MS MOROPOULOU PRESENTS REPORT ON WORKS ON THE AEDICULA OF THE HOLY SEPULCHER

On Wednesday, the 14^th/27th of January, Professor Antonia Moropoulou of the National Technical University of Athens presented the “Comprehensive Programme of Diagnostic Research and Strategic Planning of Materials and Interventions for the Conservation and Restoration of the Holy Aedicula of the All-holy Sepulcher in the Church of the Resurrection”. The presentation took place at the Greek Consulate-General.

This innovative research was conducted by the NTUA as Ms Moropoulou.co-ordinated the Interdisciplinary Team, namely:

Professor A. Georgopoulos, School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, Workshop of Photogrammetry; Professor E. Korres, School of Architects, Head of the Interdepartmental Programme for the preservation of monuments; Professor Moropoulou, School of Chemical Engineers, Director of Studies at the “Materials and Conservation Interventions” Graduate Programme; Professor K. Spyrakos, School of Civil Engineering, Laboratory for Earthquake Technology.

The presentation was made to the Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, whilst on a visit to Israel, His Beatitude Theophilos, Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, Archbishop Isidoros of Hierapolis, Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda, Assistant Dragoman Archimandrite Bartholomew, the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr Zacharoudiakis, Mr Koinis, and Mr Theodosios Mitropolous, head of architectural works in the Church of the Resurrection.

At the presentation, Patriarch Theophilos addressed the Greek Prime Minister, saying that the Patriarchate, in collaboration with the Christian Communities of the Franciscans and the Armenians, took on the initiative to enter into an agreement with the National Technical University of Athens, under the scientific responsibility of Professor Antonia Moropoulou of the NTUA. The agreement provides for innovative interdisciplinary research.

Ms Moropoulou went on to present the report, which is developed across the following fields:

1. Documentation – Diagnosis

1.1 Geometrical Documentation (Under the scientific direction of Prof. A. Georgopoulos))

1.2 Architectural Documentation: Form, structure, structural damages (Under the scientific direction of Prof E. Korres)

1.3 Documentation and characterization of building materials and diagnosis of attrition and pathology (Under the scientific direction of Prof A. Moropoulou)

1.3.1 Non-destructive Control of Expansion / Imaging of Interior Structure of the Holy Aedicula of the Holy Sepulcher with the use of GeoRadar

1.3.2 Documentation and characterization of building materials and diagnosis of attrition

1.4 Dynamic characteristics of the Holy Aedicula of the Holy Sepulcher (Under the scientific direction of Assistant Prof. Ch. Mouzakis)

1.5 Evaluation of Current Condition Against Static and Seismic Loads of the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulcher (Under the scientific direction of Prof. K. Spyrakos)

2. Proposal

2.1 Materials and Interventions for Conservation, Reinforcement and Restoration (Under the scientific direction of Prof. A. Moropoulou)

2.2 Evaluation of Structural Adequacy of Proposed Materials and Conservation Interventions (Under the scientific direction of Prof. K. Spyrakos)

2.3 Planning of Interventions for Conservation, Reinforcement and Restoration (Under the scientific direction of Prof. E. Korres)

2.4 Organization of Construction Site (Under the scientific direction of Assistant Professor Ch. Mouzakis)

3. Perspectives

The development of the project by the interdisciplinary team of the NTUA will include continuous documentation and diagnosis to allow for readjustment of the study on the basis of real data.

On the conclusion of the scientific presentation, the Greek Prime Minister and the Patriarch alike congratulated Ms Moropoulou on her scientific precision, dedication, diligence and conscientiousness and extended wishes that pious sources be found to cover the cost of the execution of the report.

From the Secretariat-General

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