Holy Synod hits back at Christodoulakis

The Holy Synod, the Greek Orthodox Church's governing body, hit back at Nikos Christodoulakis after the country's interim economy minister said Greek governments have been reluctant to tax church property.

After publishing a list of taxes paid by ecclesiastical legal entities, the Holy Synod attacked Christodoulakis for “reproducing the urban legend that the Church does not pay taxes.”

“Perhaps the minister has not been informed of the legal changes regarding the taxation of the Church of Greece [introduced] since his last tenure as Finance Minister (2001-2004),” the Holy Synod said in a statement.