Announcement of Holy Monasteries and Holy Hesychasteria: On the New Digital Identity Cards and the Citizen's Personal Number

Source: Orthodox Ethos

November 15, 2025

    

Prompted by the legitimate concerns that have arisen among a large portion of our society regarding the mandatory issuance of new digital identity cards, we, the abbots of the Holy Monasteries and Hesychasteria of our homeland, after fervent prayer, thorough research, and deep theological reflection, issue the following Statement.

This Statement constitutes a necessary response to the questions addressed to us and to the anxiety felt by our brothers and sisters in Christ who strive to live faithfully in the world. Furthermore, it is deemed indispensable, since the State did not from the outset provide sufficient and adequate information to the citizens regarding the nature, the content, and the capabilities of the new identity cards, while the systemic mass media continue to mock, deride, and caricature all those who dare to express a dissenting opinion.

The new digital identity card, as it has been officially designed, will not simply serve as a document verifying personal identity, but will soon also function as a card for electronic services. For this reason, it is presented as a valuable and practical tool that will simplify the citizen’s daily life and render the operation of the State more efficient.

However, the price of these advantages appears to be exceedingly high. As developments in digital technology progress at a dizzying pace and as States move toward a comprehensive digital transformation, the fundamental rights of citizens are put at risk, and the individual gradually becomes ensnared within the bonds of a digital system. The new type of identity card thus represents yet another step that may lead humanity toward a nightmarish reality.

… Read the rest at Orthodox Ethos.

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11/17/2025

See also
Greek bishop challenges Holy Synod’s approval of national personal ID number Greek bishop challenges Holy Synod’s approval of national personal ID number Greek bishop challenges Holy Synod’s approval of national personal ID number Greek bishop challenges Holy Synod’s approval of national personal ID number
The ongoing controversy over Greece’s new Personal ID Number (PAI) has intensified within the Greek Orthodox Church, as His Eminence Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu issued a strong critique of the Holy Synod’s recent decision to approve the digital identification system. Greek authorities respond to Mt. Athos concerns over personal identification numbers Greek authorities respond to Mt. Athos concerns over personal identification numbers Greek authorities respond to Mt. Athos concerns over personal identification numbers Greek authorities respond to Mt. Athos concerns over personal identification numbers
In a letter signed by Minister Dimitrios Papastergiou, the ministry responded to questions from representatives of Mount Athos twenty ruling monasteries, who had expressed serious concerns about data protection and the necessity of the mandatory system. Greek Metropolitan warns of “digital totalitarianism” threatening human freedom Greek Metropolitan warns of “digital totalitarianism” threatening human freedom Greek Metropolitan warns of “digital totalitarianism” threatening human freedom Greek Metropolitan warns of “digital totalitarianism” threatening human freedom
His Eminence Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu of the Greek Orthodox Church has issued a strong warning about what he describes as a transition from “health dictatorship” during the pandemic to a form of “electronic totalitarianism” that threatens human personhood.

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