Greek Orthodox Church Responds to Criticism of Finances

The Church of Greece has responded to widespread criticisms of its financial support by the Greek state - an arrangement made when the latter took the Church's lands (it's main financial support until then) at the time of Greece's independence from the Ottoman Empire - by noting that since 2010 its clergy have been paying taxes on their salaries together with the rest of the country. More here.

Cyprus Appeals for Russian Financial Assistance

The Cypriot government has officially requested €5 billion in financial assistance from Russia to offset losses caused by the economic crisis in nearby Greece. Cyprus chose to appeal to Russia rather than the European Union because of the lower interest rates offered by the Russian government. More here.

Armenia Considers Tax Breaks for Armenian Orthodox Church

The Armenian Parliament is considering legislation that would grant significant tax breaks to the Armenian Orthodox Church of Echmiadzin by exempting it from Armenia's property and land taxes. More here. Hat tip to The Orthodox Church website for posting this first!

Greek Orthodox Church, Qatari Government Discuss Investment Projects

The Church of Greece is reportedly exploring potential investment projects with the Qatari government due to a decline in its rental incomes caused by the ongoing economic crisis in Greece. The news comes in the wake of the recent visit to Qatar of Archbishop Jerome II (Liapis) of Athens, the first hierarch of the Greek Orthodox Church. More here.

Quote of the Day: From the Life of Patriarch Paul of Pech

Once, approaching the Patriarchate, His Holiness Paul noticed many cars near the entrance and became interested in whose they were. He was told that these cars belonged to hierarchs. To this the Patriarch replied with a smile: "If they, who know the Savior’s commandment about unacquisitiveness, have such cars, just imagine what kind of cars they would have if there this commandment did not exist!

Macedonian Orthodox Priests to Pay Taxes

The Macedonian government and the independent Macedonian Orthodox Church have reached an agreement on the taxation of clergy ending the exemption of priests from paying taxes. More here.

Sanctions on Lynn Parish Removed

Metropolitan Methodios (Tournas) of Boston of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has relented in a financial dispute with one of his parishes, St. George's Church in Lynn, Massachusetts, and allowed the celebration of the services and mysteries to resume in the parish. The issue of the parish's dues to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston is to be resolved by 'accounting techniques.'

At its height the dues dispute had divided the clergy and parishes of the Metropolis of Boston between supporters and opponents of Metropolitan Methodios' harsh approach to the Lynn parish's financial troubles and led the Archdiocesan Council to threaten St. George's with excommunication if it didn't pay the extra $20,000 demanded of it by Metropolitan Methodios.

More on the dispute and its resolution can be found here.

Greek Orthodox Hierarchy Divided Over Greek Economic Crisis, Disestablishment

As Greece continues to struggle through its economic and debt crisis there are growing calls within the hierarchy of the Greek Orthodox Church for its disestablishment to preserve the institutions and finances of the Church and free it from government regulation. A committee has been established to discuss how the crisis will impact the Church, but the hierarchy lacks a united voice as to how the Church of Greece in general should respond to the ongoing issues in Greek life, with some opposing any change in the status quo and others calling the crisis an opportunity for the Church to escape being part of the state. More (in Greek) here.

100,000 Protest Greek Government's Handling of Economic Crisis

Some 100,000 Greeks took to the streets of Athens and other major cities to protest the ongoing economic crisis in Greece and the Greek government's failure to deal with it in a way that protects the interests of the country's citizens. The protests received the support of Archbishop Anthimos of Thessalonica, the most prominent diocese of the Constantinopolitan Orthodox Church in Greek-occupied southern Macedonia. More here.

Bank of Greece Governor Meets with Greek Orthodox Hierarchy

The governor of the Bank of Greece, George Provopoulos, has met with leaders of the Greek Orthodox Church to discuss the effects the ongoing economic crisis in Greece is having on the financial reserves of the Church of Greece, whose finances are largely provided by the Greek government as it remains the state church of Greece. More (in Greek) here.

Coptic Orthodox Church Requests Preview of Church Construction Law

The Coptic Orthodox Church has requested that the interim Egyptian government present a draft law being prepared for the regulation of the construction of places of worship for its consideration prior to its promulgation. The current draft would give the government supervisory powers over the finances of religious organizations, which the Coptic Orthodox Church strongly rejects as its funding comes from church endowments and the donations of its faithful. More here.