The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece denies reports about the establishment of its own credit institution (bank). The official statement reads: “In connection with publications regarding the upcoming submission of a request by the Orthodox Church of Greece to the Bank of Greece (Τράπεζα της Ελλάδος), with the aim of establishing a credit institution, it is reported that such a decision has never been taken by the competent permanent Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece.” The statement notes that the Holy Synod has a designated metropolitan as a spokesperson, who, in his capacity as a spokesperson, announces decisions and intentions of the church leadership.
News with such content was spread by the Greek newspaper “Kathimerini tis Kyriakis” (i.e. the Sunday edition of the newspaper), according to which the establishment of a digital bank with the Greek Church as a shareholder is imminent. According to the publication, the relevant documents must be submitted to the national Bank of Greece in May or June at the latest, and the company “Financial Innovation Holding” AE, whose shareholder is the Church of Greece, will take over the implementation of the project with the participation of the former chairman of the Postal Savings Bank, Angelos Philippidis.
