During the [[Byzantine]] Empire and the subsequent Turkish occupation of Greece, the Christian church in Greece was under the administration of the [[Ecumenical Patriarch|ecumenical]] [[Patriarch of Constantinople|patriarch]] of [[Patriarchate of Constantinople|Constantinople]]. After the [[w:Greek War of Independence|Greek War of Independence]] (1821-32), the provisional president of Greece [[w:Ioannis Kapodistrias|Ioannis Kapodistrias]](1776-1831), began negotiations with the patriarch for the independence of the Greek church. The final decision was made when [[w:Otto of Greece|Otto I]](1815-1867), the new king of Greece, feared the Turkish government might still be able to influence the politics of Greece through the patriarchate of Constantinople and as such the Greek church was declared autocephalous in 1833. The independence was formalised by Constantinople in 1850, with some limitations specified in the "Tomos".
===Hierarchy of the Church of Greece===
The Church of Greece is organised as a state church, similar to the pattern adopted in the Russian church under [[w:Peter the Great|Peter the Great]] of Russia. The ultimate authority is vested in the [[Synod of Bishops]] under the presidency of the archbishop of Athens and all Greece. A second synod, with the same presidency, consists of 12 bishops, each serving for one year only. The first synnod deals with general ecclesiastical questions, whereas the second synod deals with administrative details. The church is divided into 81 small dioceses; some of these, are nominally under the jurisdiction of Constantinople. The majority of the church's priests in Greece do not have a university education, with very little formal training beyond two years at higher seminaries after high school. An up-to-date listing, in order of seniority of ordination, of the [http://www.ecclesia.gr/English/holysynod/hierarchy.htm Holy Synod] can be accessed at the Church of Greece's official website.
==Structure of the Church of Greece==
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==Ecclesiastical organisations under the Holy Synodof Greece==<small> See Main Article:*Apostolic Ministration (Apostoliki Diakonia):*Communication and Cultural Service:*Inter-Orthodox Centre:*Foundation of Byzantine Musicology:*Welfare Fund </small> [[Holy Synod of Parish ClergyGreece]]
==Synodical Committees==The Holy Synod Church of Greece is organised into two key synodical committee areasas a state church, similar to the pattern adopted in the Russian church under [[w:Peter the Great|Peter the Great]] of Russia. The ultimate authority is vested in the [[Synod of Bishops]] under the presidency of the archbishop of Athens and all Greece. A second synod, with the same presidency, consists of 12 bishops, each serving for one year only. The first area synnod deals with general ecclesiastical questions, whereas the second synod deals with administrative details. The church is broken divided into committee groups that deal with standard issues such as::#Ecclesiastical art, music and christian monuments;:#Divine worship and pastoral work81 small dioceses;:#Doctrinal and nomocanonical matters;:#Monastic life;:#Christian education and youth;:#Inter-orthodox and christian relations;:#Ecclesiastical education and training some of parish clergy;:#Pressthese, public relations and enlightenment;:#Heresesies;:#Social welfare and chariry;:#Finance Special synodical committee groups deal with issues such as::#Womenare nominally under the jurisdiction of Constantinople. The majority of the church's issues;:#Monitoring European affairs;:#Bioethics;:#Academy priests in Greece do not have a university education, with very little formal training beyond two years at higher seminaries after high school. An up-to-date listing, in order of seniority of Ecclesiastical arts;:#Human rights;:#Marriageordination, family, child protection and demographic issues;of the [http:#pastoral matters and situations;:#Divine and secular dispensation and ecology;:#Liturgical rebirth;:#Cultural identity;:#Study //www.ecclesia.gr/English/holysynod/hierarchy.htm Holy Synod] can be accessed at the Church of ancient cults and new paganism;:#Pilgrim and religious toursGreece's official website.
==Source==