John and his wife Salome, from the USA, have served in Greece since 1986.
When we think of Greece we are forced to travel through many time frames, one of the most noteworthy periods being the Age of Pericles (roughly 460-430 BC), around the time the Book of Malachi was written. During this period Athens was raised to its pinnacle of glory, the Acropolis was rebuilt and politics, philosophy and literature flourished. Part of the reason for Pericles’ success was the fact that he involved all of the citizens. In Athens, an assembly of citizens would gather 40 times a year near the Acropolis. They would propose laws and decrees which were sent to the council for final approval. It is interesting that this gathering or assembly was known as ‘ekklisia’, which is the same word that ‘church’ comes from.
Moving along in history, Greece is encountered early in the New Testament: Neapolis, Apollonia, Amphipolis, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Corinth, Athens and Nicopolis, along with the Islands of Samothrace and Crete. The term ‘church’ was used again. This time it encompassed all of the citizens, not of a worldly city but of a heavenly one. The church flourished, as all were expected to play their part during tough times.
Being a Christian in those days was not easy. Persecution was severe. However, Constantine the Great unified the Roman Empire and ‘legalised’ Christianity (AD312). Persecutions ceased, land was given back to the church and church officials had the emperor’s ear. After that, however, Christianity went into decline. Catholicism in the west and Orthodoxy in the east brought back a priesthood that limited people through duty and ritual. Constantine and his mother Helena have been canonised by the Greek Orthodox Church and are worshipped as saints.
While the Catholic Inquisition was turning up the heat in Europe, the Muslims, in the form of the Ottoman Empire, conquered Greece. From around 1450 to 1912 Greece was occupied. During those first 400 years the Orthodox priests gained tremendous prestige. Most Greeks at that time couldn’t read, but priests could. They established secret schools for children, maintained the Orthodox faith, which kept alive the Greek language and customs, and prevented the masses from being converted to Islam. During those dark days they were the guiding lights for the people.
In 1828, Jonas King, who was affiliated with Presbyterian churches in the USA, entered Greece as a missionary. The Orthodox faith was a national faith. To be Greek was to be Orthodox. In their minds it was the Virgin Mary, the saints and Jesus (in that order) that had saved Greece from the Turks. How could a Greek turn his back on this and accept a simple gospel? Jonas King did not get very far, but God used him to break up the ground for the seed to spring up afterwards. Five years after his death the first Protestant chapel began to function in Athens. Later, a number of living, gospel-preaching, Presbyterian-style meetings were established throughout Greece. Even today, many of those meetings are active and continue to preach the gospel.
Between the First and Second World Wars, a Greek-American, Zafiropoulos, came to Greece. He had a Brethren background and started meetings in Thessaloniki, Patras, Athens, Crete and other areas. At the same time God used a native Greek named Metallinos to establish evangelical fellowships very similar to the assemblies. However, they carried two strange doctrines: loss of salvation and kenosis. Kenosis teaches that while on earth Jesus was only a man, having divested Himself of His deity. For a while these two groups remained separate, but the dictator Metaxas (1936-1941), in order to keep a tight watch on the Protestants, forced them to unite under one name. Thus, today, there are two evangelical branches, ‘The Greek Evangelical Church (Presbyterian)’ and ‘The Free Evangelical Church of Greece’, into which the assemblies were absorbed. Sadly, in most of those fellowships, while the breaking of bread is held weekly, the two strange doctrines are also adhered to.
Both evangelical groups (Greek and Free) were active in promoting the gospel. However, the 1980s marked a turning point. While evangelicals became stagnant, the Pentecostal churches began to grow. Today they are more active in preaching the gospel and are growing in numbers. Most cities have some type of Christian testimony.
Like most European countries, Greeks are apathetic to the gospel. Their favourite pastime is politics - it is the new religion. However, the Orthodox Church still has a strong influence, as people are deeply rooted in its traditions. The Greek Constitution lists the Orthodox faith as the national faith. Religion is taught in primary and secondary schools, but with an Orthodox slant.
The majority of Greek people do not believe what they are taught, although they still continue with family traditions. Almost every home has an icon (painted image of Mary, Jesus or a saint) in the corner of a room. Prayers are offered to this icon; in return, grace from God is expected. Lately, household shrines are also being erected outside houses. These are ornate boxes which contain icons, olive oil, candles and incense. Many look like replicas of Orthodox church buildings.
The question for us is: “What is being done to evangelise the masses?” Christian radio is fairly new. Until 1988, only the Greek government could transmit radio programmes. Private television and radio stations were not allowed to operate. When private licences were issued, the Pentecostals were among the first to obtain one and their gospel radio broadcasts continue. During the summer, campaigns to cities and islands that have no testimony are popular. Groups of about 35 people (primarily between the ages of 18 and 25) attend for a week, often camping out at secular campsites. During the day they hand out tracts and in the evening they have an open-air witness, often using a sketchboard.
On a local level and throughout the year, evangelism is sporadic at best. Bible studies take place, but unbelievers are hesitant to attend. The term ‘Bible study’ is a foreign concept. Tracts are used, but in Greece the variety of what is published is limited, since there are only a few people who have applied themselves to providing material, so workers write and distribute their own. Recently, though, a believer has come up with a great idea. Years ago, Andrea and his wife agreed to attend a Bible study. At the time, they were both atheists and members of the Greek Communist Party, for which they were very zealous. God is now using Andrea’s former skills for His glory. Through a website, Andrea pools as many tracts/articles as possible. Believers download and distribute those which are appropriate for their work. Four times a year a pamphlet is printed and distributed simultaneously in various cities in Greece. The pamphlet carries articles that are featured on the site and refer readers to it. The reader, therefore, is not only getting one tract, but a boatload of them. Names and addresses of believers in various parts of Greece appear on the site, so anyone with interest in the gospel can communicate directly with them. If you have Greek friends, refer them to: http://www.sxr.gr/.
Finally, I’d like to mention the area in which we live. The city of Preveza is located 400 km north-west of Athens and sits on the coast of the Ionian Sea. It is modern-day Nicopolis (Tit. 3:12). However, regarding Preveza, it is interesting that we never read of Christians in this area. Unfortunately, this is still the case today. In fact, this north-west area is spiritually barren, hence our reason for locating here.
Most of our acquaintances are atheists. That may explain why in six of the last eight mayoral elections, the winner has come from the Communist Party. To introduce people to God’s Word, along with tract distribution, we make it a practice to give New Testaments to employees in places we frequent: supermarkets, city hall, phone company, power company, police station, tax office, banks and post office. Along the 100 km coast of the Ionian Sea, there are numerous hotels and apartments serving the needs of holidaymakers. For the last two years, we have been introducing them to the Gideon Bible. Most hotel managers and apartment owners had never heard of Bibles being placed in rooms. We provide the New Testament in Greek, English, German, French and Italian. Surprisingly, the majority of hoteliers allow us to do this.
In September, a junior college opened about 500 m from our house. It only offers degrees in Accounting. There are between 500 and 800 students and we are beginning to reach out to them. About 200 New Testaments have been handed out. The goal is to start a Bible study. I was saved as a student in a secular university in the USA, and the weekly Bible study was the best part of my college years. Perhaps the same will prove true for some Greek students.
Although there will be challenges for the Church prior to our Lord’s return, that does not excuse us from doing our part. As the ancient citizens of Athens took up their civic duties, so each of us should do what we can to maintain and promote the gospel. Even though times are not as perilous as they were in the Early Church’s day, the task is tough and we do need the Lord’s help and your prayers.