Roman Catholicism in Greece

The Roman Catholic Church in Greece has its roots in the early church and in the ministry of the Apostle Paul.

Believer

The Catholic Church in Greece ( Καθολική Εκκλησία της Ελλάδος ) is a relatively small church with partially Diaspora character, which is widely dominated by the Orthodox Church. The Catholic Church has about 50,000 to 100,000 Greeks, representing about 0.5 % to 1 % of the local population. However, the Catholic Church of Greece ( far ahead of all small and anyway incurred until much more recently, by missionaries from abroad Protestant churches and free churches and other groups or sects ) is the second largest Christian community in the country and is worth seeing since the High Middle Ages present in certain regions. So were (and sometimes still today ) especially the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, Crete or Corfu centers of Catholicism in Greece and it has probably been some purely Catholic tracts of land, such as the island of Syros, whose population is approximately to the middle of the 19th century ( and associated with the Greek War of Independence immigration of Orthodox Greeks from other regions ) has been exclusively Catholic.

Spatially are now most Catholics in Athens (about 30,000 ), but eg in Syros ( 8,000 ) Tinos (approx. 3,000 ), Corfu (ca. 2500 ) and Thessaloniki ( 2000 ), there are Catholic metropolitan areas.

In addition there are about 150,000 living in Greece foreign Catholics, including approximately 45,000 Filipinos and 40,000 Poles and many Uniate Ukrainians.

The Greek Catholics traditionally follow the Roman rite. The only exception is a small group of the faithful of the Byzantine rite (about 5 %). These are the result of which started in Constantinople Opel in the late 19th century mission attempt ( originally Orthodox Greeks, who retained the Byzantine Rite ) and hiked until 1923, ie after the end of the Greco- Turkish War (known as Asia Minor Disaster ), as part of the agreed in the Treaty of Lausanne resettlement - such as about 1.5 million other Greeks - as refugees from Asia Minor into the country. They were settled in Athens and Giannitsá, where to this day the only two Catholic communities Byzantine rite in Greece exist. Historically and numerically (now about 2,000 believers ) they provide within the Greek Catholicism represents a marginal phenomenon

Finally, in Greece there are also a small number (currently about 500 ) Armenian- Catholic Christians. They are descendants of Armenian emigrants who came as refugees in the first half of the 20th century, especially in the wake of the persecutions in Turkey into the country and mainly settled in Athens, where there is an Armenian Catholic church ever since.

Diocesan structure

The structure of the Catholic Church of Greece derives mainly from the Middle Ages. Today, following the ecclesiastical provinces exist:

  • Archdiocese of Athens ( Immediate )

Founded in 1205, disbanded in 1483, rebuilt in 1875. Based in Athens. It includes the regions of Attica, Central Greece, Peloponnese, Greece and West. The Cathedral of St. Dionysius in Athens has the rank of a Cathedral Basilica. Churches outside of Athens and Piraeus there are in Patras, Nafplio and Aspra Spitia.

  • Archdiocese of Rhodes ( Immediate )

As the " Apostolic Prefecture of Rhodes " was founded in 1897, promoted to the Archbishopric of 1928. Based in Rhodes Town. It includes the Dodecanese Islands ( [ Rhodes, Kos, Kalymnos, Leros, Astypalia, etc] part of the South Aegean region). The cathedral is dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, who is also patron of the diocese. Churches there are in Rhodes and Kos.

Established 1926. Headquarters in Thessaloniki. It covers the regions of Central Macedonia, West Macedonia, East Macedonia and Thrace and Thessaly with churches in Volos, Kavala and Alexandroupoli. The Cathedral in Thessaloniki is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. Patron of the diocese is the Apostle Paul.

  • Archdiocese of Corfu ( Archdiocese of Corfu, Zante and Kefalonia)

United as the " Diocese of Corfu " was founded in 1310, with the bishoprics of Zante (est. 1212 ) and Kefalonia (founded in the 13th century) and raised to an archbishopric 1919. It includes the Epirus and the Ionian Islands. Based in Corfu Town with the Cathedral of St. James and Christopher. Other churches there are in Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, in Preveza and Ioannina.

  • Archdiocese of Naxos, Andros, Tinos and Mykonos ( Metropolia of the Aegean)

As a " diocese Naxos " was founded in the 13th century, raised to an archbishopric in 1522, with the bishoprics of Mykonos (est. 1400) and Tinos (founded in the 9th century ) united 1919. Based in Xinára / Tinos Cathedral, Our Lady of the consecrated rosary which is also patron of the diocese. It covers the Cycladic islands of Naxos, Andros, Tinos, Mykonos and Delos, Paros, Antiparos, Amorgos and the small Ostkykladen (part of the South Aegean region). Churches are located on Tinos, Naxos, Paros and Mykonos.

Founded in the 13th century. Dedicated seat in Chios town with cathedral, Saint Nicholas, who is also patron of the diocese. It includes the North Aegean region. Other churches there are in Lesvos and Samos.

  • Diocese of Syros ( Diocese of Syros and Milos )

Founded in the 13th century. Dedicated seat in Ano Syros with cathedral, St. George, who is also patron of the diocese. It covers the Cycladic islands of Syros, Milos, Kimolos, Kea, Kythnos, Sifnos and Serifos (part of the South Aegean region). Churches there is only on Syros and Milos.

  • Diocese of Santorini

Established in 1207. Seat in Fira / Thira (Santorini) with cathedral, dedicated to John the Baptist, which is at the same time only church of the diocese. Patroness of the diocese is the Virgin Mary. It includes the Southern Cyclades: Santorini, Anafi, Ios, Folegandros and Sikinos (part of the South Aegean region).

  • Diocese of Crete ( Heraklion diocese )

As the " Archdiocese of Heraklion " Founded in 1213, the diocese reduced in 1874. Based in Iraklio ( Heraklion Traditional transliteration ) with cathedral consecrated in Chania, Assumption. Patron of the diocese is St. Francis of Assisi. It covers the region of Crete. Churches there are in Heraklion, Chania and Salaminos (Rethymno ).

In addition, the Exarch of the Byzantine rite (founded 1932) and the Ordinariate of the Armenian rite (founded in 1925), both based in Athens, who are responsible for the faithful of the particular rite in Greece.

The two archdioceses Athens and Rhodes are subject to the Holy See directly, and are therefore exemt. The Archdiocese of Corfu, Zakynthos and Kefalonia, is now a church province without suffragans, as the suffragan Zakynthos and Cephalonia were in 1919 united with the Archdiocese of Corfu. In the same year, the two bishoprics of Tinos and Mykonos have been united with the Archdiocese of Naxos to the Archbishopric of Naxos - Tinos, which still Syros, Crete, Chios and Thira (Santorini ) has as suffragan sees. Exemt is also the Apostolic Vicariate of Thessaloniki was built in 1928.

Due to the heavy migration of believers from rural areas (eg eastern Aegean islands ) or mixing with Orthodox believers, which causes shrinkage of the municipalities ( e), so that some dioceses over time were numerically quite small, but also not least because of increasing clergy shortage, many of the bishoprics vacant for decades and affected ecclesiastical provinces are each co-managed by the bishop of another diocese. Thus, the " Bishops' Conference of the Catholic Church in Greece " sets ( Ιερά Σύνοδος της Καθολικής Εκκλησίας της Ελλάδος ) as follows:

This must be added the two Exarch of the Eastern Rite ( Byzantine and Armenian ).

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