Greek authorities refuse to finance the Constantinople Patriarchate Orthodox Center in Switzerland

Sophia, September 23, Interfax – Economic crisis and difficult situation in Greece made Greek government stop financing Orthodox Center of the Constantinople Patriarchate in Chambesy (Switzerland).

Thus, the patriarchal center is on edge of closing: it formally continues its work, but in fact it doesn’t function and its staff was reduced, the Bulgarian website The Doors to Orthodoxy reported.

Meanwhile, staff-members of the center were involved in preparations for the All-Orthodox Council, Patriarch Bartholomew used to talk about. Many of them had extensive experience in inter-Orthodox cooperation and participated in session of the Council’s preparatory committee.

The Chambesy Center has a theological institute that alongside with theological faculties in Lausanne and Geneva prepared specialists in Orthodox theology. Prominent church figures were among its graduates.

The Chambesy center included three churches, a chapel and five Orthodox parishes (Georgian, Arab, Greek, Romanian and French-speaking).

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