Under the chairmanship of the Athens archbishop – Ieronimos, the Holy Synod took place, where the letter about the religion classes in school given by the civil ombudsman of the Ministry of Education and Religions was discussed. According to this letter, Greece should conform to the European’s Court decision about Human Rights regarding the religion classes exemption. The print representative of the Holy Synod – Timoteos Antis said that this decision does not go only for religion classes, but nevertheless Greece has complied years ago to its clauses. From the Synod it was announced that the religion education is constitutionally guaranteed in the country.

The archbishop and prime-minister Andreas Likourentzos met and discussed improving the church education. Likourentzos confirmed that the religion classes are not elective for everyone, but only to students who practice different religions.

 The problem started in August of this year, when the Ministry of Education and Religions came out with a decision that parents can withdraw their children from religion classes only with one declaration without giving an explanation on the reasons. This gave an opportunity not only for foreign students who follow a different religion, but to Greek parents to withdraw their children from religion classes without saying whether they are Christians or not. The civil ombudsman was satisfied because he put the topic for discussion in 2002, when he received complains from parents.

The Thessaloniki bishop Antim insisted that religion classes remain mandatory, because this is stated in the constitution. The Cretan church servants supported him as well. Bishop Antim was outraged by politician’s decisions during the last few years regarding topics, which concern the church like claiming church property, civil marriages, co-existence contracts, the cancellation of the religious entry on the IDs, etc.

As a result of the outraged reactions of the church servants, minister of education Evripidis Stilianidis said that nothing important is changing when it comes to the teaching manner of religion classes. The only thing that will change, Stilianidis continues, is that no reasons for withdrawal will be needed, because this interferes with personal information.