The European Centre for Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments (EKBMМ), in collaboration with the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece and the journal Theologia, organized the photographic exhibition “The Oecumene Proclaims You Its Champion. Saint Demetrios the Myrolytes in the Balkans”.

The exhibition was organized within the framework of the 2nd International Scientific Conference of the journal Theologia, entitled “Orthodox Theology and the ‘Ontology’ of Technology: Anthropological, Political, Economic, Social, and Cultural Consequences.” The exhibition presented the veneration of Saint Demetrios in the Balkan region from the Byzantine period to the present day. More specifically, it featured churches and monasteries dedicated to Saint Demetrios, as well as works of monumental painting and minor arts depicting iconographic themes related to his life. These came from the Ecumenical Patriarchate (Phanar, Tatavla, Xirokrini), the Serbian Orthodox Church – Patriarchate of Serbia (Patriarchal Monastery of Peć, Monastery of Visoki Dečani, Monastery of Velika Remeta), the Romanian Orthodox Church – Patriarchate of Romania (Suceava, Bucharest, Căldărușani Monastery), the Bulgarian Orthodox Church – Patriarchate of Bulgaria (Veliko Tarnovo, Patalenitsa, Boboshevo), the Church of Greece (Thessaloniki, Mystras, Arta), and the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania (Berat, Boboshtica, Politsani).

The exhibition was inaugurated by H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Konstantinos An. Tasoulas, and His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew. Addresses were delivered by the President of the Republic, the Ecumenical Patriarch, His Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Ieronymos II, His Holiness the Patriarch of Bulgaria, Daniil, and the representative of the Patriarch of Serbia, His Holiness Porfirije, Metropolitan of Niš, Arsenije. The President of the Board of Directors of EKBMM, Emeritus Professor of Byzantine Archaeology Natalia Poulou, spoke about the organization and objectives of the exhibition.

The opening ceremony was also attended by Minister of Education Sofia Zacharaki, representing the government and the Prime Minister; Maximos Charakopoulos, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Group of New Democracy, representing the President of the Hellenic Parliament; the Deputy Ministers Yiannis Loverdos (Foreign Affairs), Stavros Kalafatis (Development), and Anna Efthymiou (Labour and Social Security); His Beatitude the Archbishop of Albania, Ioannis; representatives of Patriarchates, Archdioceses, and Metropolises of the Orthodox world; former Deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos; members of parliament; representatives of local government; and representatives of the armed forces and security services.

The exhibition was presented at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall, in the Foyer of the Square of Building M1, from 29 September to 20 October 2025. Within the framework of the exhibition, organized guided tours and an educational program were offered for primary and secondary school students.