Letter to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunaksent by Archbishop Nikitas of Thyatira and Great Britainwith which he asks for her return to Athens of the Parthenon Sculptures.

As he points out, among other things, in his letter, “In the context of a wider global debate about cultural relics acquired under controversial circumstances, interest is returning to the magnificent Marble Sculptures that were removed from the Parthenon at the beginning of the 19th century. and are now in the British Museum. These relics, which include about half the mosaic that once adorned the Parthenon, reflect the artistic genius of Athens in its golden age.

Regardless of the direction of this wider global debate, I would urge you to consider the Parthenon Sculptures as a special case, requiring a bold and progressive solution that would significantly improve relations between Greeks, Britons and all those who value Greek heritage.

As you know, the Sculptures now in London were part of a single monument, which was broken up (even described by its perpetrators as “somewhat barbaric”) at the private initiative of a diplomat, something that would be unthinkable to happen today , and which was strongly disputed even at the time”.

In more detail, the said letter reads as follows:

Dear Prime Minister,

On behalf of hundreds of thousands of citizens and other residents of the United Kingdom – people who deeply value the cultural and spiritual traditions of Britain and Greece – I would like to address you, with great respect, on an issue that has recently attracted the attention of the media and which is of particular concern to us.

In the context of a wider global debate about cultural relics acquired under controversial circumstances, interest is returning to the magnificent Marble Sculptures that were removed from the Parthenon in the early 19th century. and are now in the British Museum. These relics, which include about half the mosaic that once adorned the Parthenon, reflect the artistic genius of Athens in its golden age.

Regardless of the direction of this wider global debate, I would urge you to consider the Parthenon Sculptures as a special case, requiring a bold and progressive solution that would significantly improve relations between Greeks, Britons and all those who value Greek heritage.

As you know, the Sculptures now in London were part of a single monument, which was broken up (even described by its perpetrators as “somewhat barbaric”) at the private initiative of a diplomat, which would be unthinkable to happen today, and which was hotly contested even at the time.

According to the writings of historian William St Clair, who has researched the issue in depth, Lord Elgin’s agents used “persuasion, threats and bribes” to convince the Ottoman authorities in Athens to allow an aggressive stripping of the Parthenon and other Acropolis monuments. . In the long and essentially rich history of British scholarly interest in Greek heritage, this is certainly not an episode to make one proud.

Two centuries later, the possibility of reuniting the Sculptors so suddenly separated is being discussed, and there is an obvious place to display them, the gallery of the Acropolis Museum which already houses about a third of the diazoma, in Greek light, with the Parthenon in nearby.

As residents of the UK we respect the British Museum as a center of academic excellence and understand its ambition to showcase the magnificence of world history. We also understand the independent status of the Museum and the legal obligations of its trustees to protect the collection.

However, along with many British scientists, cultural figures, politicians and ordinary citizens, we believe that the Museum’s global recognition would be enhanced, not diminished, if the Sculptors’ return to Athens were to take place. As the law was amended to enable the restoration of works of art confiscated by the Nazis, it is not impossible – with good will – to find legal solutions that would facilitate the restoration of the entirety of this unique diazom.

The British and the Greeks are already working together very productively in the study of Greek heritage and in presenting it to the world. Among the fruits of this partnership are the generous provision of funds by Greek benefactors to British universities, the thriving British School of Athens, a recognized UK Foundation promoting academic collaboration, research involving archaeology, conferences and lectures, the strong Greek presence between staff and students of British universities, as well as, recently, the selection of a proposal by a British architect for the upgrade of the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.

All this is happening despite the problems caused by the terrible injustice committed on the Acropolis 200 years ago. We would say that cultural cooperation between the UK and Greece could rise to new heights, to the great benefit of all, if this problem were resolved.

As we celebrate 200 years since the renaissance of Greece, we have the unique opportunity to satisfy this just demand.