Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis received Archbishop Hieronymos shortly after noon at the Maximou Mansion.

The two referred to the passing of Archbishop Anastasios of Albania, with the prime minister saying that these are “difficult days for Orthodoxy with the loss of the Archbishop of Albania. He was a great prelate who carried out a unique work in Albania by reconstructing a destroyed church. Above all, he was a man who cared about people. We will be together on Thursday in Tirana to honour him as he deserves.”

“Thank you for sharing in our grief and sorrow. Today I have come to say your things, our things, the things of the time,” Ieronymos said.

As protothema.gr wrote earlier today, Ieronymos comes with an important proposal: that church property be used by the state to build social housing and student halls of residence.

Considering the acute housing problem, the Archbishop is expected to point out to the prime minister that he is particularly concerned about the issue of housing for young couples and students who are by definition financially disadvantaged. Therefore, he will propose to the City the use of land belonging to the Church so that the latter, in turn, can initiate the construction of apartment complexes and student halls of residence.

Ieronymos reportedly has a picture of property that could be developed, given that for years he has been closely involved with church property and has attempted to come to a win-win agreement with the governments he has discussed. As for the price of the open space for the entitled, sources say it could be anything from zero to minimal and completely symbolic.

Property Framework

This is not the first time that the Church and the State have attempted to come to an understanding as to the formula for the utilization of church property. In 2013, Hieronymos had agreed with then-Prime Minister Antonis Samaras to establish an “ecclesiastical TAPED”, a property management company in which both parties would have a 50-50 stake. The purpose was to manage and develop the properties owned by the Holy Archdiocese of Athens or legal entities or bodies under its jurisdiction. Over time the agreement faded away and was not implemented.

In 2018, Ieronymos attempted yet another “sacred compromise” this time with Alexis Tsipras. At the time, it was agreed that priests would be taken off the state payroll, the state would pay the Church an annual amount covering the salaries of the existing number of clergy and lay employees of the Church, and the Church would give up property claims it owned. The 2018 agreement also included a provision for a Church Property Development Fund. And that agreement was left on paper.

Seven years later, and after having published a 2022 brief on church property titled “Owing Response”, Hieronymos is back seeking a new understanding. His proposal for the utilization of church land by the State is sought, at least on the part of the Archbishop, to be the “prelude” to a broader agreement. He is marching into his 87th year of life and is also interested in his legacy, especially on an issue with which he has been long concerned. For its part, the government is still keeping a low profile, though sources say it will not hear Ieronymos’ idea for the first time today. Beyond that, the scope for broader understanding remains to be seen. In the upcoming constitutional revision, however, Mitsotakis does not seem intent on addressing issues related to Church-State relations.

The Vouliagmeni

Indicative of  His Beatitudes’ interest in church property is the pending agreement with the Municipality of Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni for the “fillets” on the coastal front. Months ago, the Archbishop informed the body of Hierarchs that an agreement in principle had been reached with the mayor, Gregory Konstantello, for the concession of 30% of the church land to the municipality to create green spaces and the full release of the remaining 70%. The agreement in principle, of course, has not yet been formally completed and it is obvious it lies in the detail, especially if it is about the land that has gained multiple values in recent years with prices.