In jab at minister, Church stresses it does pay taxes

The Holy Synod, the Greek Orthodox Church’s governing body, on Monday 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 Synod attacked Christodoulakis for “perpetuating 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.

The statement underlined the efforts being made by church parishes and foundations “which have been offering moral and material support to deal with the growing needs, rising poverty levels and the lack of hope of this country’s residents.”