AND COMES FROM THE HEART

RATHER THAN set up its own welfare programmes, the Anglican Church in Athens has decided to work with other Churches and humanitarian institutions. It has heeded the World Council of Churches’ advice that, wherever possible, Churches should work together rather than independently. Below is a list of the programmes the Chaplaincy is currently involved in, or provides financial support to.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is a term used to describe the need to protect children, young persons and adults who may be vulnerable from all forms of improper actions by others. As we are aware, abuse whether emotional, physical, sexual or verbal is an issue that society in general is increasingly aware of. Such abuse has proved to be widespread, often covert and occurs in all parts of society including sadly the Church. The Diocese of Europe follows UK law and therefore as a Chaplaincy within the Diocese of Europe we comply fully with the requirements of the Diocese Safeguarding Policy. The Safeguarding officer is responsible for the overall co-ordination of Safeguarding in the Chaplaincy, to ensure that our Church community and all that happens within and through it is known to be “safe”. The  protection of minors and adults who may be vulnerable is of paramount importance to us.

DIOCESE IN EUROPE

CHAPLAINCY SAFEGUARDING POLICY

For the Chaplaincy of ‘THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN GREECE, ST. PAUL’S ATHENS

The protection from harm of children and adults who may be vulnerable is of paramount importance to us.  As a chaplaincy within the Diocese of Europe, we comply fully with the requirements of the Diocese’s Safeguarding Policy.

We will not tolerate the abuse of children of adults in any form.

Specifically, within  our Chaplaincy we are committed to:

• The car, nurture, and respectful pastoral ministry of all children, young persons and adults
• The safeguarding and protection of all children young persons and adults who may be vulnerable.
• The establishing of safe, caring communities which provide a loving environment where there is a culture of ‘informed vigilance’ as to the dangers of abuse.
• the careful selection and training of all those with any safeguarding responsibility within the Church, including the use of available criminal records disclosures and relevant vetting and barring schemes.
• Preventing abuse or the likelihood of abuse by encouraging and adopting a pro-active stance to safeguarding; responding to the slightest concern whether by rumour, speculation or from an anonymous source – every safeguarding concern will be taken seriously.
• Ensuring that any concern about safeguarding must be passed onto someone in the Diocesan Safeguarding Team as there are no legal barriers to sharing such concerns.
• Responding without delay to every complaint made which suggests that a child, young person or adult may have been harmed – co-operating with the local police, relevant local agencies and any other relevant body (eg other faith groups) in any investigation.
• Seeking to work with anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them an appropriate ministry of informed pastoral care.
• Seeking to challenge any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a position of trust.
• Seeking to offer pastoral care and support, including supervision and referral to the proper authorities, to any member of our church community known to have offended against a child, young person or vulnerable adult.

Adopted/reaffirmed by the Chaplaincy Council Date:  13th May 2018

Refugees
Greece has become the gateway for refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan moving into Europe. They are fleeing war, terror and the breakdown of civil society. The Anglican Church in Athens has encouraged a joint response to the needs of refugees by the Churches in partnership with UNHCR. Various Churches have established or are about to establish programmes, all of which need funding. By coming together, these Churches can support each other with resources and personnel, whilst avoiding needless duplication.
The Anglican Chaplaincy in Athens has been the recipient of financial donations from Anglican chaplaincies in Europe, parishes in Britain and private individuals for assisting work among refugees. It is using these funds to support already established programmes. For example, we have sent financial support to ‘Medical Intervention’ (a welfare organization for refugees arriving on Samos) and to ‘Lighthouse’ (a team of volunteers who await the arrival of dinghies along the dangerous coast line of Lesvos). We also made a collection of clothes and toiletries and paid for sleeping bags for refugees in a detention centre. We have hosted three Church delegations from the UK, which has led to a major appeal being launched in Britain to raise donations focused on the refugees’ needs.

‘Church in the Street’ programme
This is an ecumenical programme, jointly established by the Orthodox Archdiocese of Athens and the Anglican Church in Athens. Since March 2009, some 800 meals are distributed daily to refugees, irregular migrants and impoverished Greeks. The distribution occurs within the courtyard of the offices of the Athens Municipality found at the end of Sofokleous Street as it joins Odos Panagi Tsaldari (known as Odos Pireos), at Plateia Odeiou. Volunteers gather at 11:45am for a distribution at 12:00 noon and again at 4:15pm for a distribution at 4:30 pm. For further information, please ring (+30) 210 721 4906.

Annunciation Nursery School, Dilessi
This is a newly-built kindergarten for children of impoverished families or single parents. It is under the auspices of the Orthodox Church. The chaplaincy has made available an emotional needs teacher with an assistant. Besides delivering lessons focused on emotional needs, a very popular ‘Parenting course’ is also provided. Material for the teaching of English from an Episcopal Parish in the USA has been given to the school, as well as a donation towards an air-conditioning system.

‘Hestia’, a hostel for refugees who are unaccompanied minors
This is a hostel established by the Orthodox Church. Through the Anglican Church in Athens, a small team is giving lessons in conversational English, plus art lessons. This same team organises the occasional excursion to an exhibition or a place of entertainment, such as a bowling alley.

The Maria Kokkori Foundation, a residence for those with Down Syndrome
This residence is found on the corner of Agamemnonos and Promitheos 28 in Ano Glyfada. It is a very impressive care centre for 22 residents, under the oversight of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Athens. The Anglican congregations of Athens donate money to this charitable organization. The association’s website (solely in Greek) is: www.kokkori.gr

‘Loida’, a home for senior citizens
In Greece, there is a desperate need of care homes for Senior Citizens. ‘Loida’, run by the Hellenic Scripture Union, has been open for 30 years. It is found at 48, Ionias Street, in Kifissia, and cares for about 70 residents. The Anglican Church in Athens has donated money to this home to assist with the improvement of its facilities. A programme to establish a ‘nursing at home’ programme has recently been introduced. Their website, presently available only in Greek, is: www.sugreece.gr.

Meeting hardship in Athens
Years of austerity have bitten deep into the lives of the population of Athens. In the spring of 2012, the Anglican chaplain in Berlin enquired as to whether his congregation might send a donation to St Paul’s, Athens, to help provide relief for those facing hardship within the city. Since then, significant donations throughout Europe have been sent to St Paul’s for this purpose. Such monies have largely been channelled to Apostoli, the welfare organization of the Greek Orthodox Church. Apostoli has an effective food distribution scheme throughout the city – soup kitchens, food banks, monthly food parcels for large families, and food distribution to schools in impoverished neighbourhoods. Over the past few years, the demands on this scheme have increased significantly.

The Anglican community in Athens is grateful, and feels privileged, for being the recipient of donations from far afield to assist in meeting need in Greece during these days of acute austerity. Our gratitude to the donors is deep and real.
Below is part of a letter sent to the Anglican Bishop of Europe on 28th September 2015 by Mr. Constantine Dimtsas, the Director General of ‘Apostoli’, the central administration office for the welfare work of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Athens:

Right Reverend Bishop Innes,

‘Apostoli,’ the philanthropic organization of the Sacred Archdiocese of Athens, has most gratefully received a donation of £13,571.91 (€18,050.64) from your Diocese’s 2015 Lent appeal.
First of all, I wish to thank you for sending us this important donation through our local Anglican friends and fellow partners, i.e. Fr. Malcolm Bradshaw and his parish in Athens. Gifts from donors provide the moral and financial support needed to continue our mission. Your generous donation to ‘Apostoli’ is therefore greatly valued and appreciated. With your precious contribution you have demonstrated your acknowledgement and appreciation of our work of providing material and moral assistance to some of the most vulnerable segments of our society, bewildered by the lingering economic crisis that has befallen our country since 2010. Here at ‘Apostoli,’ we are continually inspired by the generosity and dedication of our donors, whose precious support is helping us to make it possible for our beneficiaries to lead better and happier lives.
Taking this opportunity, please let me add this: in these critical times for Europe and the Christian Churches of this Continent, your continuing support is a wonderful and moving example of Christian solidarity and love.
Constantine Dimtsas †

This section was updated June  2018