Greece Mitsotakis–Ieronymos church‑state talks

In late July 2026 Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hosted two consecutive private dinners with Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens at the prime‑minister’s residence. The first dinner, held on 28 July, was described as a friendly, informal conversation that reinforced the long‑standing dialogue between the state and the Orthodox Church, underscoring the government’s aim to keep communication channels open on social, educational and charitable matters.

The following day, Mitsotakis and the archbishop met again, this time on the roof garden of the residence, to discuss concrete policy issues. Topics included accelerating the use of church‑owned land such as the Fascomilia area in Vouliagmeni, launching student‑housing projects to address a housing shortage, and equalising clergy salaries with senior civil servants. The meeting marked the fourth encounter between the two leaders in the past 18 months, highlighting an ongoing effort to manage church‑state relations ahead of upcoming elections while keeping ecclesiastical matters out of overt political debate.