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:<small> ''See also: </small> [[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Greece]]''
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==Structure of the Church of Greece==
:<small> ''See alsoMain Article: </small> [[Church of Greece Structure]]''
== Hierarchical Succession ==
:<small> ''See Main Article: </small> [[List of Archbishops of Athens|List of Primates for the Church of Greece]]''
The current [[primate]] of the Church of Greece is His Beatitude 2008, [[Ieronymos II (Liapis) of Athens|Ieronymos II (Liapis)]], Archbishop of Athens and All Greece.
==History==
The Greek Orthodox Church traces its history back to the time of St. [[Apostle Paul|Paul]] who was the first to preach Christianity in Greece. He visited Athens, Philipi, Thessaloniki, Veroia, Korinth and Crete. Christianity eventually spread through Greece from these cities. In these early days, the '''Church of Greece''' comprised of a diocese, with Korinth as the centre, known then as Achaia and considered a city of great importance.
Today the '''Church of Greece''' is governed by a Holy Synod, presided over by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Athens and assisted by four bishops chosen in regular succession. The Patriarch of Constantinople is still regarded as the spiritual head of the church and all of the Holy Chrisma used in Greece is consecrated by him.
:<small> ''See also: </small> [[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Greece]]''
== Greek Theologians ==
== Churches and Monasteries ==
:<small> ''See Main Article: </small> [[:Category:Greek Monasteries|List of Greek Monasteries]]''
== Holy Synod of Greece ==
:<small> ''See Main Article: </small> [[Holy Synod 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.
