Church’s budget hit by crisis

The repercussions of Greece?s economic crisis have hit the finances of the Orthodox Church too, according to the Holy Synod, which said that its budget deficit for the first eight months of 2011 was 767,240 euros.

According to a statement published on the archbishopric?s official website, a sharp reduction in the purchase of candles by churchgoers and an increase in the cost of maintaining the Church?s charity work had contributed to widening the deficit.