A 2023 report on incidents targeting religiously significant sites in Greece shows an increase in attacks compared to previous years.
The report, published on the last day of 2024 by the General Secretariat for Religious Affairs under the Greek Ministry of Education, details cases involving not only places of worship but also other religious buildings and monuments, with Orthodox Christian sites being the most affected.
Alarming Statistics
A total of 608 incidents were recorded against religious sites, with 591 targeting Orthodox Christian sites—accounting for 97.2% of all reported cases.
This trend highlights a worrying rise in violence against the dominant religious community in Greece, Orthodox Times noted.
Observations and Recommendations
In the report’s introduction, George Kalantzis, Secretary General for Religious Affairs, noted that the majority of these incidents were not religiously motivated, which he described as an “optimistic and encouraging” finding.
Kalantzis emphasized the importance of cooperation between the state and religious communities to strengthen social cohesion, combat poverty, and support migrants and refugees.
A Rising Trend Since 2017
Statistics reveal that attacks on religious sites spiked significantly in 2017, then declined during the pandemic. However, cases rose again in 2022 to levels similar to 2018 and exceeded those levels in 2023 by several dozen cases.
According to the latest report by the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe (OIDAC), hate-motivated incidents against Christians increased by 44% across Europe in 2023.
Romania’s Recognition of Religious Heritage
Since 2020, Romania has observed a National Day of Commemoration for the Brâncoveanu Martyrs to honor Christian heritage and raise awareness of religious persecution.
The rise in attacks underscores the need for vigilance and action to protect religious heritage and foster interfaith understanding in Europe.
Photo: minedu.gov.gr
