Archbishop of Athens on the reintegration of the fragments: “My wish is that others may follow suit, guided by this initiative”

The reunification ceremony of three marble fragments from the Parthenon temple with the Acropolis Museum’s permanent display was held on Friday evening, 24 March 2023, at the museum’s Parthenon Gallery.

These fragments from the metopes, the frieze and the pediments of the Parthenon were gifted personally by Pope Francis to His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece.

Pope Francis’ gesture “is of historical significance and has very positive ramifications on multiple levels,” noted Archbishop Ieronymos.

Read the homily of His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece:

Your Excellency the Prime Minister,
Your Grace Bishop Brian Farrell, head of the Delegation of His Holiness Pope Francis,
Most Honourable Minister of Culture and Sports, Ms Lina Mendoni,
Most Learned Director-General of the Acropolis Museum,
Distinguished guests,

It is with great emotion and joy that I partake of today’s solemn ceremony of re-integration of the three fragments from the Vatican Museums in the decorative architectural sculptures of the Parthenon in the Acropolis Museum.

My emotion is due to the fact that on this day, before our very eyes, the initiative of our beloved brother and Venerable Head of the Roman Catholic Church is completed and becomes flesh and blood in practice, namely his decision to donate these three fragments to my lowliness and, subsequently, through me, to see them regain their place in their natural context, here, in the Parthenon Hall of the Acropolis Museum.

This act on the part of Pope Francis is of historic significance and has most positive implications on many levels.

First, it constitutes tangible proof of the fruit borne by the cultivation of the brotherly bonds between us as Christians, on the basis of truth, love, mutual respect and understanding. Moreover, particularly in today’s world tormented by unrest and injustice, to those far and near, it bears witness to the fact that solutions can be found to any problems or disagreements as long as the good will and the sincere willingness to cooperate are there.

Secondly, through this act the truth of things is restored, wounds and traumas that can be reduced to the past heal, as in this unique monument of the world cultural heritage integral parts of it are reunited.

My own personal wholehearted wish is that others may follow suit, guided by this initiative. Pope Francis demonstrated that this is both feasible and essential.

Finally, please allow me as Head of the Most Holy Church of Greece to extend my warmest personal thanks, along with those of our clergy and our people, to His Holiness Pope Francis as well as to all those who laboured and contributed to the effectuation of this historic event.

May I thank all of you too for the honour of your presence.

Bishop Farrell of the return of fragments: It is a gesture of friendship and solidarity with the people of Greece

Four members of a Catholic delegation from the Vatican who arrived in Athens on Thursday also attended.

The delegation included its head, Bishop Brian Farrell, secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, Under-Secretary Monsignor Andrea Palmieri, Director of the Vatican Museums Dr Barbara Jatta, and Archbishop Jan Romeo Pawłowski, Apostolic Nuncio to Greece.

Bishop Farrell spoke about the importance of the Pope’s gesture, an “ecclesiastical, cultural and social gesture of friendship and solidarity with the people of Greece”, which he noted “confirms even more strongly the friendship and the spiritual closeness between our Churches.”

Read the homily of Bishop Farrell:

Your Beatitude, Venerable Archbishop of Athens and of All Greece,
Honourable Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, (Kyriakos Mitsotakis)
Your Excellency the Minister for Culture and Sport, (Styliani-Lina Mendoni),
Eminences, Excellencies,
Dear Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the Holy See,
Dear Ambassadors, Authorities and Officials,
Dear Director of this illustrious Museum of the Acropolis,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

His Holiness Pope Francis wished that our delegation present at this memorable ceremony should represent the Dicastery responsible for fraternal relations between the Churches – Monsignor Andrea Palmieri and myself, the eminent Director of the Vatican Museums, Dr Barbara Jatta, and the Apostolic Nuncio to Greece, His Excellency Archbishop Jan Romeo Pawlowski.

In this way, the gifting of the fragments of the Parthenon, which have been held in the Vatican Museums for more than two centuries, shows itself as an ecclesial, cultural and social gesture of friendship and solidarity with the people of Greece.

The decision of Pope Francis to give these fragments to Your Beatitude matured in the context of his fraternal relations with the Orthodox Church, and specifically of his meeting with Your Beatitude during his visit to Greece in December 2021.

The gesture therefore has particular significance in affirming ever more strongly the friendship and spiritual closeness between our Churches. Pope Francis wishes me to convey to Your Beatitude and to the whole body of the Church of Greece his warmest greetings and prayerful good wishes.

The fragments, representing three different elements of the decoration of the world famous Athenian Temple, have now returned to their original homeland. People of goodwill can see in this event the expression of a shared hope that our diverse cultures, and art itself, will always be a privileged means of dialogue and encounter among peoples. In that exchange, we enrich each other, in the wonderful diversity of our histories, our achievements and the universal aspiration to peace and fraternity. The meeting of different cultures can be the medium that allows the human family to flourish in respect for our differences and sensibilities.

We must hope that from the encounter between peoples and their cultures – of which the homecoming of the Parthenon fragments is one eloquent sign – will spring the understanding and solidarity that leads to peace.

Today, sadly, we are witnesses of the lack of peace in the world, especially as it affects our own continent, Europe.

Hopefully, with God’s help, the goodwill that inspires this event will spread and grow until – in the vision of the prophet Isaiah — swords shall be turned into ploughshares, and spears into pruning hooks; until nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor shall there be war any more (cfr. Isaiah 2:4).

Conveying once more the greetings of His Holiness Pope Francis and, through all of you, thanking the Orthodox Church of Greece and the Hellenic State for the warmth and generosity of the hospitality given our Vatican delegation, we assure you of our intimate joy at the realization of your legitimate wish to have the Parthenon fragments at home in their place of origin. Thank you.

Source: orthodoxtimes.com