The origins of the Greek Evangelical Church go back to the work of Jonas King, a missionary of the ABCFM who settled in Greece after the Greek War of Independence (1821-1828). He was engaged in educational and welfare work as well as in preaching. In 1848 he was brought to court and expelled from the country. Later he was able to return to Athens, where he died in 1869. A young student who had been present at his trial, Kalopothakis, converted to the Ref faith and became one of the leading figures in the history of the Evangelical Church. The movement met with much hostility in Orthodox circles. In 1866 the first Evangelical community was organized, and in 1871 the first church building was erected. In 1885 a synod, consisting of three small congr, was established. Evangelistic work had also been started in Asia Minor. When, after the Greek-Turkish War in 1922, Greek people were forced out of Asia Minor, a significant number of Greek Evangelical refugees either joined existing communities or established new ones. The situation of Evangelicals became particularly precarious during the dictatorial regime of the Colonels in the early ’70s. The democratic climate which followed that period gave them greater freedom, though they continue to be regarded as an element foreign to Greek religion and culture. The church is engaged in both evangelistic and social work. There are two centers for marginalized people in Thessaloniki and Athens. New missionary work has been undertaken in Albania (cf. Albania).
Publications: The Star of East (Astir tis Anatolis) - since 1858. Address: 50 Amalias str., 10558 Athens, Greece, astir@gec.gr, http://www.gec.gr/astir
Statistic data of church
Members
total: 5000
Parishes
(conventionally): 34
house fellowships
(Number of growing parishes): 4
Ordained clergy
total: 17
women´s ordination
Elders/Presbyters
total: 0
Deacons
total: 0
no information about deacons
Missionaries
total: 0
missionaries working abroad
Baptismal practise
no information about baptism
Godparents
No information about godparents
Lord's Supper
Frequency per annum: 8
Newspapers/ Periodicals
no information about publication of magazines
Theological training facilities
Number: 0
Schools providing general education
no information about other schools
Founded in
1866
Organizational structures
local church sessions(Presbytery), regional Synods, General Assembly)
The origins of the Greek Evangelical Church go back to the work of Jonas King, a missionary of the ABCFM who settled in Greece after the Greek War of Independence (1821-1828). He was engaged in educational and welfare work as well as in preaching. In 1848 he was brought to court and expelled from the country. Later he was able to return to Athens, where he died in 1869. A young student who had been present at his trial, Kalopothakis, converted to the Ref faith and became one of the leading figures in the history of the Evangelical Church. The movement met with much hostility in Orthodox circles. In 1866 the first Evangelical community was organized, and in 1871 the first church building was erected. In 1885 a synod, consisting of three small congr, was established. Evangelistic work had also been started in Asia Minor. When, after the Greek-Turkish War in 1922, Greek people were forced out of Asia Minor, a significant number of Greek Evangelical refugees either joined existing communities or established new ones. The situation of Evangelicals became particularly precarious during the dictatorial regime of the Colonels in the early ’70s. The democratic climate which followed that period gave them greater freedom, though they continue to be regarded as an element foreign to Greek religion and culture. The church is engaged in both evangelistic and social work. There are two centers for marginalized people in Thessaloniki and Athens. New missionary work has been undertaken in Albania (cf. Albania).