Greek Orthodox representation in Brussels to shut

The Orthodox Church of Greece is imminently to close their EU permanent representation in Brussels. The news agency KNA reports. There have been indications of this step for some time with the deterioration in relations between Athens and Brussels since the beginning of the Greek debt crisis. Now, the church has moved the head of the representation of the Archbishop of Athens to the European Union, Metropolitan Athanasios Chatzopoulos, "immediately" and "until further notice" from Brussels. In the parlance of the Greco-Byzantine church diplomacy this means the imminent closure of the EU Representation of Greece Church, or at least its downgrade to low level.

In Athens, ecclesiastical circles emphasized that the dismissal of Metropolitan Chatzopoulos was not directed against his person. There is nothing to complain about in the administration of the representation. By contrast, the Church of Greece wanted to express their unease about the European attitude in the face of the hardships of the Greek people. In addition, cost savings play a role. The money for the Brussels office would better benefit the poor in Greece.

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Cathcon: Met the Metropolitan on a few occasion. Very charming and very good at his job. Oxford educated.

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