Greece plans major salary increase for archbishops and metropolitans under new omnibus bill
Under the draft legislation, the monthly gross salaries of the Archbishop of Athens and all Metropolitans would be set at 90% of the maximum salary of a government general secretary, effectively standardizing their pay at €4,671.90 per month.
The bill, which also includes broader economic measures such as energy crisis relief and targeted support for families, pensioners and vulnerable groups, is currently under review.
According to the proposed Article 56, the salary adjustment would replace the current framework, which allows for gross monthly earnings ranging between €2,400 and €2,915 for the Archbishop, depending on additional allowances such as education level and representation costs. Metropolitans currently earn between €2,400 and €2,475.
The new calculation is based on the revised ceiling for public sector officials, set at €5,191 per month for a ministry general secretary as of April 2026. Applying the 90% rule results in the proposed standardized salary of €4,671.90 for senior clergy.
The bill also stipulates that titular Metropolitans would receive 70% of this amount, while auxiliary bishops would be placed on a lower pay scale. It further states that no additional allowances or supplementary payments will be granted beyond the fixed salary structure.
If approved, the reform would mark one of the largest increases in clergy compensation in recent years, aligning ecclesiastical salaries more closely with top-tier public administration pay scales.
