Catholic Church in Greece

Greek: Καθολική Εκκλησία στην Ελλάδα

Cathedral Basilica of St. Dionysius the Areopagite

Type| National polity
Classification| Catholic
Governance| Catholic Bishops' Conference of Greece
Pope| Leo XIV
Apostolic Nuncio| Savio Hon
Region| Greece
Language| Latin
Greek
Headquarters| Athens
Founder| Apostles Andrew and Paul
Origin| 1st century

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The Catholic Church in Greece is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. Indigenous Roman Catholic Greeks numbered about 50,000-70,000 in 2022[1] and were a religious and not an ethnic minority. Most of them are a remnant of Venetian and Genoese rule in southern Greece and many Greek islands (in both the Aegean and Ionian seas) from the early 13th until the late 18th century, Greeks who converted to Catholicism or descendants of the thousands of Bavarians that came to Greece in the 1830s as soldiers and civil administrators, accompanying King Otto. One very old but still common term to reference to them is Φράγκοι, or "Franks", dating to the times of the Byzantine Empire, when medieval Greeks would use that term to describe all Catholics.

Since the early 1990s however, the number of Catholic permanent residents of Greece has greatly increased; as of 2002, they numbered 200,000 at the very least, and probably more.[1] These Catholics are immigrants from Eastern Europe (especially Poland) or from the Philippines, but also include Western European immigrants that live permanently in Athens, Thessaloniki or the Greek islands (especially Crete, Syros, Rhodes and Corfu).

Today, the majority of Catholics live in Athens, a city of about four million people; the rest of them can be found all over Greece. Most indigenous Catholics live in the islands, and especially the Cyclades, where Syros and Tinos in particular have some entirely Catholic villages and parishes. Catholics can be found also in Corfu, Naxos, Santorini, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Rhodes, Kos, Crete, Samos, Lesbos and Chios. In the mainland, Catholic communities are smaller, and include those of Patras (a city that was home to a large Italian community until World War II), Thessaloniki, Kavala, Volos etc. In addition to Roman Catholics who represent the vast majority of the faithful, there were about 5,000 members of the Greek Byzantine Catholic Church[1] and a few hundred Armenian Catholics in 2002.

The Catholic Church itself states that "the total population of Catholics in Greece exceeds 350,000".[2] Other estimates suggested that there were 133,000 Catholics in Greece (1.22% of the population) in 2020.[3]

The Catholic Church is recognised by the Greek government and Catholic schools operate in the country.[4]

## History

[edit]

Before the division of the church in 1054, there were structures of the Catholic Church in Greece. Since the 5th century, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Thessalonica led the Illyrian Vicariate of the Latin Church. Until 1054, there was mutual recognition between the Latin and Byzantine communities in Greece.[citation needed]

After the separation of churches in 1054, a split occurred between these communities. After the church split and the conquest of Greece by the Ottoman Empire, the Greek Catholics began to be called "Franks" (Greek Φράγκοι). This name of local Catholics came from the faith professed by the Franks. Orthodox Greeks, distinguishing themselves from the Franks, called themselves the "Romans" (Greek Ρωμαιοι), identifying themselves with the Byzantine Empire, which considered itself the successor to the Roman Empire.

After the Fourth Crusade in 1204, the residence of the Latin patriarch with 12 dioceses subordinate to him was established in Constantinople. In 1205, Pope Innocent III established the Latin Archdiocese in Athens. Other Latin church structures were established at the same time. In Greece, various Western monastic orders also operated.

After the conquest of Byzantium by the Ottoman Empire in 1453 in Greece, the activity of the Latin structures gradually ceased and the dioceses of the Latin rite became titular. At the same time, until the 18th century, there were numerous Venetian colonies in Greece, which possessed considerable freedom.

In 1830, a gradual restoration of Church hierarchy began in Greece. That year, Pope Gregory XVI established the first Catholic Church hierarchy, which was called the apostolic delegate. In 1834, Bishop Blancis was appointed apostolic delegate and the Holy See entrusted him with the care of Roman Catholics living in Greece. On 23 July 1875 Pope Pius IX established the archdiocese of Athens and the Peloponnese.

In 1856, a community of Greek Eastern Catholics was formed in Constantinople, which became the basis of the Greek Byzantine Catholic Church.

In 1979, the Holy See established diplomatic relations with Greece.

## Popes from Greece

[edit]

A map of Emperor Justinian's Pentarchy. Almost all of modern Greece was under the jurisdiction of the Holy See of Rome. Emperor Leo III moved the border of the Patriarchate of Constantinople westward and northward in the 8th century.[5][6]

* Pope Hyginus
* Pope Eleutherius
* Pope Sixtus II

## Bishops' Conference

[edit]

The Bishops' Conference of Greece (Hiera Synodos Katholikis Hierarkhias Hellados) has six members:

* The archbishop of Corfu and apostolic administrator of Thessaloniki
* The archbishop of Naxos and Tinos and apostolic administrator of Chios
* The archbishop of Athens and apostolic administrator of Rhodes
* The bishop of Syros and Santorini and apostolic administrator of Crete
* The exarch of the Greek Catholics of Byzantine Rite (based in Athens)
* The ordinary of the Armenian Catholics (based in Athens)

## Papal representatives to Greece

[edit]

Main article: Apostolic Nunciature to Greece

Cathedral of Saint James and Saint Christopher in Corfu

## Organization

[edit]

Catholic Dioceses in Greece

### Latin Catholic

[edit]

* Archdiocese of Athens
* Archdiocese of Rhodos
* Archdiocese of Corfù, Zante and Cefalonia
* Archdiocese of Naxos, Andros, Tinos and Mykonos
* Diocese of Chios
* Diocese of Crete
* Diocese of Santorini
* Diocese of Syros and Milos
* Apostolic Vicariate of Thessaloniki

#### Dioceses

[edit]

* Catholic Archdiocese of Corfu
* Catholic Archdiocese of Rhodes
* Catholic Archdiocese of Naxos - Tinos
* Greek (Byzantine) Catholic Exarchate

#### Parishes

[edit]

* Catholic parish of Heraklion
* Catholic parish of Kavala
* Catholic parish of Patras
* Catholic parish of Thessaloniki
* German-speaking Catholic community in Greece
* Polish Catholic community in Greece

### Others

[edit]

* Caritas Hellas
* Jesuit Community in Greece

## Notable Greek Roman Catholics

[edit]

* Demetrios Kydones, theologian
* Ioannis Kyparissiotes, theologian
* Constantine Palaiologos, Last Byzantine emperor.
* Thomas Palaiologos, Despot of Morea
* Andreas Palaiologos, Despot of Morea
* Basilius Bessarion, scholar, theologian and cardinal
* Ioannis Argyropoulos, scholar
* Ioannis Kottounios, scholar
* Marcus Musurus, scholar
* Leo Allatius, scholar
* Francisco Leontaritis, composer
* Vincenzos Cornaros, poet, playwright
* Lorentzos Mavilis, poet and martyr
* Ioannis Andreas Kargas, bishop of Syros
* Dominikos Theotokopoulos ("El Greco"), painter
* Constantine Gerachis (Phaulkon), adventurer
* Ioannis Marangos, archbishop
* Markos Vamvakaris, musician
* Antonis Delatolas, publisher of To Pontiki
* Maria Korinthiou, actress

## Gallery

[edit]

* St. Andrew in Patras

* Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Thessaloniki

* St. Antonios, Rethymno

* Saint George's Cathedral, Syros

* Church of Presentation of the Lord in Naxos

* Assumption Cathedral, Chania (Capuchin)

* Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Fira

* St. Joseph, Alexandroupoli

* St. Nicolaus in Argostoli

* Metamorphosis church in Nafplio

## See also

[edit]

* Greek Byzantine Catholic Church
* List of Greek popes
* Religion in Greece
* Greek Orthodox Church

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Religious Freedom in Greece (September2002)". Greek Helsinki Monitor Minority Rights Group - Greece. Archived from the original (RTF) on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
2. ^ Catholic Church in Greece website, retrieved 2023-13-10
3. ^ Catholics and Culture website, retrieved 2023-08-08
4. ^ US State Dept 2022 report
5. ^ Deno John Geanakoplos, Byzantium: Church, Society, and Civilization Seen Through Contemporary Eyes (University of Chicago Press, 1984), p. 203
6. ^ A.P. Vlasto, The Entry of the Slavs into Christendom (Cambridge University Press, 1970, p. 308

## External links

[edit]

* Catholic Church in Greece

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Catholic Church in Greece

Holy Synod of Catholic Bishops of Greece

Active
dioceses|

* Archdiocese of Naxos, Tinos, Andros and Mykonos (Diocese of Chios
* Diocese of Crete
* Santorini
* Syros and Milos)
* Archdiocese of Corfu, Zakynthos, and Cephalonia
* Archdiocese of Athens
* Archdiocese of Rhodes
* Apostolic Vicariate of Thessaloniki

Historical|

* Archbishopric of Corinth
* Argos
* Archbishopric of Larissa
* Archbishopric of Neopatras
* Archbishopric of Traianopolis
* Archbishopric of Patras
* Coron (Koroni)
* Modon (Methoni)
* Archbishopric of Thebes
* Bishopric of Salona
* Bishopric of Christopolis
* Bishopric of Berrhœa
* Bishopric of Chalcis
* Bishopric of Hierissus/Geriso
* Bishopric of Carpathus
* Bishopric of Kastoria
* Bishopric of Olena
* Diocese of Cea
* Diocese of Tinos and Mykonos
* Diocese of Milos
* Diocese of Lacedaemon
* Diocese of Cidonia
* Diocese of Massimianopolis
* Diocese of Chiron/Chersonesus
* Diocese of Hierapetra and Sitia
* Diocese of Marmaritzana
* Diocese of Cardica
* Diocese of Cephalonia and Zakynthos
* Diocese of Aulon
* Diocese of Amyclae
* Diocese of Andros
* Apostolic Prefecture of Rhodes and adjacent islands

Major churches|

* Cathedral Basilica of St. Dionysius the Areopagite (Athens)
* Saint George's Cathedral (Syros)
* Cathedral of Saint James and Saint Christopher (Corfu)
* Assumption Cathedral (Chania)
* St. John the Baptist Cathedral (Santorini)
* St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral (Rhodes)
* Immaculate Conception Cathedral (Thessaloniki)
* St. Andrew Cathedral (Patras)
* Catholic Church of Metamorphosis, Nafplio
* St. Paul Church (Piraeus)
* Church of Assumption of Theotokos (Mytilene)
* St. Paul Church (Kavala)
* Sacred Heart of Jesus (Larissa)
* St. Mark's Roman Catholic Church (Zakynthos)
* Church of Presentation of the Lord (Naxos)
* Catholic Church of Theotokos (Samos)
* St. Nicolaus Church (Chios)
* St. Nicolaus Church (Argostoli)
* St. Nicolaus Church (Tinos)
* St. Antonios Church (Rethymno)
* St. Joseph (Alexandroupoli)
* Three Bells of Fira

Greek/Byzantine (Eastern Rite)|

* Greek Byzantine Catholic Church
* Greek Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Greece
* Holy Trinity Cathedral, Athens

Armenian (Oriental) Rite|

* Armenian Catholic Church
* Ordinariate for Catholics of Armenian Rite in Greece
* St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, Athens

See also|

* Greece–Holy See relations
* Apostolic Nunciature to Greece
* Popes from Greece
* Pentarchy

* Catholicism portal
* Greece portal

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other entities|

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Frankokratia (1204–1797)

History|

* Fourth Crusade
* Constantinople 1203
* Constantinople 1204
* Partitio Romaniae
* Kountouras Grove
* Treaty of Nymphaeum
* Constantinople 1235
* Genoese occupation of Rhodes
* War of the Euboeote Succession
* Pelagonia
* Constantinople 1260
* Constantinople 1261
* Treaty of Viterbo
* Prinitza
* Makryplagi
* Settepozzi
* Neopatras
* Demetrias
* Revolt of Alexios Kallergis
* Hospitaller conquest of Rhodes
* Halmyros
* Manolada
* Byzantine–Genoese War
* Revolt of Saint Titus
* Echinades
* Rhodes 1444
* Vlastos' conspiracy
* 1st Ottoman–Venetian War
* Rhodes 1480
* 2nd Ottoman–Venetian War
* Rhodes 1522
* 3rd Ottoman–Venetian War
* 4th Ottoman–Venetian War
* 5th Ottoman–Venetian War
* Siege of Candia
* 6th Ottoman–Venetian War
* 7th Ottoman–Venetian War
* Fall of the Republic of Venice
* Treaty of Campo Formio

Major centres|

| Cities|

* Constantinople
* Thessaloniki
* Glarentza
* Patras
* Athens

|

Islands|

* Crete
* Chios
* Lesbos
* Rhodes
* Naxos

States and territories|

* Latin Empire
* Kingdom of Thessalonica
* Principality of Achaea
* Akova
* Arcadia
* Argos and Nauplia
* Bodonitsa
* Chalandritsa
* Estamira
* Geraki
* Gritzena
* Kalavryta
* Karytaina
* Nikli
* Passavant
* Patras
* Veligosti and Damala
* Vostitsa
* Duchy of Athens
* Salona
* Duchy of Neopatras
* County Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos
* Lordship of Chios
* Maona of Chios and Phocaea
* Catalan Company
* Navarrese Company
* Hospitaller Rhodes
* Triarchy of Negroponte
* Duchy of the Archipelago
* Stato da Màr of the Republic of Venice
* Crete
* Durazzo
* Ionian Islands
* Modon and Coron
* Kingdom of the Morea
* Lepanto
* Parga
* Preveza
* Kingdom of Albania

People|

* Latin Emperors
* Latin Empresses
* Latin Patriarchate of Constantinople
* Princes of Achaea
* Princesses of Achaea
* Family tree
* Baillis of Achaea
* Archbishops of Patras
* Archbishops of Corinth
* Tocco
* Carlo I
* Acciaioli
* Antonio I
* Angevins
* Charles I of Naples
* Gattilusi
* Pallavicini family
* Villehardouin family
* Geoffrey I
* William II
* Marco I Sanudo
* Boniface I, Marquess of Montferrat
* Knights Hospitaller
* Pierre d'Aubusson
* Juan Fernández de Heredia
* Philippe Villiers de L'Isle-Adam
* Foulques de Villaret
* Roger de Flor
* Zaccaria
* Benedetto I
* Martino
* Centurione II

Cultural impact|

* Chronicle of the Morea
* Chronicle of the Tocco
* Assizes of Romania
* Catholic Church in the Middle East
* Latin Church in the Middle East
* Latins
* Catholic Church in Greece
* Cretan school
* Cretan literature
* Heptanese school (painting)
* Cuisine of Greece

Monuments|

| Frankish|

* Argyrokastro Castle
* Chlemoutsi
* Exomvourgo
* Fortifications of Rhodes
* Grand Magne
* Isova
* Old Navarino castle
* Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes
* Platamon Castle
* Zaraka Monastery

|

Genoese|

* Castle of Chios
* Castle of Mytilene

Venetian|

* Arkadi Monastery
* Bourtzi Castle
* Frangokastello
* Fortezza of Rethymno
* Fortifications of Chania
* Fortifications of Heraklion
* Gouverneto Monastery
* Koules Fortress
* Toplou Monastery
* New Fortress, Corfu
* Old Fortress, Corfu
* Palamidi

* v
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Religion in Greece

* Greek Orthodoxy (Church of Greece, Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople)
* Roman Catholic Church (Greek Catholicism)
* Protestantism

* Islam (Muslim minority)
* Judaism
* Hellenism
* Hinduism
* Sikhism
* Buddhism

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Christianity in Greece

Eastern Christianity|

| Eastern Orthodox
(Main article)|

| Eastern
Orthodox
Church|

* Church of Greece
* Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
* Church of Crete
* Mount Athos

|

True Orthodox|

* Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece

Oriental Orthodox|

* Armenian Apostolic Church

Catholic|

* Armenian Catholic Church
* Greek Catholic Church

Protestant|

* Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East

Western Christianity|

| Catholic|

* Roman Catholic Church

|

Protestant
(Main article)|

| Calvinist|

* Evangelical Church of Greece

|

Methodist|

* Church of the Nazarene in Greece
* Free Methodist Church in Greece

Pentecostal|

* Apostolic Church of Pentecost of Greece
* Evangelical Charismatic Fellowship of Greece
* Free Apostolic Church of Pentecost
* Synod of Greek Pentecostal Churches

Other|

* Free Evangelical Churches

Interdenominational
organisations|

* Pan-Hellenic Evangelical Alliance

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