The Holy Community of Mount Athos has addressed a formal letter to Greece’s Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou, voicing its reservations over the mandatory issuance of the new Personal Identification Number as part of the country’s updated national ID cards.
In the letter, the monastic body revisits the matter following the recent adoption of the relevant legislation by the Greek Parliament. The Holy Community expresses particular concern that, according to the new law, the Personal Number will be assigned to every individual citizen and will remain unchanged for life.
The monks warn that the Personal ID Number will be linked to a wide range of personal data stored in a single unified system, managed by the General Secretariat for Information Systems of Public Administration. This, they argue, raises serious privacy and ethical questions.
Highlighting the absence of any binding European directive requiring such a measure, the Holy Community urges the minister to reconsider the mandatory nature of the ID number. “We, too, sharing the legitimate concerns of many Greek citizens and of us, the monks of Mount Athos, kindly request that the issuance of the Personal ID Number be made optional, allowing each citizen to choose freely,” the letter states.
The communication closes with a message of respect, goodwill, and hope that the ministry will give the request serious consideration: “With deep appreciation, and hoping that you will respond positively to this matter, we remain with utmost respect and prayer.”
The letter bears the signatures of all Representatives and Abbots of the twenty Holy Monasteries of Mount Athos, emphasizing the collective position of the monastic community on this sensitive issue.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
