Greek Evangelical Church

The Greek Evangelical Church (Greek: Ελληνική Ευαγγελική Εκκλησία "Elliniki Evangeliki Ekklisia") is a Protestant denomination in Greece.

It dates back to 1858 when the first Greek Evangelical, Mihail Kalapothakis started publishing the magazine "Astir tis Anatolis" (Star of the East) which is still published today. He gathered a group of followers thus forming the first Greek Evangelical community and organized Sunday School for children as well as issuing the "Efimeris ton Paidon" (Newspaper of the Children) in 1868. The first Greek Evangelical Church was built in 1871 in the center of Athens, which was demolished and rebuilt in 1956 due to the increasing number of followers. Greek Evangelicalism spread also through the Greeks in the Ottoman Empire, the first Greek Evangelical community in Asia Minor was founded in 1867. Today there are numerous Greek Evangelical Churches in Greece and the Greek diaspora.

Greek Evangelical beliefs are typical of most Protestant denominations: they recognize the Bible as the only authority on matters of faith ("sola scriptura") and recognize only two sacraments (baptism and holy communion). Their [http://www.gec.gr/gec_faith.htm confession of faith] is very similar to the Westminster Confession and consists of 28 articles.

The GEC of America is affiliated with the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference.

ee also

*Religion in Greece

External links

* [http://www.gec.gr/ Greek Evangelical Church]
* [http://www.gecla.org/ Greek Evangelical Church of Los Angeles]
* [http://www.gecny.org/ Greek Evangelical Church of New York]
* [http://ggct.toronto.on.ca/Greek/index.html Greek Gospel Church of Toronto]
* [http://www.acctv.com.au/church_view.asp?intid=3156 Greek Evangelicals in Australia]
* [http://www.pcficyprus.org/cypruschurches.htm Evangelical churches in Cyprus]
* [http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/greek/reports/evangel-Artos-Zois.html Greek Helsinki Monitor on the Greek Evangelical Church]