Press Release

“Mo.Na.: Monuments in Nature: A creative Co-existence”

Completion of the Forum in Istanbul: “Ecumenical Initiative for the Protection of Environment and Culture”

The Forum entitled “Ecumenical Initiative for the Protection of Environment and Culture”, co-organized by the European Centre for Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments (EKBMM) and the Ecumenical Patriarchate on September 4th – 5th, 2021 in Istanbul and Chalki island was completed. The Forum activities were held in the framework of the Project Mo.Na: Monuments in Nature: A Creative Co-existence (https://www.monumentnature.com/), coοrdinated by the European Centre for Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments (EKBMM) and funded by the INTERREG V – Balkan -Mediterranean 2014-2020.

His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Mr. Bartholomew delivered a keynote speech and declared the opening of the Forum on September 4th, at the Sismanogleio Palace of the Greek Consulate General in Istanbul.

Mrs. Georgia Sultanopoulou Consul General of Greece welcomed the conferrers, while Professor Natalia Poulou, Chairman of the Board of the EKBMM delivered her greetings. Also, Dr. Flora Karagianni, director of the EKBMM, presented the project “Mo.Na. Monuments in Nature. A Creative Co-existence”. Afterwards, two exhibitions titled: “Nature in Art” were inaugurated in the same venue, with a reception following.

The activities of the Forum continued with a large number of participants on Sunday 5th September at the Holy Theological School of Halki. There, twenty-five conferrers, Greeks, Turks, Bulgarians, Cypriots and Albanians, specialists and educators presented programs and educational initiatives aiming to raise awareness of the youth as well as of the general public on topics related to the protection of environment and culture.

We are thankful to the Consul General of Greece in Istanbul, Mr. Georgia Sultanopoulou and the Bishop of Arabissos, Mr. Cassianos, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of the Holy Trinity at Halki island, for their warm hospitality.

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