m (Text replacement - "{{<span class="error">Expansion depth limit exceeded</span>| link1=" to "{{breadcrumb | link1=") |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{ | {{CountrySidebar | ||
|Country=Greece | |||
|Name=Greece | |Name=Greece | ||
|Type=Topic | |Type=Topic | ||
| Line 5: | Line 6: | ||
|Records=Church Records | |Records=Church Records | ||
|Rating=Acceptable | |Rating=Acceptable | ||
}} | }}{{breadcrumb | ||
{{breadcrumb | |||
| link1=[[Greece Genealogy|Greece]] | | link1=[[Greece Genealogy|Greece]] | ||
| link2= | | link2= | ||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
Records of births or christenings, marriages, and deaths or burials by the church can be used with or in the absence of vital records (birth, marriage, and death records created by the state). The parish priests' church records for the diocese. In many cases, these records were kept on a civil district (''eparhia'') level. Because there was no separation of church and state, it is sometimes difficult to clearly define where church registers end and civil registration begins. Church records are crucial for genealogical research in Greece. The Eastern Orthodox faith is the official religion of Greece, although other religions are tolerated. About 98% of the population of Greece belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church. Greek Orthodox church records are excellent sources for accurate information on names, dates, and places of births, marriages, deaths, and relationships. During the time of Turkish rule, the Orthodox church was given control of the Christian population (''millet''). Priests controlled marriage, divorce, and inheritance proceedings and even collected taxes for the state.< | Records of births or christenings, marriages, and deaths or burials by the church can be used with or in the absence of vital records (birth, marriage, and death records created by the state). The parish priests' church records for the diocese. In many cases, these records were kept on a civil district (''eparhia'') level. Because there was no separation of church and state, it is sometimes difficult to clearly define where church registers end and civil registration begins. Church records are crucial for genealogical research in Greece. The Eastern Orthodox faith is the official religion of Greece, although other religions are tolerated. About 98% of the population of Greece belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church. Greek Orthodox church records are excellent sources for accurate information on names, dates, and places of births, marriages, deaths, and relationships. During the time of Turkish rule, the Orthodox church was given control of the Christian population (''millet''). Priests controlled marriage, divorce, and inheritance proceedings and even collected taxes for the state.<ref>The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Records Profile: Greece,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1999.</ref> Most people who lived in Greece can be found in church records. | ||
Take note: any record of birth, marriage, or death can be called vital records (''lixiarcheion''). Do not confuse this with records of civil registration and the local buildings that house them (''Lixiarcheion''). | Take note: any record of birth, marriage, or death can be called vital records (''lixiarcheion''). Do not confuse this with records of civil registration and the local buildings that house them (''Lixiarcheion''). | ||
==Time Coverage== | ==Time Coverage== | ||
Greek Orthodox churches have made records for several centuries. Some church records in Greece begin in the 16th century, although most registers begin in the late 1600s and early 1700s. For birth, marriage, and death records after about 1840, there may also be a civil record (see [[Greece Civil Registration]]). Church registers are available until about 1940.< | Greek Orthodox churches have made records for several centuries. Some church records in Greece begin in the 16th century, although most registers begin in the late 1600s and early 1700s. For birth, marriage, and death records after about 1840, there may also be a civil record (see [[Greece Civil Registration]]). Church registers are available until about 1940.<ref>The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Records Profile: Greece,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1999.</ref> | ||
==Information Recorded in Church Registers== | ==Information Recorded in Church Registers== | ||
| Line 63: | Line 63: | ||
*'''Local parishes'''. Most church registers are still maintained by the parish. Some older records, however, may have been turned in to diocese or state archives. | *'''Local parishes'''. Most church registers are still maintained by the parish. Some older records, however, may have been turned in to diocese or state archives. | ||
*'''Diocese (Metropolis) archives'''. Current parish registers are located at the parish, but older records of the 1800s and 1900s are often kept in diocese archives. Marriage records especially are generally kept in the diocese (Metropolis) offices. You can write to the diocese (Metropolis) office for marriage information. | *'''Diocese (Metropolis) archives'''. Current parish registers are located at the parish, but older records of the 1800s and 1900s are often kept in diocese archives. Marriage records especially are generally kept in the diocese (Metropolis) offices. You can write to the diocese (Metropolis) office for marriage information. | ||
*'''GAK archives''' (''Genika Archeia tou Kratous''). Some pre-1900 records may be in the GAK. Some of these records have been microfilmed and are available at the | *'''GAK archives''' (''Genika Archeia tou Kratous''). Some pre-1900 records may be in the GAK. Some of these records have been microfilmed and are available at the Family History Library. However, for more recent records and for those not yet microfilmed, write to the ''Genika Archeia tou Kratous'' and request searches of the records. See [[Greece Archives and Libraries]]. | ||
*Some very old records are kept in '''monasteries.''' | *Some very old records are kept in '''monasteries.''' | ||
| Line 70: | Line 70: | ||
From 1925 to present, you can usually obtain birth, death, and (sometimes) marriage information from civil registration rather than the church. Write to or visit the local mayors’ offices to obtain these records. | From 1925 to present, you can usually obtain birth, death, and (sometimes) marriage information from civil registration rather than the church. Write to or visit the local mayors’ offices to obtain these records. | ||
====Records at the | ====Records at the Family History Library==== | ||
The | The Family History Library has some church records on microfilm from Greece. This collection continues to grow as new records are microfilmed. Earlier church records have been filmed from GAK (Genika Archeia tou Kratous) in the counties (nomos) of Kerkyras (1700s–1844), Kefallinias (1700s–early 1900s), Leukados (1700s, 1823–1860), and the district (eparhia) of Kythiron (1660s and 1700s–1865). Church records from the diocese of Halkidos, Thivon and Levadias, and Rethymni have also been filmed. Diocese boundaries do not always correlate with county boundaries. Look in the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/search FamilySearch Catalog] to find these microfilms. | ||
===Minority Religions and Records=== | ===Minority Religions and Records=== | ||
| Line 109: | Line 109: | ||
=====Church Directories===== | =====Church Directories===== | ||
Church directories list the various places where the Orthodox church has congregations and addresses. They often give additional information such as church beliefs, diocese office addresses, and calendar items. A yearly church directory for the Greek Orthodox Church includes information on Eastern Orthodox churches in other countries of eastern Europe. The | Church directories list the various places where the Orthodox church has congregations and addresses. They often give additional information such as church beliefs, diocese office addresses, and calendar items. A yearly church directory for the Greek Orthodox Church includes information on Eastern Orthodox churches in other countries of eastern Europe. The Family History Library listings for the 1976 and 1995 editions are: | ||
*''Imerologion tis Ekklisias tis Ellados - Almanac of the Churches of Greece. (s.l.): ''Apostoliki Diakonia tis Ellados, 1976''. ( | *''Imerologion tis Ekklisias tis Ellados - Almanac of the Churches of Greece. (s.l.): ''Apostoliki Diakonia tis Ellados, 1976''. (FHL book 949.5 K22e; ) '' | ||
*''Diptyha tis Ekklisias tis Ellados, 1995 - Diptych of the Church of Greece, 1995).'' | *''Diptyha tis Ekklisias tis Ellados, 1995 - Diptych of the Church of Greece, 1995).'' | ||
| Line 127: | Line 127: | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{ | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Greece]] | [[Category:Greece]] | ||
[[Category:Church Records by Country]] | [[Category:Church Records by Country]] | ||
edits