Church of Greece

Autocephalous church of Eastern Orthodox Christianity

"Orthodox Church of Greece" redirects here. For the Old Calendarist church by that name, see Orthodox Church of Greece (Holy Synod in Resistance). For the larger body of Eastern Orthodox Christians referred to by a similar name, see Greek Orthodox Church.

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Church of Greece

Ancient Greek: Ἐκκλησία τῆς Ἑλλάδος
Modern Greek: Εκκλησία της Ελλάδος

Seal of the Church of Greece

Classification| Eastern Orthodox
Orientation| Greek Orthodoxy
Scripture| Septuagint, New Testament
Theology| Eastern Orthodox theology, Palamism
Polity| Episcopal
Primate| Ieronymos II of Athens
Bishops| 101
Priests| 8,515
Monastics| 3,541
Monasteries| 541
Language| Greek (Katharevousa)
Liturgy| Byzantine Rite
Headquarters| Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens and Petraki Monastery, Athens, Greece
Territory| Greece (except Crete and the Dodecanese), Mount Athos, and Greek Orthodox churches in the Diaspora[1][2]
Founder| Dionysius the Areopagite (tradition)
Origin|
Achaea, Roman Empire
Independence| 1833
Recognition| Autocephaly recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1850 (Tomos dated June 29, 1850)
Separations| Greek Old Calendarists
(Orthodox Church of Greece) (1979)
Members| ~10,003,402 (in Greece)[1]
~5,250,000 (in Diaspora)[2]
=approximately 15,253,402 (total)
Official website| ecclesia.gr
Part of a series on the

Eastern Orthodox Church

Mosaic of Christ Pantocrator, Hagia Sophia

Overview

* Structure
* Theology (History of theology)
* Liturgy
* Church history
* Holy Mysteries
* View of Salvation
* View of Mary
* View of icons

Background

* Crucifixion / Resurrection / Ascension
of Jesus

* Christianity
* Christian Church
* Apostolic succession
* Four Marks of the Church
* Orthodoxy

Organization

* Autonomy
* Autocephaly
* Patriarchate
* Ecumenical Patriarch
* Episcopal polity
* Canon law
* Clergy
* Bishops
* Priests
* Deacons
* Monasticism
* Degrees
* Bratstvo

Autocephalous jurisdictions

Autocephalous Churches who are officially part of the communion:

* Constantinople
* Alexandria
* Antioch
* Jerusalem
* Russia
* Serbia
* Romania
* Bulgaria
* Georgia
* Cyprus
* Greece
* Poland
* Albania
* Czech Lands and Slovakia

Autocephaly recognized by some autocephalous Churches de jure:

* America
* North Macedonia

Autocephaly and canonicity recognized by Constantinople and 3 other autocephalous Churches:

* Ukraine (OCU)

Spiritual independence recognized by Georgian Orthodox Church:

* Ukraine (UOC)

Autonomous jurisdictions

* Sinai (JP)
* Finland (EP)
* Estonia (EP)
* Japan (MP)
* China (MP)
* Americas (RP)
* Bessarabia (RP)
* Moldova (MP)

Semi-Autonomous:

* Crete (EP)
* Estonia (MP)
* ROCOR (MP)

Episcopal assemblies

* Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania
* Austria
* Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg
* Canada
* France
* Germany
* Great Britain and Ireland
* Italy and Malta
* Latin America
* Scandinavia
* Spain and Portugal
* Switzerland and Liechtenstein
* United States of America

Noncanonical jurisdictions

* Old Believers
* Spiritual Christianity
* True Orthodoxy
* Catacomb Church
* Old Calendarists
* American Orthodox Catholic Church
* American World Patriarchs

* National churches:

*     * Abkhazia
* Belarus
* Italy
* Latvia
* Montenegro
* Turkey
* UOC–KP

* Evangelical Orthodox

Ecumenical councils

* First Seven Ecumenical Councils:

* Nicaea I
* Constantinople I
* Ephesus
* Chalcedon
* Constantinople II
* Constantinople III
* Nicaea II

* Other possible ecumenical councils:

* Constantinople IV
* Constantinople V

* Other important councils:

* Quinisext Council
* Jassy
* Moscow
* Jerusalem
* Constantinople (1872)

History

* Church Fathers
* Pentarchy
* Byzantine Empire
* Christianization of Georgia
* Christianization of Bulgaria
* Christianization of Kievan Rus'
* Great Schism
* Russia
* Ottoman Empire
* North America
* Moscow–Constantinople schism
* 15th–16th c.
* 1996
* 2018

Theology

* History of Eastern Orthodox theology
* (20th century (Neo-Palamism))

* Apophaticism
* Chrismation
* Contemplative prayer
* Essence vs. Energies
* Hesychasm
* Holy Trinity
* Hypostatic union
* Icons
* Metousiosis
* Mystical theology
* Nicene Creed
* Nepsis
* Oikonomia vs Akribeia
* Ousia
* Palamism
* Philokalia
* Phronema
* Sin
* Theosis
* Theotokos

* Differences from the Catholic Church
* Opposition to the Filioque
* Opposition to papal supremacy

Liturgy and worship

* Divine Liturgy
* Divine Services

* Akathist
* Apolytikion
* Artos
* Ectenia
* Euchologion
* Holy Water
* Iconostasis
* Jesus Prayer
* Aprakos
* Kontakion
* Liturgical entrances
* Liturgical fans
* Lity
* Memorial service
* Memory Eternal
* Omophorion
* Eastern Orthodox bowing
* Eastern Orthodox marriage
* Praxis
* Paraklesis
* Paschal greeting
* Paschal Homily
* Paschal troparion
* Prayer rope
* Prosphora
* Russian bell ringing
* Semantron
* Sign of the cross
* Sticheron
* Troparion
* Vestments
* Use of incense

Liturgical calendar

* Paschal cycle
* 12 Great Feasts
* Other feasts:

* Feast of Orthodoxy
* Intercession of the Theotokos

* The four fasting periods:

* Nativity Fast
* Great Lent
* Apostles' Fast
* Dormition Fast

Major figures

Saints (Russian (until 15th century), Russian (post-15th century), Serbian, American)

* Justin Martyr
* Athanasius of Alexandria
* Ephraim the Syrian
* Basil of Caesarea
* Cyril of Jerusalem
* Gregory of Nazianzus
* Gregory of Nyssa
* John Chrysostom
* Cyril of Alexandria
* John Climacus
* Maximus the Confessor
* John of Damascus
* Theodore the Studite
* Kassia
* Cyril and Methodius
* Photius I of Constantinople
* Vladimir the Great
* Sava I of Serbia
* Gregory Palamas
* Innocent of Alaska

Other topics

* Architecture
* Folk
* Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs
* Cross
* Saint titles
* Statistics by country

* v
* t
* e

The Church of Greece (Greek: Ἐκκλησία τῆς Ἑλλάδος, romanized: Ekklēsía tē̂s Helládos, IPA: [ekliˈsi.a tis eˈlaðos]), part of the wider Greek Orthodox Church, is one of the autocephalous churches which make up the communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Its canonical territory is confined to the borders of Greece prior to the Balkan Wars of 1912–1913 ("Old Greece"), with the rest of Greece (the "New Lands", Crete, and the Dodecanese) being subject to the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. However, most of the dioceses of the Metropolises of the New Lands are de facto administered as part of the Church of Greece for practical reasons, under an agreement between the churches of Athens and Constantinople. The primate of the Church of Greece is the archbishop of Athens and All Greece.

## Prevailing religion of Greece

[edit]

According to the constitution, Greek Orthodoxy is the prevailing religion of Greece; this is reinforced by displays of the Greek flag and national emblem at church properties.

Adherence to the Eastern Orthodox Church was established as a definitive hallmark of Greek ethnic identity in the first modern Greek constitution, the "Epidaurus Law" of 1822, during the Greek War of Independence. The preamble of all subsequent Greek constitutions simply states "In the name of the Holy, Consubstantial, and Indivisible Trinity" and the Orthodox Church of Christ is established as the "prevailing" religion of Greece.

Mainstream Orthodox clergy salaries and pensions are paid by the State, at rates comparable to those of teachers. The church had previously compensated the State by a tax of 35% on ordinary revenues of the church but, in 2004, this tax was abolished by Law 3220/2004. By virtue of its status as the prevailing religion, the canon law of the Church is recognized by the Greek government in matters pertaining to church administration. This is governed by the "Constitution of the Church of Greece", which was voted by Parliament into law. Religious marriages and baptisms are legally equivalent to their civil counterparts and the relevant certificates are issued by officiating clergy. All Greek Orthodox students in primary and secondary schools in Greece attend religious instruction. Liaisons between church and state are handled by the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs.

## Church hierarchy

[edit]

The religious jurisdictions of the Church of Greece (in blue) in Greece

Supreme authority is vested in the synod of all the diocesan bishops who have metropolitan status (the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, Greek: Ἱερὰ Σύνοδος τῆς Ἐκκλησίας τῆς Ἑλλάδος Hierà Sýnodos tês Ekklēsías tês Helládos [ieˈra ˈsinoðos tis ekliˈsias tis eˈlaðos]) under the de jure presidency of the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece. This synod deals with general church issues. The Standing Synod is under the same presidency, and consists of the Primate and 12 bishops; each members serves for one term on a rotating basis and deals with administrative details.

The church is organized into 81 dioceses, of which 36, located in northern Greece and in the major islands in the north and northeast Aegean, are nominally and spiritually under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The Patriarchate retains certain privileges over and in them—for example, their bishops have to acknowledge the Patriarch as their own primate during prayers. They are called the "New Lands" (Νέαι Χώραι, or Néai Chōrai) as they became part of the modern Greek state only after the Balkan Wars, and are represented by 6 of the 12 bishops of the Standing Synod. A bishop elected to one of the Sees of the New Lands has to be confirmed by the Patriarch of Constantinople before assuming his duties. These dioceses are administered by the Church of Greece "in stewardship" and their bishops retain their right of appeal (the "ékklēton") to the Patriarch.

The dioceses of Crete (Church of Crete), the Dodecanese, and the Monastic state of Holy Mount Athos remain under the direct jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople; they are not part of the Church of Greece. The Archdiocese of Crete enjoys semiautonomous status: new bishops are elected by the local Synod of incumbents, and the Archbishop is appointed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate from a three-person list (the triprósōpon) drawn by the Greek Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs from among the incumbent Metropolitans of Crete.

## Clergy and monastics

[edit]

As in other Orthodox Christian churches, male graduates of seminaries run by the church (and financed by the Greek State) may be ordained as deacons and eventually priests. They are allowed to marry before their ordination as deacons, but not afterwards. The vast majority of parish clergy in Greece are married. Alternatively, they may enter monasteries and/or take monastic vows. Monastics who are ordained as priests and possess a university degree in theology are eligible as candidates for the episcopate (archimandrites). Women may also take monastic vows and become nuns, but they are not ordained.

Monasteries are either affiliated to their local diocese, or directly to one of the Orthodox Patriarchates; in the latter case they are called "Stauropegiac" monasteries (Stayropēgiaká, "springs of the Cross").

## Old Calendarists

[edit]

Main article: Greek Old Calendarists

A split (schism) occurred within the church in 1924 when the Holy Synod decided to replace the Old Calendar (Julian) with a hybrid calendar—the so-called "Revised Julian Calendar"—which maintained a modified Julian dating method for Pascha while adopting the Gregorian Calendar date for fixed feasts. Those who refused to adopt this change are known as Old Calendarists (palaioimerologites in Greek) and still follow the old Julian Calendar. They themselves have suffered several schisms, and not all Old Calendarists comprise one church. They refer to themselves as "Genuine Orthodox Christians". The largest group associating itself with Old Calendarists is the Synod of deceased Archbishop Chrysostomos II Kioussis (Kallinikos Sarantopoulos as of today). This Synod obtained government recognition as a valid Orthodox church, although it is not in communion with the Church of Greece nor with the other Eastern Orthodox churches.

## History

[edit]

Main articles: Orthodoxy in Greece and Greek Orthodox Church

Paul the Apostle delivering the Areopagus sermon in Athens. Raphael, 1515 Dionysius the Areopagite, first bishop of Athens Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens St Andrew's Cathedral, Patras

Greece was an early center of Christianity. Upon formation of the Patriarchate, the Church was formerly a part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Under Ottoman rule, the Muslims exercised no control over the church. With the establishment of the Greek kingdom, however, the government decided to take control of the church, breaking away from the patriarch in Constantinople. The government declared the church to be autocephalous in 1833 in a political decision of the Bavarian Regents acting for King Otto, who was a minor. The decision roiled Greek politics for decades as royal authorities took increasing control. The new status was finally recognized as such by the Patriarchate in 1850, under compromise conditions with the issue of a special "Tomos" decree which brought it back to a normal status. As a result, it retains certain special links with the "mother church". There were only four bishops, and they had political roles.[3]

In 1833, Parliament dissolved 400 small monasteries having fewer than five monks or nuns. These monasteries played an important role in preserving the Greek language along with arts and tradition through generations of monks.[4] Priests were not salaried; in rural areas they were peasant farmers themselves, dependent for their livelihood on their farm work and from fees and offerings by parishioners. Their ecclesiastical duties were limited to administering the sacraments, supervising funerals, the blessings of crops, and exorcism. Few attended seminaries. By the 1840s, there was a nationwide revival, run by travelling preachers. The government arrested several and tried to shut down the revival, but it proved too powerful when the revivalists denounced three bishops for purchasing their office. By the 1880s the "Anaplasis" ("Regeneration") Movement led to renewed spiritual energy and enlightenment. It fought against the rationalistic and materialistic ideas that had seeped in from secular Western Europe. It promoted catechism schools and Bible study circles.[5]

### Zoë movement

[edit]

The 20th-century religious revival was led by the Zoë movement, which was founded in 1911. It's a christian sect that deviates away from the principles of Greek Orthodox Church. Based in Athens but operating in decentralized fashion, it reached a membership of laymen as well as some priests. The main activities include publications and the nationwide Sunday School movement in 7,800 churches reaching 150,000 students. Zoë sponsored numerous auxiliaries and affiliated groups, including organizations for professional men, youth, parents, and young women nurses. A strong effort was made to circulate Bibles, illustrated novels, pamphlets, and other religious materials. A liturgical movement encouraged the laity to a greater awareness in the Eucharist, and more frequent Communion.[6] Seminaries were built in the 20th century, but most of the graduates entered teaching rather than parish work. In 1920, only 800 of Greece's 4,500 priests had any education beyond the elementary level. By 1959, out of 7,000 priests no more than five percent had completed university and seminary training. Monastic life declined sharply, although it continued at remote Mount Athos. Routine church life was highly disrupted by the Second World War and subsequent civil war, with many churches burned, and hundreds of priests and monks killed by the Germans on the one hand or the Communists on the other.[7]

## Administration and Hierarchy of the Throne

[edit]

Head of the Church of Greece and of the Holy Synod is Archbishop Ieronymos II (Ioannis Liapis), Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (2008–).

### Metropolises and metropolitans of the Church of Greece

[edit]

* Metropolis of Aetolia and Acarnania: Damaskinos Kiametis (2022–)
* Metropolis of Argolis: Nektarios Anttonopoulos (2013–)
* Metropolis of Arta: Kallinikos Korombokis (2016–)
* Metropolis of Cephalonia: Dimitrios Argiros (2015–)
* Metropolis of Chalcis, Istiaia and Sporades Islands: Chrysostomos (Konstantinos) Triantafyllou (2001–)
* Metropolis of Corfu, Paxoi and the Diapontian Islands: Nektarios (Dimitrios) Dovas (2002–)
* Metropolis of Corinth: Dionysios Mantalos (2006–)
* Metropolis of Demetrias and Almyros: Ignatios (Panagiotis) Georgakopoulos (1998–)
* Metropolis of Elis and Olena: Athanasios Bachos (2022–)
* Metropolis of Glyfada and Aexoni: Antonios Avramiotis (2019–)
* Metropolis of Gortyna and Megalopolis: Nikiforos Eustathiou (2022–)
* Metropolis of Gytheion and Oitylo (Metropolis of Mani from 2010): Chrysostomos Papathanasiou (2018–)
* Metropolis of Hydra, Spetses and Aegina: Ephraem (Evangelos) Stenakis (2001–)
* Metropolis of Kalavrita and Aigialeia: Ieronymos (Nikolaos) Karmas (2019–)
* Metropolis of Karpenisi: Georgios Rempelos (2016–)
* Metropolis of Karystos and Skyros: Seraphim (Sokrates) Roris (1968–)
* Metropolis of Kessariani, Vyronas and Hymettus: Daniel (Dionysios) Pourtsouklis (2000–)
* Metropolis of Kifissia, Amaroussion and Oropos: Kyrillos (Konstantinos) Misiakoulis1 (2010–)
* Metropolis of Kythira: Seraphim (lambros) Stergioulis (2005–)
* Metropolis of Ilion, Acharnes and Petroupolis: Athenagoras (Georgios) Dikaiakos1 (2010–)
* Metropolis of Larissa and Tyrnavos: Hieronimos Nikolopoulos (2018–)
* Metropolis of Leucada and Ithaca: Theofilos (Konstantinos) Manolatos (2008–)
* Metropolis of Mantineia and Kynouria: Alexandros Papadopoulos (1995–)
* Metropolis of Megara and Salamis: Konstantinos Giakoumakis (2014–)
* Metropolis of Mesogeia and Lavreotiki: Nikolaos Hatzinikolaou (2004–)
* Metropolis of Messinia: Chrysostomos (Georgios) Savvatos (2007–)
* Metropolis of Monemvasia and Sparta: Eustathios (Konstantinos) Speliotis (1980–)
* Metropolis of Nafpaktos and Agios Vlasios: Hierotheos Vlachos (1995–)
* Metropolis of Nea Ionia and Philadelphia: Gabriel Papanicolaou [el] (2014–)
* Metropolis of New Smyrna: Symeon (Periklis) Koutsas (2002–)
* Metropolis of Nicaea: Alexios Vryonis (1995–)
* Metropolis of Paronaxia (Paros, Naxos and Antiparos): Kallinikos (Nikolaos) Demenopoulos (2008–)
* Metropolis of Patras: Chrysostomos (Christos) Sklifas (2005–)
* Metropolis of Peristeri: Gregorios Papathomas (2021–)
* Metropolis of Phocis: Theoktistos (Theodore) Kloukinas (2014–)
* Metropolis of Phthiotis: Symeon Voliotis (2019–)
* Metropolis of Piraeus: Seraphim Mentzenopoulos (2006–)
* Metropolis of Stagi and Meteora: Theoklitos Lamprinakos (2017–)
* Metropolis of Syros, Tinos, Andros, Kea and Milos: Dorotheos Polykandriotis (2001–)
* Metropolis of Thessaliotida, Fanari and Pharsalos: Timotheos (Nikolaos) Anthis (2014–)
* Metropolis of Thebes and Livadeia: Georgios Matzouranis (2008–)
* Metropolis of Thera, Amorgos and the Islands: Amfilochios Rousakis (2021–)
* Metropolis of Trifyllia and Olympia: Chrysostomos (Alexandros) Stavropoulos (2007–)
* Metropolis of Trikke and Stagi2: Chrysostomos Nasis (2015–), the metropolis was renamed "Trikis, Gardikiou and Pylis" in 2021
* Metropolis of Zakynthos and Strophades: Dionysios (Dimitrios) Sifnaios (2011–)

Notes
1 In 2010 the Metropolis of Attica was split into 2 new Metropolises, the Metropolis of Kifissia, Amaroussion and Oropos (temporary Vicar: the Metropolitan of Mesogeia) and the Metropolis of Ilion, Acharnes and Petroupolis (temporary Vicar: the Metropolitan of Megara)
2 The Metropolis of Trikke was separated from the Metropolis of Stagi (and Meteora) in 1981 but still bears the titular name "Trikke and Stagi"

### Titular metropolises and metropolitans

[edit]

* Metropolis of Acheloos (Agrinio): Vacant
* Metropolis of Achaia: Athanasios Hatzopoulos (2007–)

### Titular dioceses and bishops

[edit]

* Diocese of Euripos: Chrysostomos (Marios) Panagopoulos (2019–)
* Diocese of Stavropigi: Alexios (Stamatios) Psoinos (2023–)
* Diocese of Christopolis: Vacant
* Diocese of Velestino: Damaskinos (Ioannis) Kasanakis (2003–)
* Diocese of Koronia: Panteleimon Kathreptidis (2003–)
* Diocese of Neochori: Pavlos Athanatos (1995–)
* Diocese of Marathon: Vacant
* Diocese of Thermopylae: Ioannis Sakellariou (2000–)
* Diocese of Fanari: Agathangelos (Vasileios) Haramantidis (2003–)
* Diocese of Photice : Nektarios (Ioannis) Milionis (2023–)
* Diocese of Tanagra: Apostolos Kavaliotis (2023–)
* Diocese of Christianoupolis: Prokopios Petridis (2010–)
* Diocese of Eleusis: Dorotheos Mourtsoukos (2009–)
* Diocese of Rentina: Vacant
* Diocese of Androusa: Constantios Panagiotakopoulos (2018–)
* Diocese of Epidaurus: Vacant
* Diocese of Oleni: Vacant

### Metropolises and metropolitans of the New Lands

[edit]

(under the jurisdiction of Constantinople until 1928, then under Athens; except the Dodecanese)

* Metropolis of Alexandroupolis: Anthimos (Christos) Koukouridis (2004–)
* Metropolis of Chios, Psara and Inousses and Exarchate of All Ionia: Markos Vasilakis (1965–)
* Metropolis of Didymoteichon and Orestias and Exarchate of Haemimontos: Damaskinos (Minas) Karpathakis (2009–)
* Metropolis of Drama: Dorotheos Paparis (2022–)
* Metropolis of Dryinoupolis, Pogoniani and Konitsa and Exarchate of Northern Epirus: Andreas Trebelas (1995–)
* Metropolis of Edessa, Pella and Almopia: Ioel (Panagiotis) Fragkakis (2002–)
* Metropolis of Elassona and Exarchate of Mount Olympus: Hariton Toumpas (2014–)
* Metropolis of Eleftheroupolis and Exarchate of Pangaeon: Chrysostomos (Ioannis) Avajianos (2004–)
* Metropolis of Florina, Prespes and Eordaia: Ireneus (Marios) Laftsis (2023–)
* Metropolis of Goumenissa, Axioupoli and Polykastro: Dimitrios Bekiaris-Mavrogonatos (1991–)
* Metropolis of Grevena: David Tzioumakas (2014–)
* Metropolis of Ierissos, Mount Athos and Ardameri: Theoklitos Athanasopoulos (2012–)
* Metropolis of Ioannina and Exarchate of Epirus: Maximos Papagiannis (2014–)
* Metropolis of Kassandria and Exarchate of All the Thermaic Gulf: Nikodemos (Konstantinos) Korakis (2001–)
* Metropolis of Kastoria and Exarchate of Upper Macedonia: Kallinikos Georgatos (2021–)
* Metropolis of Kitros, Katerini and Platamonas and Exarchate of Pieria: Georgios Chrysostomou (2014–)
* Metropolis of Langadas: Platon Krikris (2021–)
* Metropolis of Lemnos and Agios Efstratios and Exarchate of the North Aegean: Ierotheos Calogeropoulos (2019–)
* Metropolis of Maronia and Komotini and Exarchate of Rhodope: Panteleimon Moutafis (2013–)
* Metropolis of Mithymna: Chrysostomos (Kyriakos) Kalamatianos (1984–)
* Metropolis of Mytilini, Eresos and Plomari: Iakovos Frantzis (1988–)
* Metropolis of Neapolis and Stavroupolis: Varnavas (Markos) Tyris (2004–)
* Metropolis of Nea Krini and Kalamaria: Ioustinos Bardakas (2015–)
* Metropolis of Zichni and Nevrokopion: Ierotheos (Dimitrios) Tsoliakos (2003–)
* Metropolis of Nicopolis and Preveza and Exarchate of Old Epirus: Chrysostomos Tsirigkas (2012–)
* Metropolis of Paramythia, Filiates, Giromeri and Parga and Exarchate of Thesprotia: Serapion (Ioannis) Michalakis (2023–)
* Metropolis of Philippi, Neapolis and Thasos: Stefanos Tolios (2017–)
* Metropolis of Polyani and Kilkision: Bartholomew Antoniou-Triantafyllides (2021–)
* Metropolis of Samos and Ikaria: Eusebios (Evangelos) Pistolis (1995–)
* Metropolis of Serres and Nigrita: Theologos (Ioannis) Apostolidis (2003–)
* Metropolis of Servia and Kozani: Pavlos Papalexiou (2004–)
* Metropolis of Siderokastron: Makarios (Sotirios) Philotheou (2001–)
* Metropolis of Sisanion and Siatista: Athanasios Giannousas (2019–)
* Metropolis of Thessaloniki: Filotheos (Theocharis) Theocharis (2023–)
* Metropolis of Veria and Naousa: Panteleimon (Ioannis) Kalpakidis (1994–)
* Metropolis of Xanthi and Peritheorion and Exarchate of Western Thrace: Panteleimon (Michael) Kalaphatis (1995–)

## See also

[edit]

* Christianity portal
* Greece portal

* History of the Eastern Orthodox Church
* Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece
* List of Archbishops of Athens
* National church
* Religion in Greece

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Church of Greece". oikoumene.org. Le Grand-Saconnex, Switzerland: World Council of Churches. January 1948. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
2. ^ a b "Ecumenical Patriarchate". oikoumene.org. Le Grand-Saconnex, Switzerland: World Council of Churches. January 1948. Archived from the original on 12 December 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
3. ^ Kenneth Scott Latourette,  Christianity in a Revolutionary Age, II: The Nineteenth Century in Europe: The Protestant and Churches. (1959) 2: 479–481
4. ^ "Monasteries". VisitGreece.
5. ^ Latourette,  Christianity in a Revolutionary Age (1959) 2: 481–483
6. ^ Demetrios J. Constantelos, The "Zoë Movement in Greece," St. Vladimir's Seminary Quarterly (1959) vol 3 pp 1–15 online.
7. ^ Latourette,  Christianity in a Revolutionary Age (1961) 4: 523–527

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Tomkinson, John L., Between Heaven and Earth: The Greek Church, Anagnosis (Athens, 2004) ISBN 9608718651
* Online Greek Orthodox Typikon Archived 2018-01-30 at the Wayback Machine

## Further reading

[edit]

* Aderny, Walter F. The Greek and Eastern Churches (1908) online
* Fortescue, Adrian. The Orthodox Eastern Church (1929)
* Kephala, Euphrosyne. The Church of the Greek People Past and Present (1930)
* Latourette, Kenneth Scott. Christianity in a Revolutionary Age, II: The Nineteenth Century in Europe: The Protestant and Eastern Churches. (1959) 2: 479–484; Christianity in a Revolutionary Age, IV: The Twentieth Century in Europe: The Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Churches (1958)

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Church of Greece.

* Official website
* Anagnosis Books Greek Church Pages
* Map of Old & New Lands (in Greek)
* Article on the Church of Greece by Ronald Roberson on the CNEWA website

* v
* t
* e

Dioceses of the Greek Orthodox Church in Greece

Church of Greece|

* Archbishopric of Athens
* Argolis
* Arta
* Cephalonia
* Chalcis
* Corfu
* Corinth
* Cythera
* Demetrias (Volos)
* Elis
* Aetolia and Acarnania
* Glyfada
* Gortyna and Megalopolis
* Hydra
* Ilion, Acharnes and Petroupolis
* Kalavryta and Aigialeia
* Karpenisi
* Karystia and Skyros
* Kaisariani, Vyronas and Hymettos
* Kifisia, Amarousio and Oropos
* Larissa and Tyrnavos
* Leucas and Ithaca
* Mani
* Mantinea (Tripoli)
* Megara and Salamis
* Mesogeia and Laureotica
* Messenia
* Monemvasia and Sparta
* Nafpaktos and Agios Vlasios
* Nea Ionia and Philadelphia
* Nea Smyrni
* Nikaia
* Paronaxia
* Patras
* Peristeri
* Phocis
* Phthiotis
* Piraeus
* Stagoi and Meteora
* Syros, Tinos, Andros, Kea and Milos
* Thebes and Livadeia
* Thessaliotis
* Thera
* Tricca (Trikala)
* Triphylia
* Zakynthos

"New Lands"|

* Alexandroupolis
* Chios
* Didymoteicho
* Drama
* Dryinoupolis, Pogoniani and Konitsa
* Edessa
* Elasson
* Eleftheroupolis
* Florina
* Goumenissa
* Grevena
* Ierissos
* Ioannina
* Kassandria
* Kastoria
* Katerini
* Kilkis
* Komotini
* Langadas
* Lemnos
* Methymna
* Mytilene
* Nea Krini and Kalamaria
* Neapolis and Stavroupolis
* Paramythia
* Philippi
* Preveza
* Samos
* Serres
* Servia and Kozani
* Siderokastron
* Sisanion
* Thessaloniki
* Veroia
* Xanthi
* Zichni

Ecumenical Patriarchate
of Constantinople|

| Dodecanese|

* Patmos
* Rhodes
* Kos
* Leros
* Karpathos
* Symi

|

Church of Crete|

* Archbishopric of Crete (Heraklion)
* Gortyn
* Rethymnon
* Kydonia (Chania)
* Lambi (Spili)
* Hierapytna
* Petra (Neapoli)
* Kissamos
* Arkalochorion

Monastic Republic of Holy Mount Athos

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* t
* e

Greek Orthodox Church

Patriarchates|

* Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
* Patriarchate of Alexandria
* Patriarchate of Antioch
* Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Autocephalous churches|

* Church of Greece
* Church of Cyprus
* Church of Albania

Autonomous churches|

* Church of Crete
* Church of Sinai

History|

* 33–717 AD
* 717–1204 AD
* 1204–1453 AD
* 1453–1821 AD
* 1821–1924 AD
* 1924–1974 AD
* 1974–2008 AD
* Since 2008 AD

Christianity portal

* v
* t
* e

Eastern Orthodoxy in Europe

Sovereign states|

* Albania
* Andorra
* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Georgia
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Ireland
*   * Italy
* Kazakhstan
* Latvia
* Liechtenstein
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* North Macedonia
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom

States with limited
recognition|

* Abkhazia
* Kosovo
* Northern Cyprus
* South Ossetia
* Transnistria

* v
* t
* e

Eastern Orthodox Church

Autocephalous and autonomous churches of Eastern Orthodoxy

Autocephalous churches|

| Four ancient patriarchates|

* Constantinople
* Bartholomew I
* Alexandria
* Theodore II
* Antioch
* John X
* Jerusalem
* Theophilos III

|

Junior patriarchates|

* Russia[a]
* Kirill
* Serbia
* Porfirije
* Bulgaria
* Daniil
* Romania
* Daniel
* Georgia
* Ilia II

Autocephalous
archdioceses/metropolises|

* Cyprus
* George
* Greece
* Ieronymos II
* Albania
* John Pelushi
* Poland
* Sawa
* Czech Lands and Slovakia
* Rastislav
* America[b]
* Tikhon
* Ukraine[b]
* Epiphanius
* North Macedonia[b]
* Stefan

Autonomous churches|

Sinai (Jerusalem Patriarchate)
Finland (Ecumenical Patriarchate)
Estonia (Ecumenical Patriarchate)[b]
Japan (Moscow Patriarchate)[b]
China (Moscow Patriarchate)[b]
Ukraine (Moscow Patriarchate)[c]
Americas (Romanian Patriarchate)
Bessarabia (Romanian Patriarchate)[b]
Moldova (Moscow Patriarchate)[b]

Semi-autonomous churches
Crete (Ecumenical Patriarchate)
Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (Moscow Patriarchate)[d]
North America (Antiochian Patriarchate)

Diaspora
Assemblies|

Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania
Austria
Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg
Canada
France
Germany
Great Britain and Ireland
Italy and Malta
Latin America
Scandinavia
Spain and Portugal
Switzerland and Liechtenstein
United States of America

History|

Apostles in the New Testament
First seven ecumenical councils
Church Fathers
Great Church
State church of the Roman Empire
East–West Schism
Raskol

Old Believers
Catacomb Church
Old Calendarists
Moscow–Constantinople schisms

15th–16th c.
1996
2018

Liturgy|

Byzantine Rite

Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom
Liturgy of Saint Basil
Liturgy of Saint James
Liturgy of Saint Mark
Western Rite

Other|

* Unrecognized Eastern Orthodox churches
* Eastern Orthodoxy by country
* Canon law of the Eastern Orthodox Church

Christianity portal

1. ^ The ROC severed full communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2018, and later severed full communion with the primates of the Church of Greece, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, and the Church of Cyprus in 2020.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Autocephaly or autonomy is not universally recognized.
3. ^ UOC-MP was moved to formally cut ties with the ROC as of May 27th 2022.
4. ^ Semi-autonomous part of the Russian Orthodox Church whose autonomy is not universally recognized.

* v
* t
* e

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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