A dramatic reduction in churches’ revenues is observed in the years of the crisis, according to the Holy Association of Greek Clergy.
“We find even buttons,” the vice-president of the Holy Association of Greek Clergy, Father Georgios Vamvakidis says. According to Eleftheros Typos, the reduction in Church’s revenues since 2011 has reached 60%.
“Every time I count the money in the collection box I find one-cent coins, two-cents coins, Bulgarian coins and, most sadly, even buttons,” Father George Vamvakidis says and adds: “We still have a long way to reach pre-crisis levels.” Father George serves at the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary at the Metropolis of Zichni and Neurokopion.
The Church puts an end to collection plates and boxes in the cemeteries
It seems, at the same time, that the hierarchy of the Church has removed the collection plates from the churches where they sercve, and has stopped passing the collection box in cemeteries, as well as the “extras” from weddings, baptisms, funerals, memorials.
The Metropolitan of Peristeri has also decided to stop passing the collection box in the cemetery of the region. “Is it allowed when someone loses someone close to see this situation? No!” Metropolitan Klimis states in the same article.