Orthodoxy in Greece

Eastern Orthodoxy is the clearly dominating religious denomination in Greece.

Status

The Greek Orthodox Church, a member of the Eastern Orthodox Communion, is accorded the status of "prevailing religion" in Greece's constitution making Greece the only country in the world where an Eastern Orthodox Church is clearly recognized as a state religion. Since 1850, Greek Orthodoxy within Greece is organized in the Church of Greece. Its members comprise between 95%[1] and 98%[2] of the population.

Organization

Within Greece, the Greek Orthodox Church is organized into 81 dioceses. While the majority is part of the Church of Greece constituting the autocephalous church of Greece, the dioceses of Crete and the Dodecanese, and Mount Athos are under the direct jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Yet another 30 dioceses in northern Greece and in the major islands in the north and northeast Aegean are nominally under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, while being administered "in stewardship" as part of the Church of Greece.

Apart from these, various Greek Old Calendarist jurisdictions exist that are not in communion with the Eastern Orthodox Churches under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Religious Freedom in Greece (September 2002)" (RTF). Greek Helsinki Monitor Minority Rights Group - Greece. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
  2. ↑ "Greece". The World Factbook. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
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