The Greek financial crisis appears to have driven many young Greeks to join the clergy. “It requires dedication. It is a life decision to become a priest. You cannot go back,” said 34-year-old Nikolas Samolis to Greek newspaper “Kathimerini.” Nikolas graduated from the Business Administration Department of the Technological Educational Institute of Athens and worked in the hospital catering industry before deciding to become a priest.
According to recent statistical data, interest in the clergy has risen in recent years. The number of applications has more than tripled in the last three years, said Athens Archdiocese Chancellor Simeon Voliotis.
The four ecclesiastical academies of Greece are educational institutes for future priests but attendance is not mandatory. In order to become a priest in Greece, the person is only required to have a higher education degree, provided they meet certain conditions.
The Archdiocese workshop is preparing young people to join the clergy in just three years. The apprentices can attend theoretical and practical courses free of charge, while they also train in soup kitchens, hospitals and prisons.
However, many apprentices prefer to work in the private sector, because in Greece there are not many priest appointments, even though there are about 500 vacant positions across the country, while the clergy consists of at least 10,000 people. Furthermore, many ordained priests offer their services pro bono.
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