To put an end to the 'inaccurate', as it characterizes them, references, which have been made in recent years on paid status of the High PriestsThe Standing Holy Synod of the Church of Greece attempted, through a written statement by its spokesman, Metropolitan Polyanis and Kilkissiou, Mr Bartholomew.
The intervention of the Church comes at a time when the public debate on the salaries of Metropolitans has been rekindled, on the occasion of the legislative initiatives of the State, concerning their wage classification.
In his statement, the representative of the Holy Synod stresses that the payroll of the High Priests does not constitute a "charistic provision" of the State to the Church, but it is a historical retribution for the extensive monastic and ecclesiastical property, which came to the Greek State from the early years of the Greek state until the mid-20th century.
As noted, in the period 1833-1952 successive expropriations and concessions of church and monastic property to the State were carried out. These areas were used to meet the country's critical social and development needs.
Historically, important parts of the land were distributed to land farmers, refugees after the Asia Minor Disaster, but also to rural populations, who needed farmland. At the same time, church properties were used to develop public infrastructure, educational institutions, hospitals and public facilities.
The Church of Greece supports over time that the current payroll of the clergy is directly linked to these historical agreements and commitments between Church and State.
What the new regulation provides forReferring to the new legislative initiative, Metropolitan Bartholomew notes that this is not a new privilege, nor an increase that moves outside the public payroll provisions. On the contrary, as he says, the promoted regulation restores the High Priests to the general framework of wage treatment, applicable to senior public officials and persons exercising high-level administrative responsibilities.
According to the Church's reasoning, the position of a Metropolitan is not only limited to his religious duties, but also includes important administrative responsibilities. Metropolitans operate as organizations with personal, social structures, charities, church institutions and assets requiring daily administration and management.
Answer to criticismParticular reference is made to the public debates, which followed the relevant announcements, with the Holy Council talking about "inaccuracies" and "distortions" in terms of the amounts occasionally made public.
The Church argues that in several cases evidence is presented without the necessary institutional and wage framework, creating false impressions in public opinion. That is why it calls for the debate to be carried out accurately and factually, avoiding excesses and political or ideological approaches which, as it argues, do not reflect the real dimension of the issue.
The social role of the ChurchIn conclusion, the representative of the Holy Synod connects the matter of payroll to the wider work of the Church, stressing that the pastoral and social ministry remains at the heart of the High Priests' mission. As he says, the daily effort to address social problems, the support of vulnerable citizens and the operation of solidarity structures are often carried out without publicity, according to Christian teaching on unselfish offering.
By even referring to the Gospel of Matthew ("as to what mercy I know your left hand"), the Church underlines that its social action is not aimed at public visibility but at the substantial support of people in need.
The announcement of the representative of the Holy Synod, Metropolitan Polyanis and Kilkisios Mr Bartholomew, on the payroll of the High Priests
“The debate that has developed over the last few days around the High Priests’ pay regime has highlighted reasonable concerns, but several inaccuracies have been raised, which is why sober clarification is necessary.
First of all, it is necessary to point out that the payroll of the Holy Clergy is the historical and timeless return of the State for the huge monastic property removed from the Holy Monasteries during the period 1833–1952, without full and equal compensation.
This property was used for the benefit of all Greek society, regardless of religious beliefs, contributing decisively to the operation of universities and hospitals, the restoration of farmers, refugees, landowners and small farmers, as well as to the creation of shared, public utilities and other public benefit infrastructures.
In this sense, Cleros' payroll is historically associated with the exploitation of church property for the common good, rather than with some grace or privileged treatment of the Church on the part of the State.
At the same time, the recent regulation proposed by the Greek State does not introduce any new privilege. Restores the High Priests' payroll within the general framework of public administration.
In the Greek legal order responsibility for administration and institutional role are reflected in wages. For this reason the salaries of the High Priests are linked to the corresponding pay scale of senior civil servants.
Reports of hyperoga or incorrect amounts are often based on incorrect reading or deliberate distortion of real data.
We therefore ask that the matter be approached with truth, justice and mutual respect, away from excesses and without raising easy impressions.
For the shepherding Church the effort to solve the real problems of men is an integral part of the pastoral responsibility and ministry and is therefore quietly carried out by each shepherd, without being advertised, according to the Evangelical command "as to what mercy I know your left hand what your right hand is" (Matt. 6:3).
From the Press Office
of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece