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2012-03-17T10:16:26Z

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2012-03-17T10:15:57Z

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The '''Greek Evangelical Church''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Ελληνική Ευαγγελική Εκκλησία ''Elliniki Evangeliki Ekklisia'') is a Presbyterian Reformed denomination in [[Greece]]. It was the first Protestant church established in the country.

==History==
The Greek Evangelical Church dates back to [[1858]] when preacher [[Michail 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 30 Greek Evangelical Churches in [[Greece]], 3 in [[Cyprus]] and 5 in the [[Greek diaspora]].

==Theology==
Greek Evangelical Church is theologically Calvinist. Beliefs are typical of most Protestant denominations: they recognize the Bible as the only authority on matters of faith (''sola scriptura'') and recognize two sacraments (baptism and holy communion). Their Confession of Faith<ref>http://www.gec.gr/gec_faith.htm</ref> is very similar to the Westminster Confession and consists of 28 articles.

==Affiliations==
The Greek Evangelical Church is affiliated with the World Communion of Reformed Churches and the World Council of Churches.

==See also==
*[[Religion in Greece]]

==References==
<references/>

==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://www.gecb.org/ Greek Evangelical Church of Boston]
*[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]

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:Religion in Greece]]

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 ==See also==
-*[[Religion in Greece]]
+*[[Religion]]
 ==References==

Greek Evangelical Church - Revision history

Irlandos: /* See also */

Irlandos: Created page with "The '''Greek Evangelical Church''' (Greek: Ελληνική Ευαγγελική Εκκλησία ''Elliniki Evangeliki Ekklisia'') is a Presbyterian Reformed ..."