Considering the fact that Greece is a very large country, it would be difficult for any one person to be able to say with certainty how much of the country is Greek Orthodox. However, we can see that the percentage of Greek Orthodox Christians has been on the rise. It is a very large percentage, and it is a lot more than it was before the economic crisis hit Greece.
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The power and influence of the Greek Orthodox Church
Despite the economic crisis, the position of the Greek Orthodox Church remains precarious. Some believe that the Church should be loosening its ties with the State. Others claim that the Church must be completely separated from the State.
In the past, the Church had ties with extreme right-wing political forces. Its clergy members have been members of the neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn. The Church is also close to the right-wing populist parties Greek Solution and Independent Greeks.
The Greek Church had a centralized Archdiocese during the dictatorship. The Archbishops of Athens were appointed by the military junta. The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople took over responsibility for the diaspora communities. They assigned priests to these communities.
The Greek State began paying clergy salaries in 1945. However, in the aftermath of the economic crisis, the Church suffered. It lost rental incomes and property tax. It also lost dividends from its assets held in the Bank of Greece.
Discourses and practices of the Greek Orthodox Church
Throughout the centuries, the Orthodox Church has defended and maintained its teachings and its internal discipline. The Orthodox Church has its own unique system of self-governing churches. The Orthodox Church embodies the spiritual treasures of Eastern Christianity. The Orthodox Church defends the true teachings of the Founder.
The Bible is the cornerstone of the Orthodox faith. The Bible has guided Christians through centuries. The Sacred Tradition of the Church is just as valid as the Bible.
Discourses and practices of the Orthodox Church of Greece are not easy to explain. The Orthodox Church has collaborated with dictatorships. In the past, church figures have supported extreme right wing populist parties. Those parties include the Independent Greeks, the Popular Orthodox Rally, and the Greek Solution. In addition, the clergy have ties to neo-Nazi parties such as Golden Dawn.
The Symbol of Nicaea was established by the First and Second Synods. Afterward, five Ecumenical Synods restated the Symbol. These Synods include some outstanding Fathers who are canonical sources of Church teachings.
Disagreements with the ecumenical Patriarchate over ecclesiastical governance
Throughout its history, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has had to deal with a number of challenges within the Orthodox world. This article explores some of these difficulties and examines the role of the Patriarchate in the modern global era.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate has struggled with the Turkish State over ecclesiastical governance. Although the Turkish State recognizes the Patriarch as the spiritual leader of the Greek Orthodox minority in Turkey, it is not accepting the Patriarch’s Ecumenical status. Nevertheless, some moderate forces in Turkey realize the potential for Turkey to benefit from the Patriarch’s role.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate also faces difficulties within the European Union. Several EU member states have rejected the Patriarch’s election, while others support it. The Patriarch must receive Turkish citizenship in order to continue functioning.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate is not the only Orthodox Church in the world to suffer from these difficulties. The Russian Church has also faced challenges. The Church’s autocephaly in Russia has been under scrutiny. The Church has received assistance from President Putin.
Disagreements with Sikhs
Despite the fact that Sikhs have been living in Greece for over two centuries, there are still some differences that exist between the Sikhs and Greek people. Sikhs in Greece are estimated to have around 20, 000 followers. During the First World War, Sikhs fought for the British Indian Army, and the cemetery for Sikh soldiers is still located in Salonika. It was built in 1920. The Sikh community in Athens also built a Gurudwara, or temple, named Shri Guru Nanak Darbar.
The Sikh community in Greece has two generations, and they consist of both Indian Sikhs and immigrants. The first Sikh community in Greece was founded in the 1950s, when Sikh immigrants worked as farmers on the Greek islands. Since then, the community has grown into a full-fledged organization. They have also established temples in other Greek cities. The community has been under attack from neo-nazi groups, but it is still very difficult for Sikhs to receive many rights in Greece.
