A study by the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports has revealed a sharp increase in thefts at religious sites in Greece, in 2023, according to an article by Sofia Christou in ekthimerini.com.
Tracking incidents at places of worship across Greece since 2015, the study estimates that nearly 4,000 cases of theft, vandalism, or damage have occurred at Orthodox churches over the past nine years.
In 2023 alone, a record 591 incidents involving Orthodox churches were reported, surpassing the 564 cases recorded in 2022.
Crimes against religious sites of other faiths remain relatively uncommon. Jewish sites ranked second, with 65 incidents recorded over nine years, while the Catholic Church, overseeing 233 places of worship, has reported no cases of theft, vandalism, or damage since 2020.
A total of 608 incidents targeting religious sites of all denominations were documented in Greece in 2023. These offenses included vandalism, break-ins, theft, robbery, desecration of graves, sacrilege, and arson.
Regarding Orthodox churches, most cases involved burglaries targeting cash, religious artifacts, and valuables. However, some thefts appeared more systematic, with criminals stealing larger items such as copper baptismal fonts, air conditioners, wooden fittings, and bells.
Notably, 20 church bells were stolen in a single year, highlighting an organized effort. Among the stolen items were two 800-kilogram bells taken from Profitis Ilias Church in Acharnes (Menidi), northwest of Athens, and a 200-kilogram bell stolen from Agios Georgios Church in the Pieria region of northern Greece.
Source: ekathimerini.com
