You did lose me a little in alphabet soup. (AG? MP?)
But, did I understand correctly this much?: the Patriarch is that of Constantinople (EPC), but this Archbishop is that of the Church of Greece, which is a separate entity? Are most Greek citizens Church of Greece?
“But, did I understand correctly this much?: the Patriarch is that of Constantinople (EPC), but this Archbishop is that of the Church of Greece, which is a separate entity? Are most Greek citizens Church of Greece?”
The Church of Greece is completely independent of Constantinople. It owes its existence to the nationalism of the Greeks after the Greek War of Independence against the Turks. The Greeks quite rightly assumed that the Patriarch of Constantinople, being the Ethnarc of the Rum within the Ottoman system, was really not his own man and further was personally responsible for the actions of his flock to the Ottomans. Effectively speaking, the Ottomans could and usually did control the Patriarch (they still do to an extent). Given the predominent role of The Church, both then and now, in Greece, it was better that the Church in Greece be independent of Turkish influence. The same thing happened in Romania and Bulgaria. 97% of the population of Greece are Orthodox and members of the Church of Greece.
BTW, the term “Greek Orthodox” really has little or nothing to do with Greece. Rather, it refers to the fact that the Eastern Romans spoke Greek and their Liturgies were usually conducted in Greek. To this day in Lebanon and Syria and I think even in Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Iraq, identity cards list otherwise Egyptian, Jordanian etc people as “Greek Orthodox”.
AG=Archbishop of Greece ; MP=Moscow Patriarch.
Both of these gentlemen have the dignity of a patriarch, but not the the same title. Metropolitan is the same as Archbishop (Achiepiscop), but more common in Slavic Churches, whereas the latter is more common in the Greek Church.
But, did I understand correctly this much?: the Patriarch is that of Constantinople (EPC), but this Archbishop is that of the Church of Greece, which is a separate entity?
Yes. The EPC, in addition, is also the "Ecumenical Patriarch," a nominal head chair of the world-wide communion of Orthodox Churches. Unlike the Pope, he is merely the elder in honor but not in jurisdiction over other Patriarchs.
They Church of Greece and the Ecumenical Patriarchate are two separate autocephalous Orthodox Churches in communion with each other and all other Orthodox Churches in communion with the EPC.
Are most Greek citizens Church of Greece?
No, because a substantial number of archdioceses in Greece are under the jurisdiction of the EPC and not AG.