Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and Serbian Culture Minister Nikola Selaković attended a ceremony at Belgrade Airport on Wednesday to welcome seven priceless relics from Hilandar Monastery, ahead of a major exhibition dedicated to Saint Sava. The relics, arriving in the Serbian capital, serve as the centerpiece of the "Saint Sava" exhibition, organized to celebrate the 850th anniversary of the saint’s birth. Saint Sava, who founded the Serbian Monastery of Hilandar on Mount Athos, is a revered figure in Serbian Orthodoxy and national history.
The artifacts include a rare 12th-century mosaic icon of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus, 13th-century icons of Christ Pantocrator and the Virgin Mary with Jesus, a 17th-century icon of Saints Sava and Simeon, a handwritten 1199 scroll containing Saint Sava’s Typikon of Karyes, a replica of Byzantine Emperor Alexios II Angelos’ sceptre, and a replica of Saint Sava’s staff.
Mendoni expressed a special honor and blessing to be present at the welcoming of these artifacts, emphasizing the enduring historical and cultural ties between Greece and Serbia grounded in Orthodoxy. She described the exhibition as a leading cultural event for Orthodox nations across the region. Selaković noted the occasion as a historic day for the Serbian people, reflecting the golden era of medieval Serbia and the foundations of the Serbian state and spiritual identity. He thanked Greece for the gesture of brotherhood that allowed Serbians to reconnect with the roots of their national identity and Orthodox faith.
Mendoni attended the ceremony alongside Greek Ambassador to Serbia Maria Levanti, European Centre for Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments Director Flora Karagianni, and other Greek Culture Ministry officials. The exhibition at the Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences presents a multifaceted exploration of Saint Sava’s legacy as a teacher, diplomat, lawmaker, and benefactor who shaped the cultural and national identity of the Serbian people.
The exhibition also highlights the historic links between Greece and Serbia through the legacy of Hilandar Monastery. The seven Greek relics will appear alongside artifacts from museums and ecclesiastical institutions in Serbia, Russia, Croatia, Czechia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina, reinforcing Saint Sava’s enduring ecumenical influence and the role of cultural diplomacy in strengthening regional ties.
This is a huge moment for both Greece and Serbia, bringing our shared heritage to life! How do you think this exhibition will impact relations between the two countries moving forward? Let's see more of these cultural exchanges that bring us closer together!