The establishment of the Armenian community in Greece dates back in the middle of the 19th century. However, large numbers of Armenians settled in Greece after the Genocide and the Asia Minor disaster in 1922, when more than 100,000 Armenian refugees, together with their hundreds of thousands Greek brothers, took refuge in the warm bosom of Greece. Today the number of Armenians is estimated to be around 80,000 people, mainly inhabiting the Attica basin (Athens, Piraeus and suburbs), while smaller communities exist in Thessaloniki, Kavala, Xanthi, Komotini, Alexandroupoli, Didimotikho, Orestiada, Heraclion (Crete) and Kalamata.
The vast majority of Armenians are Orthodox Christians (over 95%) and the rest are Catholics and Evangelicals. The seat of the Prelacy of the Armenian Orthodox Church of Greece is located in Athens, headed by His Eminence Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian. Orthodox churches and parishes are also found in Neos Kosmos, Vyronas, Nikaia, Thessaloniki, Kavala, Xanthi, Komotini, Alexandroupolis, Didymotikho, Heraklion and Kalamata. Armenian Catholic and Evangelical churches exist in Athens and Piraeus.
The supreme governing body of the community is the Central Council of Orthodox Armenians, which is elected for a two-year-term-of-office by the National Clergy and Lay Assembly of Representatives. The members of the Assembly, on their turn, are elected by the members of the community, by direct and universal suffrage, for a four-year-term-of-office. The Central Council is presided by the Archbishop.
The Prelacy of the Armenian Orthodox Church of Greece is affiliated to the Catholicosate of Cilicia. Under the Greek law, it is an Ecclesiastical Legal Entity, pursuant to section 12 par 5.d of Law 4301/2014, Government Gazette 223 / 07.10.14, while the Parishes are Religious Legal Entities.
Website: www.facebook.com/armenianprelacygr