The Church of Greece has formally established the annual celebration of a memorial service in honor of all donors and benefactors of the Church, following a decision of its Permanent Holy Synod of the Church of Greece.
The decision was taken during the Synod’s session on March 11, 2025, upon the recommendation of the Administrative Committee of the Ecclesiastical Central Financial Service.
The first Memorial Prayer Service was celebrated during the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens. The service was presided over by Metropolitan Ephraim of Hydra, Spetses and Aegina, President of the Administrative Committee of the Ecclesiastical Central Financial Service, with the concelebration of Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalkida, Vice President of the Permanent Holy Synod and its official representative, as well as Bishop Nikodimos of Epidaurus, General Director of the Ecclesiastical Central Financial Service, who also delivered the homily.
In his address, Bishop Nikodimos emphasized the spiritual significance of the commemoration, noting:
“Today we honor the departed benefactors of our Church. Those who received from Christ the gift of benefaction and embraced it through their living participation in the Body of the Church, which always honors the benefactors of Her Vineyard and commemorates them at every Divine Liturgy.”
He further explained that the Church of Greece, through a Synodal decision, has instituted this memorial service for all deceased donors and benefactors, both known and unknown. As he underlined, they all shared one common characteristic: they offered their gifts without self-promotion, with discretion, evangelical secrecy, or even complete anonymity.
“We respect this choice,” he added, “to remain unseen benefactors of our pilgrim Church, even though they are now God-revealed victors in the glory of our Lord.”
Photos: Christos Bonis / Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
