Mixed reactions have emerged within the Church hierarchy over legislation granting substantial salary increases to senior clergy, a measure included in a Finance Ministry bill.
Under the new arrangement, the salaries of senior church leaders will be about €4,500 to €4,800 gross per month. The increases apply to the archbishop, metropolitan bishops and titular metropolitans, while smaller raises are planned for bishops and assistant bishops.
According to church sources, the issue has been under discussion for years, dating back to the tenure of the late Archbishop Christodoulos. At the time, publication of the salaries paid to muftis prompted calls for equal treatment in determining clerical pay.
The request remained unresolved until the government decided to proceed with the measure.
Some hierarchs said they were surprised by the development, although the matter had long been known within Church-government discussions. Another senior cleric said proposals had been made to seek a broader salary upgrade covering all clergy, even through modest increases.
