Jewish circles in Greece are disturbed by the violently anti-Semitic attack launched last week by a high-ranking ecclesiastic, the Bishop of Chios, and by the rightist military government’s failure to take a stand on the issue. Addressing an audience of government officials on the occasion of Greek Orthodoxy Day, the bishop blamed Greek Jews and Zionist organizations for adversely influencing Greek youth.
The bishop quoted from the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, calling it “a well-known book,” and said Greek Orthodoxy was threatened by freemasonry and rotarianism. The bishop said the Freemasons and the Rotarians are controlled by Jews and Zionist organizations.
There are around 6,500 Jews in the Greek population of nearly nine million. The bishop’s audience, which included the Regent of Greece and prominent Cabinet ministers and the community as a whole, failed to respond to the speech. Local Jews plan to meet today on the matter in Salonica.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
