CLERGYMEN'S FUND

The Clergy of the Holy Metropolis of Cephalonia has a significant difference from the clergy elsewhere in Greece.

It belongs to an independent body called "Clergymen's Fund", a legal entity that operates on a Charter approved by the Court of Argostoli (approval no. 203/10-10-1985). The fund is administered by a General Assebly of the Clergy, President of which is the Metropolitan of Cephalonia. It was founded on 1-1-1985 by then Metropolitan Spyridon Kontomichalos.
This peculiariry goes back to 1950 when Argostolian land owner Gregorios G. Olympidis bequested through his Will, before his death, all his property to the Clergymen's Fund which was to include all the clergy serving at the Holy Metropolis of Cephalonia. In essence, he left all his belongings to the clergy. It should be noted that at that time the clergy were not on the government payroll, they were not insured, and were thus relying on the public's financial support.

After the devastating earthquakes, the Clergymen's Fund found itself owning significant real estate property which included commercial land in Argostoli and agricultural land in the Krania area.The ownership of the properties was evidenced by transfer of all pertinent titles.

One significant piece of commercial land property was located in the center of town in Lithostroto. This property was developed with money from the Fund. Today it houses the Argostoli Tax Office, collecting an annual rent of about 58.000 Euro.

There are two more commercial lots in Argostoli that have been developed, as well as a large piece of land in the St. Athanasios area which has been partitioned into lots for further development.

The agricultural land in Krania is quite developable as well.
This Fund is indeed a situation that is peculiar to the Cephalonian clergy.
The Charter under which the Fund operates today, defines the Clergymen's General Assembly as the administrative body, headed by the Metropolitan of Cephalonia as President.

The Funds purposes are stated to be:

1. Financial support of those clergymen unable to perform their duties , including their families and their female siblings.
2. Financial support of clergymen's families with many children, the amount varying with the number of children. This financial assistance is granted one time only and after petition by the clergyman.
3. Reimbursement of maternity expenses for clergymen's wives.
4. Scholarships for clergymen's children. The scholarship amount is decided upon every year by the General Assembly.
5. Financial assistance for clergymen unable to perform their duties temporarily, for whatever reason.
6. Financial assistance to families of clergymen who pass away.

Finally, there is a provision for assistance in cases which are not specifically defined in the Fund's Charter, under certain conditions. In these cases the General Assembly decides on any justified petition for assistance, granted that there are available funds.
A Budget and Accounts Statement is prepared and approved by the General Assembly every year.

The Charter includes an article that specifies that the administration committee is to be composed of five members with the Metropolitan of Cephalonia as President. The remaining committee members are elected by the General Assembly.

The Fund's revenues are derived from the monthly membership dues ( a symbolic amount of 100 drachmas), rents collected from the various properties, donations and bequests.
Financial administration is carried out by the Holy Metropolis Accounting Office.

The Clergymen's Fund assists other Metropolis projects. For example, it has donated the use of shop space in the building that houses the Tax Office for use by the Metropolis Book Store. All provisions to the Metropolis aim to contribute to the religious and spiritual progress of the local Church's congregation.

For all this, the Holy Metropolis of Cephalonia has declared the late Gregorios Olympidis to be a "Great Benefactor" of the local Church, and his memory is honored at all officiations.