name=Church of Greece[[Image:Greece logo.gif|center|Church of Greece]]|

primate=[[Christodoulos Ieronymos II (ParaskevaidesLiapis) of Athens|Abp. ChristodoulosIeronymos II]]|

The '''Church of Greece''' is one of the fourteen [[autocephaly|autocephalous]] churches of the Orthodox Christian communion , whose territory consists of the whole of Greece except for those parts which belong to the [[Patriarchate of Constantinople]], such as the Dodecanese and [[Archdiocese of Crete|Crete]]. The Though bishops of the "new lands" (those that were liberated from 1912 and afterwardsafterward) are members of the [[Holy Synod]] of the Church of Greece, still they refer to commemorate the Patriarch of Constantinople in the Holy Services. The church is led by the Archbishop of Athens and all Greecedivine services.

The primate of Though it is also called the '''Greek Orthodox Church''' this reference is not restricted to the Church of Greece has been [[Christodoulos (Paraskevaides) since it is also used by some of Athens|Christodoulos, Archbishop the Churches and Archbishoprics under the Patriarchate of Athens and all Greece]] since 1998Constantinople around the world.

== Organization History== The first contact of the Greeks with Christ is related by the author of the Fourth Gospel. He writes that some Greeks among those who used to visit Jerusalem at the Passover approached Philip and Andrew and asked to see Jesus (Jn. 12.20-->24). The Greeks, as seekers after truth, were eager to listen to something novel, to meet the new master. Jesus was aware that the Greeks who came to Him were men with a searching mind and a troubled spirit. Upon His confrontation with them, He exclaimed, "The hour has come for the son of man to be glorified" (Jn. 12.23). These Greeks were few in number, but Christ saw in them not only Greeks but Romans and Scythians and other peoples of all times and places who would also seek to find Him. Jesus said the hour had come for the Christian Gospel to be proclaimed outside the limited boundaries of ancient Israel. The Greeks have played a major role in the ''kerygma'' and the ''didache'' of Christ. The Greeks found in the person of Christ the eternal Logos and the "unknown God" of their forefathers, while Christ discovered in them sincere followers and dedicated apostles of the New Kingdom. In the history of the Greek Orthodox Church four stages of development can be distinguished. The first three centuries, through the age of Constantine the Great constitute the apostolic and ancient period. The medieval period includes almost ten centuries, to the fall of Constantinople. The age of captivity starts, roughly, in the fifteenth century and ends about the year 1830. It is followed by the modern period. == Structure =Stage 1: Apostolic and Ancient Period===*Archdiocese The Greek Orthodox Church traces its history back to the time of St. [[Apostle Paul|Paul]] who was the first to preach Christianity in Greece. He visited Athens*Metropolis , Philippi, Thessaloniki, Veroia, Corinth and Crete. Christianity eventually spread through Greece from these cities. In these early days, the Church of Aitolia Greece comprised a diocese, with Corinth as the centre, known then as Achaia and Akarnaniaconsidered a city of great importance.*Metropolis of Alexandroupolis*Metropolis The [[Church of Argolida*Metropolis Cyprus]] recognised its autonomy from the Church of Arta*Metropolis Greece during the Council of AtticaEphesus in 431. This was confirmed by the Emperor in 488.*Metropolis of Chalkis*Metropolis of Chios===Stage 2: The Medieval Period===*Metropolis Following three centuries of Corfuunderground existence and persecution in the Roman Empire, it was again the Greek Church, the Greek language, Paxoi and Islands*Metropolis Greek [[missionaries]] that carried the Christian message in both the East and the West. This first period ended in 313 with the edict of Demetrias toleration, where [[Constantine the Great]] divided the Roman Empire and Almyros*Metropolis prepared the way for Christianity to become the state religion of Didymotichon the later Roman and OrestiasByzantine empires. The geographical area we know today as Greece constituted the diocese of Eastern Illyricum, which was self-governing.  *Metropolis For historical and other reasons, the Greeks for many centuries identified themselves solely as Christians and especially during the centuries of captivity under the Turks<ref>The tradition of Drama*Metropolis the Greek Church has been one of Dryinoupolisreligious toleration rather than nationalism. If this had not been true, Pogonianithe Greek Church, in the Byzantine centuries and Konitsa*Metropolis especially during the four hundred years under the Turks, could have Hellenized all the minorities under her aegis or at least a great majority of them.</ref>. This is significant that although the patriarchs of Constantinople and many bishops of Edessathe Bulgarians, Albanians, and Slavs were Greeks during the Ottoman period, Pella they did not attempt to Hellenize their congregations: neither did they try to force them to abandon their liturgical traditions and Almopiacultures.<ref> The Greek historian K. Paparigopoulos, known for his patriotism, blamed the Church for not exploiting here numerous opportunities to Hellenize the various Balkan peoples in a period of four hundred years, something she could have done without much difficulty.</ref>*Metropolis The term "Hellene" as an ethnic name began to appear among the Greeks of Elassona*Metropolis the high Middle Ages, but still was not commonly used. However, all nations living outside the medieval Greek world of Eleftheroupolis*Metropolis the Byzantine Empire, such as the Russians, the Germans, Khazars, the English, the Georgians, the peoples of Elias Italy, and Oleni*Metropolis the Franks, called the native inhabitants of Filippoithe Byzantine Empire "Greeks." The designations "Greek Orthodox" and "Roman Catholic" were unknown in the early and medieval Church, Neapolis and Thasosthey took on their distinct meaning only after the eleventh century. *Metropolis By 733 AD, under Emperor Leo the Third, Greece was acknowledged as part of the [[Ecumenical Patriarch|Ecumenical]] Patriarchate of FlorinaConstantinople but prior to this, Prespes and Eordaiait was subordinated to the Bishops of Rome. *Metropolis ===Stage 3: Age of FokidaCaptivity===*Metropolis During the [[Byzantine]] Empire and the subsequent Turkish occupation of Greece, the Christian church in Greece was under the administration of the [[Ecumenical Patriarch|ecumenical]] [[Patriarch of Constantinople|patriarch]] of [[Patriarchate of Constantinople|Constantinople]]. After the [[w:Greek War of Independence|Greek War of Independence]] (1821-32), the provisional president of Greece [[w:Ioannis Kapodistrias|Ioannis Kapodistrias]](1776-1831), began negotiations with the patriarch for the independence of the Greek church. The final decision was made when [[w:Otto of Greece|Otto I]] (1815-1867), the new king of Fthiotida*Metropolis Greece, feared the Turkish government might still be able to influence the politics of Glyfada*Metropolis Greece through the patriarchate of Gortyna Constantinople and Megalopolisas such the Greek church was declared autocephalous in 1833. The independence was formalised by Constantinople in 1850, with some limitations. *Metropolis ===Stage 4: The Modern Period===[[Image:Patrik-Rum.jpg|right|thumb|Contemporary map of Goumenissa, Axioupolis the Ecumenical Patriarchate's jurisdictions in Turkey and PolykastronGreece.]]*Metropolis In 1864, the Ionian islands were added to the Church of Grevena*Metropolis Greece and in 1881 the diocese of Gytheion Thessaly and Oetylos*Metropolis parts of HydraEpirus were also added. Also in this year, Spetses the first Greek Orthodox church was founded in America. Under an agreement made in 1908 between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Aegina*Metropolis the Holy Synod of Athens, jurisdiction of the churches in America was given to the Church of IerissosGreece. In 1927, Agion Oros the statutes regarding the Church were modified resulting in the government controlling the church and attending the Holy Synod meetings. So during the 20s and Ardamerion30s, the turbulent political events in Greece divided the Greeks of America and this resulted in Archbishop Athenaogoras of Corfu to be appointed to head the Greek Church in America.*Metropolis of Ioannina*Metropolis Today the Church of KaisarianiGreece is governed by a Holy Synod, Vyrona presided over by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Athens and Imittos*Metropolis assisted by four bishops chosen in regular succession. The Patriarch of Constantinople is still regarded as the spiritual head of the church and all of the Holy Chrisma used in Greece is consecrated by him. Organised as a state church, similar to the pattern adopted in the Russian church under [[w:Peter the Great|Peter the Great]] of Russia, the ultimate authority is vested in the [[Holy Synod|Synod of Bishops]] under the presidency of the archbishop of Kalavryta Athens and Aigialiaall Greece. A second synod, with the same presidency, consists of 12 bishops, each serving for one year only. The first synod deals with general ecclesiastical questions, whereas the second synod deals with administrative details. The church is divided into 81 small dioceses; some of these, are nominally under the jurisdiction of Constantinople. The majority of the church's priests in Greece do not have a university education, with very little formal training beyond two years at higher seminaries after high school. An up-to-date listing, in order of seniority of ordination, of the [http://www.ecclesia.gr/English/holysynod/hierarchy.htm Holy Synod] can be accessed at the Church of Greece's official website.*Metropolis == Greek language ==The Greek language has been known as the "Sacred Language" <ref> Arthur P. Stanley, a distinguished professor of Karpenisionecclesiastical history at Oxford, some hundred years ago wrote:*Metropolis :''The Greek Church reminds us of the time when the tongue, not of Rome, but of Greece, was the sacred language of Christendom. It was a striking remark of the Emperor Napoleon that the introduction of Christianity itself was, in a certain sense, the triumph of Karystia Greece over Rome; the last and Skyros*Metropolis most signal instance of the maxim of Kassandreia*Metropolis Horace, Graecia capla ferum victorem cepit (captive Greece took its rude captor captive). The early Roman Church was but a colony of Kastoria*Metropolis Greek Christians or Grecized Jews. The earliest Father of Keffalinia*Metropolis the Western Church wrote in Greek. The early popes were not Italians but Greeks. The name of Kitrosthe pope is not Latin, but Greek, Katerini the common and now despised name of every pastor in the Eastern Church. …. She is the mother and Platamona*Metropolis Rome the daughter. It is her privilege to claim a direct continuity of speech with the earliest times; to boast of Korinthos*Metropolis reading the whole code of Kythira*Metropolis Scripture, Old as well as New, in the language in which it was read and spoken by the Apostles. The humblest peasant who reads his Septuagint or Greek Testament in his mother-tongue on the hills of Lagkada*Metropolis Boeotia may proudly feel that he has access tot he original oracles of Larisa divine truth which pope and Tyrnavoscardinal reach by a barbarous and imperfect translation; that he has a key of knowledge which in the West is only to be found in the hands of the learned classes.''</ref><ref> Hugo Rahner, a leading Roman Catholic theologian:*Metropolis :''"God spoke his revelation in the world of Lefkas the Greek spirit and the Roman imperium and Ithacathe Church guards this truth framed in the Greek speech of her sacred Book…The Church will continue to speak Greek even if…Hellas descend into the abyss of utter oblivion."''</ref><ref> [[Georges_Florovsky]]: *Metropolis :''"The task of Lemnos*Metropolis our time, in the Orthodox world, is to rebuild the Christian-Hellenic culture, not out of Mantinia the relics and Kynouria*Metropolis memories of the past, but out of the perennial spirit of our Church, in which the values of culture were truly christened. Let us be more Hellenic in order that we may be truly Christian.''</ref> of the church from the time of Maroneia the Apostles and Komotini*Metropolis enjoyed its prominence mainly in the early history of Megara Christianity. In scriptural study and Salamisto a great extend it is one of the original languages of the Scriptures (the New Testament). *Metropolis :''... adsolent Latini homines Graece cantare oblectati sono verborum nescientes tamen quid dicant.'' [The Latins are accustomed to singing in Greek, delighted by the sounds of Mesogea and Lavreotikithe words, but not knowing what they are saying.] <ref> The "Ambrosiaster" (saec. IV) on 1 Cor 14:14; CSEL 81, 2, p. 153, 6 </ref> <!---*Metropolis The untranslated symbolism of the threefold "Ego sum A et Ω" of Messiniathe Apocalypse---> ==Theologians== *Metropolis of Mithimna1359 St. [[Gregory Palamas]] (1296-1359)*Metropolis of Monemvasia and Sparta1770 St. [[Kosmas Aitolos]] (1714-1779)*Metropolis of Mytilini1809 St. [[Nicodemus the Hagiorite]] (1748-1809)*Metropolis of Nafpaktos1813 St. [[Athanasius Parios]] (1722-1813) ==Contemporary elders==*Metropolis of Neapolis and StavroupolisElder [[Joseph the Hesychast]] (1898-1959)*Metropolis Elder [[George (Karslidis) of Nea Ionia and PhiladelphiaDrama]] (1901-1959)*Metropolis Elder [[Gervasius of Nea Krini and KalamariaPatras]] (1877-1964)*Metropolis Elder [[Amphilochios (Makris) of Nea SmyrniPatmos]] (+1970)*Metropolis Elder [[Demetrius of NicaeaTrikala]] (1902-1975)*Metropolis Elder [[Philotheos (Zervakos) of Nikopolis and PrevezaParos]] (1884-1980)*Metropolis Hieromonk [[Kosmas of ParamythiaZaire]] (1942-1989)*Metropolis Elder [[Epiphanius of ParonaxiaAthens]] (+1989)*Metropolis Elder [[Porphyrios (Bairaktaris) the Kapsokalivite|Porphyrios]] of PatraKavsokalyvia and Kallisa (1906-1991)*Metropolis Elder [[Iacovos (Tsalikis) of PeiraeusEuboea]] (1920-1991)*Metropolis Elder [[Paisios (Eznepidis)|Paisius the New of PeristeriMt Athos]] (1924-1994)*Metropolis of Polyani and KilkisEldress [[Gabrielia (Papayannis)]] (1897-1992)*Metropolis Eldress [[Macrina of Samos and IkariaVolos]] (1921-1995)*Metropolis of Servia and KozaniBlessed [[Stavritsa the Missionary]] (1916-2000)*Metropolis of Serres and NigritaFather [[Dimitris Gagastathis]] ==Modern writers==*Metropolis [[Hierotheos (Vlachos) of SidirokastronNafpaktos]]*Metropolis [[Apostoliki Diakonia]] 'Writers considered controversial in their point of Sisanio and Siatistaview:*Metropolis of Stages and Meteora[[Apostolos Makrakis]]*Metropolis of Syros, Tenos, Andros, Kea, and Melos[[Christos Yannaras]] <!---*Metropolis [[Michael Apostolius]] (d. 1480) succeeded by Aristobulus Apostolis and Arsenius Apostolius (Bishop of Thessaliotis and FanariofersalaMalvasia (Monemvasia) in the Morea.  *Metropolis of [[Nikolaos Cavasilas]] born in Thessaloniki(d.1391).*Metropolis of Theva and Levadeia[[George Codinus]]*[[Evagrius Scholasticus]] (d. 594)*Metropolis of Thera, Amorgos and Islands[[Savitri Devi]]*Metropolis Patriarch Photios I of Trifylia and OlympiaConstantinople]]*Metropolis of Trikala and Stages[[Symeon Metaphrastes]] == Unsure ==*Metropolis Patriarch [[Cyril Lucaris|Cyril III (Lucaris) of Alexandria]] of Veria Constantinople (d. 1638), native to Crete and Naousalater Patriarch of Alexandria as Cyril III. == not-supported writers ==*Metropolis Archbishop [[Andrew of XanthiRhodes]] (d. 1440)*Metropolis of Zakynthos [[Leo Allatius]] ---> == References and Strofadesnotes ==*Metropolis of Zihni and Nevrokopio<references/>

===Official Sites of the Church of Greece===*[http://www.ecclesia.gr/ The Church of Greece]Official Site*[http://www.archdiocese.gr/ The Archdiocese of Athens] Official Site*[http://www.apostoliki-diakonia.gr/index_en.asp Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece]*[http://www.myriobiblos.gr/ The Online Library Site] of the Church of Greece*[http://www.artopos.gr/ The Online Cultural Center] of the Church of Greece*[http: //www.cultura.gr/ Multimedia Releases Site] of the Church of Greece*[http://www..eikastikon.gr/ Gallery Site] of the Church of Greece*[http://www.musicale.gr/ Music Gallery Site] of the Church of Greece*[http://www.aula.gr/ Documentaries Site] of the Church of Greece*[http://www.discussion.gr/ Discussion forum Site] of the Church of Greece*[http://www.europeanspirit.gr/ European Issues Site] of the Church of Greece ===Other Sites===*[http://www.regue.org Representation of the Church of Greece to the European Union], official website ===Church-State relations in Greece===* Anastasios Anastassiadis. [http://www.ceri-sciencespo.com/publica/question/qdr11.pdf Religion and Politics in Greece: The Greek Church's 'Conservative Modernization' in the 1990's]. Research in Question, No.11, January 2004. (pdf format). ===Various News Articles===* [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5j2Y12eShqDwoJp5WKwRcNctWAkmw "Religion is main group activity in Greece:study"] - Hosted on AFP, 23rd May 2008* E. P. Blegen. ''Earliest Christian churches in Athens''.''' American Journal of Archaeology''' v. 50 (July 1946) pp.373-75.* George T. Dennis. ''[http://www.doaks.org/publications/doaks_online_publications/DOP57/DP57ch12.pdf The Late Byzantine Metropolitans of Thessalonike]''. '''Dumbarton Oaks Papers''' no. 57 (2003) pp.255-64. ===Non-Orthodox Resources===*[http://www.cnewa.org/ecc-bodypgdefault.aspx?eccpageIDID=23&IndexViewpagetypeID=9&sitecode=HQ&pageno=toc Eastern Christian Churches: 1 The Orthodox Church of Greece] by Ronald Roberson, a Roman . Catholic priest and scholarNear East Welfare Association (CNEWA) website.*[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/grtoc.html Library of Congress - Federal Research Division - Country Studies - Greece] (See section on RELIGION: Orthodox Church of Greece).