Greek authorities deploy 600 priests to "Greek" Churches

Meeting of the Greek government. Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr

On January 31, 2025, the Greek government approved the creation of 600 new clergy positions for Greek-speaking patriarchates, reports orthodoxianewsagency.gr.

The legislative initiative was introduced by Minister of Education, Religion, and Sports Kyriakos Pierrakakis during a Cabinet meeting held on January 31 under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Addressing the government members, the prime minister emphasized the importance of this initiative, which will be implemented over the next three years and carries "immense national significance."

"Another joint initiative of the Ministries of Education and Foreign Affairs will involve a three-year collaboration to appoint 600 clerics to Greek-speaking patriarchates. As you understand, this is an initiative of great and significant national importance," Mitsotakis stated.

Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis explained that the goal of the initiative is to provide Greek church communities with priests from Greece and to support the ancient patriarchates and the Monastery of Sinai.

"Through this legislative initiative, we are supporting Hellenism worldwide by creating 600 new positions in the ancient patriarchates—essentially in all Greek-speaking Orthodox Churches around the world," Pierrakakis wrote on social media following the meeting.

He also emphasized that this step solidifies the historical presence of Hellenism in key Orthodox centers and addresses a long-standing issue raised by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Patriarch Theodoros condemned "the illicit intervention of the Russian Church, which has regrettably disregarded every principle of ecclesiastical law and order."

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