Church of Greece

The Church of Greece ( Εκκλησία της Ελλάδος ) is a part of Orthodox Christianity in Greece, whose dioceses the larger southern part of the country from; the rest of the country reports directly to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople Opel, which also manages communities outside of Greece.

History

The dioceses of the present church of Greece were under originally the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople Opel. After gaining state independence of Greece from the Ottoman Empire, the Church of Greece declared autocephalous 1833. Its independence in 1850 agreed in principle by the Constantinople Patriarchate.

Area and Outline

The Church of Greece is divided into 77 dioceses today with the Archdiocese of Athens at the top. Their territory includes the state of Greece, but with different exceptions and Crete, the Holy Mount Athos and the Dodecanese are still directly under the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The so-called "new countries", that is, North Greece and the other Aegean islands, which were incorporated into the Greek state in the 20th century include nominal and spiritually also to the Ecumenical Patriarchate; Therefore, the patriarch (and not the Archbishop of Athens ) are commemorated in the liturgy in this area and used their own liturgical books. The management of the northern Greek dioceses but today perceived by the Church of Greece.

The head of the Church of Greece is called since 1923 Archbishop of Athens and All Greece. His rank corresponds to the Major Archbishop of the Eastern Catholic Churches. Ordinary diocesan bishops lead all the title of Metropolitans. Athens Episcopal Church is the Annunciation Cathedral. After the death of Archbishop Christodoulos Hieronymus II was elected Archbishop of Athens and President of the Episcopal Conference of Orthodox churches in Greece on 7 February 2008.

The Church of Greece has about 9 million Orthodox Christians. The Orthodox Church is the largest landowner in Greece. The content of the Greek priest is paid by the Greek state. 2012 considered the Greek government due to the financial crisis, whether the state only pays half the salary of the priest.