Greece’s Minister of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, led a high-level delegation on a visit to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina on Saturday, where they explored the library’s cultural and historical significance. The visit underscored the library’s role as a global beacon of knowledge and a bridge between civilizations.
The delegation, which included prominent figures such as His Eminence Metropolitan Ioannis of Voliotis, Dimitrios Sotiropoulos (President of the General State Archives of Greece), and Maria Diamanti (Adviser to the Minister of Education), was welcomed by Heba El-Rafie, Acting Head of the External Relations and Media Sector at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
The visit aimed to highlight the library’s cultural contributions both in Egypt and globally. During the tour, El-Rafie guided the group through various sections of the library, showcasing its vast array of exhibitions, museums, and cutting-edge digital projects. Minister Pierrakakis was also presented with a copy of Cairo’s Photographic Memory as a token of appreciation.
Exploring the Library’s Rich Collections
The Greek delegation toured several key areas of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, including the main reading hall, where they were introduced to the library’s advancements in digital technology and its innovative projects that enhance access to knowledge. They also visited several exhibitions, including Alexandria Across the Ages, the Manuscripts Museum, the Antiquities Museum, and the Bulaq Press Exhibition, each offering a unique insight into Egypt’s rich history and the library’s role in preserving it.
A highlight of the tour was the Kaaba Cover Exhibition and the museum dedicated to the late President Anwar Sadat. The delegation also attended a presentation at the Cultural Panorama (Culturama), which showcases Egypt’s historical and cultural evolution through immersive media.
Strengthening Cultural and Educational Ties
At the end of the tour, Minister Pierrakakis and his delegation expressed their admiration for the Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s immense cultural and historical significance. The Minister praised the library’s pivotal role in connecting cultures, promoting education, and fostering international dialogue.
Pierrakakis underscored the importance of the library as a bridge between Egypt, Greece, and the world. He emphasized that the library’s efforts in preserving and sharing knowledge play a crucial part in fostering mutual understanding among nations.
The visit was part of Pierrakakis’s wider agenda during his trip to Egypt, which also included a meeting with Egypt’s Minister of Education and Technical Education, Mohamed Abdel-Latif. The two ministers discussed potential collaborations aimed at enhancing pre-university education in both countries.
Pierrakakis’s trip highlights the growing ties between Egypt and Greece in the realms of education, culture, and heritage preservation, with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina playing a central role in facilitating dialogue and cooperation between the two nations.
