issues of International Cooperations and Organisations of the Directorate of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Antiquities, Hellenic Ministry of Culture

I was born in Athens. I graduated from the Department of History and Archaeology of the School of Philosophy of the University of Athens in 1987. From 1987 up until 1989 I attended a seminar for Archive Administration, Paleography and Auxiliary Sciences of History, organized by the General State Archives of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs. In 2007 I received from the School of Philosophy of the University of Athens a PhD thesis in Byzantine Archaeology. I have received the “Certificate of Proficiency in English” (University of Cambridge) and the “Diplôme d’ études Supérieures” (Institut Français  – Grèce). I have been working as an archaeologist at the Ministry of Culture and Sports since 1991, when I was admitted there after a scientific competition. From 1991 up until 1997, I served at the former 5th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities and from then on, I serve at the Directorate of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Antiquities. From December 2018 I am the Deputy Head of the Directorate of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Antiquities, while, already from 2015, I am also the Head of the Department for the Supervision of Greek  and Foreign Scientific Foundations and the Coordination of Issues of International Cooperations and Organisations of the same Directorate. I take part regularly as a member, and occasionally as a representative, in task groups and committees of the Ministry of Culture and Sports that are linked to actions concerning the protection of the cultural heritage both of Greece and of other countries. Prominent examples are my designations as deputy focal point for the Greek cultural heritage sites of UNESCO, as deputy national coordinator for the European Heritage Label of the Council of Europe, as member of the National Advisory Committee for the protection of cultural goods under the Treaty of Hague and as representative of the Ministry of Culture and Sports for the network that is coordinated by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs and deals with the listing and observation of deviant behavior against religious sites in Greece. I have been a member of the Local Council for Monuments of the Peloponnese and I am a rapporteur at the Central Archaeological Council and the Central Council for Modern Monuments.
I am a member of the Administrative Council of European Centre of Byzantine and Post- Byzantine Monuments since February 2017. At the same time I am a member of the Christian Archaeological Society and the Association of Greek Archaeologists. My research interest is the study of painting (monumental painting, portable icons, manuscripts) of the byzantine and post-byzantine period. I have taken part in scientific conferences, while I have also written articles for scientific magazines, books and conference proceedings.

Themistocles VlachoulisHead of the Directorate of Restoration of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments, Hellenic Ministry of Culture

Vassiliki PapageorgiouHead of the Directorate of Documentation and Protection of Cultural Goods, Hellenic Ministry of Culture

Vasiliki Papageorgiou, is an archaeologist. She graduated from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (1991 Archeology and Art History direction, 1994 History direction). She holds an Interdisciplinary MA degree in Byzantine Studies from the University of Ioannina (2001). She has been working at the Ministry of Culture and Sports since 1993, after having successfully participated in the written exams of the Archaeological Service. She has worked in the 5th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities of Sparta, in the 8th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities of Ioannina and in the Central Service of the Ministry of Culture and Sports. From 2011 to 2014 she was the Director of the 1st Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities of Athens, from 2014 to 2018 she was the Head of the Directorate of the Management of the National Archive of Monuments, Documentation and Protection of Cultural Goods and from 2018 until today she is the Head of the Directorate for Documentation and Protection of Cultural Goods. She has participated in numerous excavations and in many restoration projects, all over Greece. She has been involved in issues concerning the organization of museums, permanent and periodical exhibitions. She has studied and researched issues related to Byzantine archeology and art (topography of Aitoloakarnania and Attica, excavation findings, etc.). She has been an active member of several law-making and policy-making committees and working groups of the Ministry of Culture and Sports.

Eugenia Bendermacher-GerousiEmerita Director of Antiquities, Hellenic Ministry of Culture

Dr. Eugenia Bendermacher-Gerousi studied History and Archaeology at the University of Athens. She continued her post-graduate studies in Christian Archaeology and History of Art at the University of Göttingen in Germany. She completed her PhD thesis at the University of Marburg in Germany.

Since 1982 after succeeding in the entry examinations of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture she is appointed as a Curator of Byzantine and Post- Byzantine Antiquities. Initially she was responsible for the byzantine and post byzantine monuments in the area of South Peloponnese where among others the important medieval castles of Mystra , Geraki and Monemvasia. In the following years she was responsible for the monuments of several islands in the Aegean, especially of Thera/Santorini, Melos, Samos, and she held excavations in the important late roman/ early Christian settlement of Perissa on the island of Thera/ Santorini.

As director of the Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities of Messinia 2004-2006, she took extensive restorations works on the medieval castle of Koroni and Methoni as well on several byzantine churches in the area of Mani. As director of the Ephorate of Byzantine antiquities of Boeotia and Euboia 2006-2010 she conducted extensive restoration works on towers and monuments of the Venetian era as also excavation works in the cities of Thebes and Chalkis.

As the Head of the Central Directorate of Byzantine and Post-byzantine Antiquities in the Ministry of Culture 2010-2016, she was responsible for the coordination of the activities regarding protection, conservation and enhancement of the byzantine and postbyzantine monuments in the whole country. Since 2018 as the Head of the Directorate of the National Archive of Monuments has coordinated a major digital project the “Archaeological Cadaster”, which is the first systematic and constantly updated platform with reliable and detailed geospatial, descriptive and legal information on all immoveable monuments, archaeological sites and historic places of Greece.

Since 2011 she is also the Focal Point for UNESCO’s World Heritage Monuments in Greece. She has attented several sessions of the World Heritage Committee and has taken part in several workshops and meetings of Unesco . She has coordinated the working teams for the preparation of the nomination dossiers of Greek Monuments and Sites for inscription to the Unesco World Heritage List.
Her main research area is Early Christianity and she has published extensively on the subject.

Alternate Members

Athanasios Semoglou – Deputy President of the Administrative BoardProfessor of Byzantine Archaeology, Department of History and Archaeology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Born in Thessaloniki, I studied Archaeology and Art at the Faculty of Philosophy (Dept. of History and Archaeology). From 1988 to 1991 I pursued postgraduate studies in Paris (Institut d’art et d’Archéologie, Paris I) and Belgrade (Dept of History and Art). I achieved my PhD thesis at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (Paris) as fellow of the Alexandros Onassis Foundation. I am working in the Dept of History and Archaeology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki as a staff member, lecturer since 1999 and tenured professor of Byzantine art and archaeology since 2015. In 2007, I received the centenary bursary from the British School at Athens for research in UK. In 2012, I was a DAAD fellow for research in Münich and Freibourg. The same year was elected Directeur d’Études Associé at the Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme in Paris. Since 2013, I am member of the Greek national Committee of the Memory of World of Unesco. I am also member of the scientific committe of many international journals and participated to four international research projects as a coordinator. Since 2020 I am associated president of the European Center of Byzantine Monuments (Ministry of Culture) and member of the committee of the Center of Preservaton of the Athonite Heritage. I organised and participated to more than 100 international and national scientific congresses, published three books more than 70 papers, many of them in peer-reviewed journals, two catalogues of byzantine icons and book reviews. My interests are the Byzantine and post-byzantine iconography particularly of the transitive periods (protobyzantine and late byzantine and post-byzantine period).

Anastasios TantsisAssistant Professor of Byzantine Archaeology, Department of History and Archaeology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Anastasios Tantsis pursued postgraduate studies in Architecture in 1997 and in Byzantine Archeology from AUTH in 2001, while in 2008 he received his PhD from the Department of History and Archeology of AUTH. He was an International Visiting Scholar at the UIUC of the USA from 2005 until 2007. He was IKY scholarship recipient throughout his postgraduate studies. He worked as a freelancer and collaborated with the design office Katerina Tsigarida Architects. He served as an architect in the department of traditional settlements and in the department of preservable listed buildings of the Ministry of the Aegean. He was Professor in the Department of Architecture of the University of Thessaly from 2010 until 2014. In 2012 he was elected Lecturer in the Department of History and Archeology of AUTH. At the same time he teaches at the Department of Architecture and Postgraduate Studies Programme Protection Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Monuments Faculty of Engineering AUTH. He participated in the Excavation of the University of Thessaly in Vassiliki in the castle of Melivoia. He participates in the University Excavation of AUTH in Philippi since 2012 and the University Excavation of AUTH in Mochlo, Sitia since 2014. He participated in two research projects for the digitization of Cultural Heritage. In 2012 his book The Architectural Composition in Byzantium was published by University Studio Press.

Helen Ghini-TsofopoulouEmerita Ephor of Antiquities, Hellenic Ministry of Culture

Helen Ghini-Tsofopoulou was born in Athens. She graduated from the History and Archaeology Dept of the Athens National and Kapodistrian University. At a post-graduate level, at the same University, she focused on 13th century murals in Attica (Aghios Nikolaos in Kalamos area).

She served at the Ministry of Culture as Curator of Byzantine Antiquities (1st Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities), as Deputy Head of the 6th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities and as Curator of the 1st Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities.

She is a member of scientific societies and a former member of the Central Archaeological Council, of local archaeological councils and of scientific committees.

She has participated with announcements in science conventions and has published articles in scientific journals, conference proceedings and collective works.

She focuses on the research, study and publishing concerning byzantine and post-byzantine monuments, mainly of Attica and Cythera.
Several research excavations, monument restorations and maintenance works, monument registrations and presentations have been conducted under her supervision. At the same time, she has contributed to the protection of monument complexes and of the general cultural and natural environment through the declaration of monuments and archaeological sites.

Panayiota FountaHead of the Department of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Archaeological Sites, Monuments and Archaeological Projects, Directorate of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Antiquities, Hellenic Ministry of Culture

Maria Mertzani Head of the Directorate of Conservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments, Hellenic Ministry of Culture

She received a BSc (Hons) in Archaeological Conservation from the Institute of Archaeology, University College London in 1993. In 2002 she received a Postgraduate Specialization Diploma from the National Metsovio Technical University of Athens in Protection of Monuments, Sites and Complexes, studying Conservation Interventions: Techniques and Materials.

From 1996 to 2005 she worked as a laboratory instructor with Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art Department, TEI Athens. In January 2006 she became a permanent conservator at the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports, working at Thessaloniki Archaeological Museum, the 3rd Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities and finally the Directorate of Conservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments.

In July 2014 she was appointed Head of the Directorate of Conservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments. The mission of the Directorate is the development of national strategies and policies for the conservation of cultural heritage, as well as the implementation of large scale, challenging conservation projects.

Currently, she is completing an MSc in Public Policy and Public Management from Athens University of Economics and Business.

Argyro KaramperidiHead of the Department of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Antiquities and Museums, Ephorate of Antiquities of the city of Athens, Hellenic Ministry of Culture

Archaeologist. Graduate of the Department of History-Archeology of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Ioannina. Holder of a doctorate from the same University.

She has been working at the Ministry of Culture and Sports since 1992, after successfully participating in the special competition of the Archaeological Service. He has served in the 9th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities of Thessaloniki, in the 8th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities of Ioannina, in the 1st Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities of Athens. Since 2014 she has been the head of the Department of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Antiquities and Museums, as well as the Deputy Director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Athens.

She has written studies and articles on topics related to Byzantine and post-Byzantine Archeology and Art (Byzantine and post-Byzantine painting, architecture, excavations, early Christian mosaics, etc.). She was awarded the prize “Maria Theochari” (2011) for her work: Η μονή Πατέρων και η ζωγραφική του 16ου και 17ου αι. στην περιοχή της Ζίτσας Ιωαννίνων, Ioannina 2009.

George SkiadaresisDeputy Director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Halkidiki and Mount Athos, Hellenic Ministry of Culture

Ηe was born in Thessaloniki in 1969, where he completed his studies at the School of History and Archeology of the Faculty of Philosophy of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, specializing in Byzantine Archaeology. He holds a master’s and doctoral degree from the same School. His doctoral dissertation is entitled: “The Old Metropolitan church of Veroia within the Byzantine Architecture”.

From 1992 until today he works continuously in Archaeological Services of the Ministry of Culture and Sports. Initially in Thessaloniki (16th EPKA and 9th EBA), from 2006 in Veroia (11th EBA), from 2014 in Pella and Edessa as Head of the Department of Byzantine Antiquities of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Pella and from 2017 until 2020 in the Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Thessaloniki as Head of the Department of Byzantine Antiquities and as Deputy Director. Since January 2021 he is the Deputy Director at the Ephorate of Antiquities of Halkidiki and Mount Athos.

He has mainly dealt with studies of Byzantine, post-Byzantine and Ottoman architecture with relevant publications and announcements at conferences.
He has been a member of the Christian Archaeological Society since 2004. Since April 2019 he is an alternate member of the Board of Directors of the European Centre for Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments.