First Greek Evangelical Church
The First Greek Evangelical Church ( Greek Ά / Πρώτη Ελληνική Ευαγγελική Εκκλησία Proti Eliniki Evangeliki Ekklisia , abbreviation: AEEE ) is the first officially recognized Protestant church in Greece . The community rooms are located on the main street Leoforos Vasilissis Amalias , directly opposite Hadrian's Gate in Athens , and on Leoforos Vouliagmenis in Glyfada .
history
The history of the church begins with the ministry of Mikhail Kalopothakis in 1858. The building of the church was built directly opposite the Olympieion and inaugurated in 1871.
In the 19th century the church was the target of fanatical attacks on several occasions. During Good Friday processions (Μεγάλη Παρασκευή) of the Church of Agia Jekaterina (Ι.Ν. Αγίας Αικατερίνης) of Plaka , it was customary for the participants to stop in front of the church and throw stones before continuing their procession. In 1892, during a church service, a group of rioters stormed the church and set fire to Bibles, hymn books and benches.
In 1896, on the orders of the Prefect and at the instigation of the Athens Metropolitan Region , the police damaged the sign with the inscription "Greek Evangelical Church". Above all, they destroyed the word Ελληνική (Greek) because the metropolitan claimed that the community was proselytizing . Only after a lawsuit by the five best lawyers in the capital (πέντε εκ των διαπρεπεστάτων νομομαθών της πρωτεύουσας), which proved that the prefect's actions were illegal, was the church allowed to restore its signs.
Today the parish belongs to the Southern Synod (Νότια Σύνοδο) of the Greek Evangelical Church . The parish pastor is Giotis Kantartzis (Γιώτης Κανταρτζής).
activities
Diakonia
The community makes offers for children, young people, women and couples and maintains the student group “Thesi 95” (Θέση 95). Other groups meet in Glyfada, Nea Smyrni , Agia Paraskevi , Cholargos (Χολαργός), Heraklion (Attica) and other parts of the greater Athens area (Λεκανοπέδιο Αττικής).
Appearance in the city
In October 2009 the congregation began a church planting project in Glyfada and another in Exarchia in 2010 .
Cultural activities
Every year at Christmas time, the community organizes a musical program, the Christmasfest . In 2007 the "Festival Bach" (φεστιβάλ Bach) was held for the first time.
Social work
The community is also active in social work in the “Filimon” therapy center . There is also a “Nea Zoi” (New Life, Νέα Ζωή) program for prostitutes, and the “Dromi Kathari” (Clean Roads, Δρόμοι Καθαροί) campaign, which symbolically carries out street cleaning in the city quarters, as well as emergency aid programs for refugees.
Biblical education
In the spirit of its founders, the congregation also offers programs for biblical instruction and thematic training in the faith and interpretation of the Holy Scriptures .
literature
- MV Kyriakaki (Μ. Β. Κυριακάκη): pioneers and pioneers. (Πρωτοπορεία και Πρωτοπόροι). Athens 1985.
- P. Hintzoglou: Reformed Communities in an Eastern Orthodox Culture. Fuller Theological Seminary, 1969.
Web links
- AEEE's own homepage .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Μικρές ομάδες aeee.gr
- ↑ Συνάθροιση Γλυφάδας. aeee.gr
- ↑ Εξάρχεια. aeee.gr; the "center 68" Κέντρο 68, kentro68.gr (Greek).
Coordinates: 37 ° 58 '12.7 " N , 23 ° 43' 53.7" E