The history of the administrative institutions and life of the Orthodox Church in general and the local Churches in particular constitutes a very pressing and always relevant branch of Church History. This is because it relates to a very crucial aspect of the Church's life, from which the earthly fulfillment of its mission, namely, the salvation and deification of humanity, largely depends.
The accurate knowledge and analysis of the correct or incorrect structures and institutions of governance throughout time and as of today of the overall ecclesiastical organism undoubtedly assist effectively in approaching the best possible choices for the life of the Church. Especially, both the ecclesiastical leadership and the political leadership are illuminated, with respect to the relations between Church and State, with a common goal of addressing the daily administrative, spiritual, pastoral, social, etc., problems of the Church. This is because these relationships pertain to a society of people that is almost entirely homogeneous religiously, as is the deeply religious society of our Nation, in Greek territory and in the diaspora.
Our problem initially unfolds through the historical analysis of the institutions of governance and life of the Church of Greece, under the title “A Brief Historical Development of the Institutions of Governance and Life of the Church of Greece from 1950 to 1917 AD.” In the following, in the second part, the administrative ecclesiastical developments in Greek territory during the present century until today are analyzed in detail.
This very critical chapter bears the title “The Administration of the Church of Greece from 1917 to the Present.” The third unit briefly discusses several key manifestations of the life of the Church of Greece, under specific administrative institutions. These manifestations are indicative because, as is known to the more specialized researchers, the overall life of the Church, both the visible and the invisible, is an indescribable and incomprehensible mystery, which is primarily experienced in the consciousness of individuals.
This third dimension of our problem is titled “Spiritual, Social, and Philanthropic Ministry of the Church.” In the fourth and final unit, the canonical, constitutional, and legislative texts that presuppose the administrative regime of the Church of Greece from 1974 until today are provided. This fourth part is titled “The Administrative Regime of the Church of Greece from 1974 to 1998.”
Our entire research concludes with the Epilogues, which are our assessments, our proposals, and our broader choices on the always pressing issue of “Administration and Life of the Church,” based on the presentation and analysis of our problem through indisputable facts, known and unknown to this day. The present edition, regarding points of improvement and revision, was made with the assistance of the library of the Foundation of National and Religious Reflection – Karipeios Melathron. I thank the Director of the library Dr. Grigorios Liandas, Associate Professor of the Higher Ecclesiastical Academy of Thessaloniki, and the Scientific Collaborator, MA in Theology Mr. Ilia Moglenidis.
