The Catholic Cathedral of Saint Dionysius the Areopagite in central Athens has become the first church in Greece to install a point-of-sale (POS) terminal directly connected to its donation box, allowing for contactless donations from worshippers.
The initiative was introduced following repeated requests from international visitors, particularly tourists. “We had this request for a very long time, mainly from Catholic tourists, because they don’t use cash and prefer to pay by card,” said Father Georgios, the parish priest of the cathedral. “So after several such requests, we eventually gave in and now offer this option.”
Father Georgios added that the practice, long established abroad, will become more familiar in Greece as well. “Abroad, it has been used for years—if not decades. Greeks are still processing it and trying to get used to it, but soon it will surprise no one.”
Photo Credit: Proto Thema
The POS device accepts donations as small as one cent and includes a limit of €1,000 per transaction. Contributions of €100 or more are considered charitable donations under Greek tax law, making them eligible for a 40% tax deduction.
The Catholic Cathedral of Saint Dionysius the Areopagite serves as the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Athens. Dedicated to Saint Dionysius, the first bishop of Athens, the church was built in Neo-Renaissance style with plans by German architect Leo von Klenze, later adapted by Greek architect Lysandros Kaftantzoglou. Construction began in 1853 and was completed in 1865, funded through donations from Greek and international Catholics.
