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Records of births, marriages, and deaths are commonly called vital records | ==Definition== | ||
Records of births or christenings, marriages, and burials or deaths are commonly called vital records. Church records are vital records made by priests. Church records are crucial for genealogical research in Greece. The Eastern Orthodox faith is the official religion of Greece, although other religions are tolerated. Fully 97 percent 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, and deaths. Most people who lived in Greece were recorded in a church record. | |||
Greek Orthodox church records are excellent sources for accurate information on names, dates, and places of births, marriages, and deaths. Most people who lived in Greece were recorded in a church record. Greek Orthodox churches have made records for several centuries. Some church records in Greece begin in the sixteenth 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- Vital Records]]). | ==Time Coverage== | ||
Greek Orthodox churches have made records for several centuries. Some church records in Greece begin in the sixteenth 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- Vital Records]]). | |||
==Information Recorded in Church Registers== | |||
The information recorded in church books varied over time. The later records generally give more complete information than the earlier ones. The most important church records for genealogical research are christening, marriage, and burial registers. In addition, church records may include account books, list of clergy, and lists of members. Greek Orthodox church records were written in Greek. Catholic Church registers are in Latin and Italian. Armenian church registers are in Armenian. | The information recorded in church books varied over time. The later records generally give more complete information than the earlier ones. The most important church records for genealogical research are christening, marriage, and burial registers. In addition, church records may include account books, list of clergy, and lists of members. Greek Orthodox church records were written in Greek. Catholic Church registers are in Latin and Italian. Armenian church registers are in Armenian. | ||
===Baptisms=== | |||
In early years, children were generally christened a few days after their birth. Christening registers usually give the infant’s and parents’ names (sometimes giving the grandfather’s name), status of legitimacy, names of godparents, and the birth and christening date. The patronymic name is given for each male person mentioned in the entry and husband’s name for the females. You may also find the date, father’s occupation, and the family’s place of residence. | In early years, children were generally christened a few days after their birth. Christening registers usually give the infant’s and parents’ names (sometimes giving the grandfather’s name), status of legitimacy, names of godparents, and the birth and christening date. The patronymic name is given for each male person mentioned in the entry and husband’s name for the females. You may also find the date, father’s occupation, and the family’s place of residence. | ||
===Marriages=== | |||
Marriage registers give the date of the marriage, the names of the bride and groom, and the names of the parents of the bride and groom. They may also list the names of witnesses and list the ages and birthplaces of the bride and groom. | Marriage registers give the date of the marriage, the names of the bride and groom, and the names of the parents of the bride and groom. They may also list the names of witnesses and list the ages and birthplaces of the bride and groom. | ||
===Diocese Marriage Records=== | |||
In Greece, persons who wanted to marry had to talk to the local priest. The prospective couple submitted certificates giving their birth, parentage, and other information to the local priest, who forwarded it to the diocese (mitropolis). Clerks there would check to make sure neither party was currently married to someone else, nor too closely related to the intended spouse. If no problems were found, the diocese would issue the permission for marriage. Upon receiving the diocese’s approval, the local priest performed the marriage. Often, the only permanent record of the marriage is the information recorded by the diocese. If the marriage did not actually take place, that fact is usually noted in the diocese’s records. These records generally give the same information as the parish marriage record and may also list the date the certificate was issued, the birthplaces of the bride and groom, their residence, parents’ names, and whether this was the first or a subsequent marriage. Other information varies. The original certificates that were provided by the bride and groom appear to be on file in the diocese. | In Greece, persons who wanted to marry had to talk to the local priest. The prospective couple submitted certificates giving their birth, parentage, and other information to the local priest, who forwarded it to the diocese (mitropolis). Clerks there would check to make sure neither party was currently married to someone else, nor too closely related to the intended spouse. If no problems were found, the diocese would issue the permission for marriage. Upon receiving the diocese’s approval, the local priest performed the marriage. Often, the only permanent record of the marriage is the information recorded by the diocese. If the marriage did not actually take place, that fact is usually noted in the diocese’s records. These records generally give the same information as the parish marriage record and may also list the date the certificate was issued, the birthplaces of the bride and groom, their residence, parents’ names, and whether this was the first or a subsequent marriage. Other information varies. The original certificates that were provided by the bride and groom appear to be on file in the diocese. | ||
===Diocese Divorce Records=== | |||
Divorces before the mid-twentieth century were uncommon. Records of divorces may contain information on family members, their marital history, their property, residences, and dates of other important events such as the children’s births. Records of divorce are found either in court records or in diocese records. | Divorces before the mid-twentieth century were uncommon. Records of divorces may contain information on family members, their marital history, their property, residences, and dates of other important events such as the children’s births. Records of divorce are found either in court records or in diocese records. | ||
===Deaths=== | |||
Deaths were recorded by the priest who performed the funeral and burial. Burial usually took place within 24 hours of death, either in the parish where the person died, or in the cemetery of the town where the person died. Death registers give the name of the deceased person, the father’s name, the date of death, age, marital status (widow or widower), and sometimes the cause of death. | |||
==Locating Church Records== | |||
Greece has no single repository of church records. The present location of records depends on several factors of nationality, government regulations, and local history. Records are available from several locations. | |||
===Greek Orthodox Records=== | |||
*In earlier years, each priest had a book where he recorded the ordinances he performed. A priest may have served more than one local village, or he may have served with other priests in one parish. | |||
*Birth entries from his books were copied by the civil authorities in order to construct '''the male register.''' | |||
*When a priest retired or died, the book had to be turned in to the diocese. You must determine the diocese that your ancestor’s town belonged to so that you will know where the records are kept. | |||
* In large cities, where there may be many parishes, the FamilySearch Catalog uses the parish name (such as St. John) to distinguish the records of different parishes. | |||
''' | Although church records originated on the parish level, the records may be located at various places today. | ||
*'''Local parishes'''. Most church registers are still maintained by the parish.* Most older records, however, have often been turned in to diocese or state repositories. | |||
*'''GAK archives''' (Genika Archeia tou Kratous). Many pre-1900 records from many parishes are 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.''' | |||
*'''Diocese archives'''. Current parish registers are located at the parish, but older records of the 1800s and 1900s may be kept in diocese archives. Marriage records especially are generally kept in the diocese offices. You can write to the diocese office for marriage information. | |||
Also,for this time period, you can usually obtain birth, death, and sometimes marriage information, from civil registration rather than the church, by writing to or visiting the local mayors’ offices. | |||
===Minority Religions and Records=== | |||
The minority religions include about 1.3 percent of the population. There are Muslims of Western Thrace, with additional small communities of Roman Catholics (remnants from Venetian times), Protestants (from 19th century missionary activity), Armenian Monophysites, and Jews. <br> | |||
<br> | |||
Church records kept by the Roman Catholic church are similar in content to the Orthodox church records. Roman Catholic church records from various parts of Greece have been filmed. For example, many of the records from the 1700s–1930s have been filmed from the county of Kykladon. | |||
===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 Family History Library listings for the 1976 and 1995 editions are: | 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: | ||
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''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).'''''''' | ||
'''Records at the Family History Library''' | '''Records at the Family History Library''' | ||
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GREECE, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - CHURCH RECORDS | GREECE, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - CHURCH RECORDS | ||
GREECE, [COUNTY], [DISTRICT] - CHURCH RECORDS | GREECE, [COUNTY], [DISTRICT] - CHURCH RECORDS | ||
GREECE, [COUNTY] - CHURCH RECORDS | GREECE, [COUNTY] - CHURCH RECORDS | ||
'''Records Not at the Family History Library''' | '''Records Not at the Family History Library''' | ||
Baptism, marriage, and death records may be found by contacting or visiting a local diocese or GAK (Genika Archeia tou Kratous) in Greece | Baptism, marriage, and death records may be found by contacting or visiting a local diocese or GAK (Genika Archeia tou Kratous) in Greece. | ||
Some form letters that can be used to write for genealogical information in Greek are given in the following book: | |||
*Catsakis, Lica (Bywater). ''Greek Genealogical ''''Research'''''''' | *Catsakis, Lica (Bywater). ''Greek Genealogical ''''Research'''''''' | ||