The Armenian Orthodox Church in Greece
(a brief introduction)

The Armenian Orthodox Church in Greece goes back to the 16th century. In 1908, a royal decree gave the official permission to Armenians living in Athens to build a church and get organized as a distinct religious group.

In several cities of northern Greece -such as Thessaloniki, Kavala, Xanthi, Komotini, Alexandroupolis and Didimotihon (belonging to Turkey at that time)- Armenian communities were formed as early as the 18th century.

In 1915, Armenians suffered a genocide perpetrated by Turkey. One and half million Armenians were massacred and huge number of survivors was forced to leave its homeland and to spread out all over the world, thus forming the Armenian Diaspora.

In 1922, after losing the war against Turkey, Greeks left the Mediterranean shores of the Near East and came to Greece. Together with them around one hundred thousand Armenians found shelter in Greece. Our community with its present structure was established in 1920's, with churches, schools, and benevolent, cultural and athletic associations.

At the end of World War II, many Armenians were repatriated to Soviet Armenia. Others, following the migration of the Greeks, left to USA, Canada, Argentina, Australia and other countries. Until the beginning of the 1990's, our community counted eighteen thousand members all over Greece. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the independence of Armenia, more than forty five thousand migrants from Armenia (as it happened with all the new independent countries of former U.S.S.R.) arrived in Greece, thus increasing the total number of our community to almost sixty thousand members.

The Armenian Orthodox Church in Greece is recognized by the Greek authorities as religious minority and a respected community. Today we have ten churches; four of them are in Athens and the remaining six in northern Greece (Thessaloniki, Kavala, Xanthi, Komotini, Alexandroupolis and Didimotihon).

Every six years, the members of the Armenian Orthodox community elect forty two representatives (three clergy and thirty nine lay) who constitute the Legislative Body of the community. In its turn, the Legislative Body of the community elects the Governing Body of the community for three years term. The Prelate of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Greece, His Eminence Bishop Khoren Toghramadjian, presides over these Legislative Body and Governing Body.

The See of the Prelate is at Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral founded in 1908. The Pastor of the Cathedral is Rev. Bared Khatcherian.

The Armenian Orthodox Church publishes its official periodical, KHORAN (Altar), in Armenian, Greek and English.

Additionally, the Armenian community has Sunday Schools in each parish and three kindergartens, three primary schools and one secondary school in Athens, which are fully integrated in the Greek educational program. In these schools pupils are also taught Armenian language, religion, history and culture. In cities of northern Greece in every community we have one school, operating on Saturdays, only for Armenian language, religion, history and culture.

The community publishes the daily newspaper AZAD OR (Free Day) and the weekly NOR ASHKHAR (New World) in Armenian and the bimonthly ARMENIKA (Armenian) in Greek.

Finally, the community has benevolent, cultural, athletic, women and youth organizations. The Armenian National Committee handles the political aspirations of the community.



ARMENIAN PRELACY of GREECE
10, Kriezi Str.- Athens
(301) 325 20 67 (301) 323 21 49

• "Sourp Krikor Lusavorich" Orthodox church (St. Gregory the Illuminator)
  Kriezi 10 - Athens
  (301) 325 20 67 (301) 323 21 49

• "Sourp Garabet" Orthodox church
  Praksagoru 4 - Neos Kosmos
  (301) 921 54 52

• "Sourp Agop" Orthodox church (St. James)
  Armenikis Orthodoxis Eklisias & Florinis Str. - Palia Kokinia
  (301) 491 58 23

• Armenian Orthodox church "Virgin Mary"
  Dialeti 4 - Thesaloniki 546 21
  (3 031) 27 53 52

• "Holy Cross" Armenian Orthodox church
  Ioakim Sgourou 4 - Kavala 653 02

• Armenian Orthodox church "Virgin Mary"
  Agiou Elefteriou 54 - Xanti 671 00

• "Sourp Krikor Lusavorich" Orthodox church (St.Gregory the Illuminator)
  Vasileos Georgiou 52 - Komotini 691 00
  (3 0531) 27 451

• "Sourp Garabet" Orthodox church
  An. Thrakis 54 - Alexandroupolis 681 00
  (3 0551) 36 683

• "Sourp Kevork" Orthodox church (St. George)
  Patriarxou Dionisiou - Didimotikho 683 00
  (3 0531) 27 451

• "Sourp Hovanou Garabet" Orthodox church
  Heraklion - Crete

• "Sourp Asdouatzatzin" Orthodox church (Virgin Mary)
  Leonidioy & Pergamou - Peristeri
  (3 01) 57 24 070

• "St. Therese of the Child Jesus" Catholic church
  Belogiani - Nikea