With the settlement of the Fathers of the Clerical Community of the Apostolic Exarchate of Constantinople in Athens, after the Asia Minor catastrophe in 1922, “Saint John the Merciful” orphanage is immediately opened.
-1930: Orphaned children are settled in the newly erected building of the Exarchate on Acharnon Street alongside the Bishop and the priests. At the same time two buildings are erected in the Thymarakia area of Kato Patissia in Athens where twenty-five refugee families are housed.
-On the initiative of the first Exarch of the Greek Catholic Exarchate, Bishop Georgios Chalavatzis, the Monastery of “Pammakaristos Theotokos” (Ever-blessed Virgin Mary) was built on 43 Iakovaton Street and the first Primary School run by the nuns of Pammakaristos Theotokos is housed there. Additionally, the first “Home for the Working Girl” is established on Themistokleous Street.
–“Theia Pronoia Houses” (Divine Providence Houses”)organize soup kitchens which distribute free food to the famished Athenians during the German Occupation (1941-1944).
-During World War II the building of the nuns of Pammakaristos Theotokos Monastery is turned into “Pammakaristos” Hospital of Divine Providence. This is where the wounded of the civil war of 1944 are also treated.
-1947: “Panagia Odigitria” (Guiding Blessed Virgin Mary) Student Home is established.
-After the devastating earthquakes in the summer of 1953, which caused the total destruction of the Ionian islands of Zakynthos, Ithaca and Cephalonia forcing a substantial portion of the population to abandon the islands, a Home for earthquake-stricken girls was built in Nea Makri by Pammakaristos Theotokos Monastery. Today it operates as the Foundation for the Child “Pammakaristos”.
–Pammakaristos Hospital, which was established on 27th May 1953 by the Greek Catholic Exarchate and Pammakaristos Monastery, is passed on to the Greek National Health System (ESY) in 1986.
–“Bethany Home of Divine Providence” the charitable foundation established in 1959 by Episcopal Decree of the Exarch of the Greek Catholic Exarchate fr. Yacinthos Gad, serves as a retirement home until 2012, at which time it is passed on to private owners.
PUBLISHING HOUSE “GRAFEIO KALOU TYPOU”
The “Grafeio Kalou Typou” began its operation as a Lending Library in 1932, during the diaconate of the Exarch of the Greek Catholics in Greece, Georgios Halavazis. The same Prelate signed the Episcopal Decree No. 910 on 26 October 1936, by which it was officially established in its present legal form and has since been operating as a non-profit organization. Its purpose is to contribute through the press to the spiritual education of the Catholics in Greece and, in general, to enlighten Greek society on the doctrinal, moral and social teaching and action of the Catholic Church. To this end, it began to publish magazines, the newspaper “KATHOLIKI“, new or translated books, as well as all kinds of publications that contribute to its intended purpose. Its main animator, organizer, author and first director was Fr. Hyacinthos Gad, who succeeded Bishop George Halavazis. It is administered by a Council chaired by the respective Exarch of the Greek Catholics in Greece.
CARITAS “DIVINE PROVIDENCE”
It operates in the premises of the Exarchy, at 246 Acharnon Street, under the presidency of the respective Exarch-Bishop, in the context of the social and charitable support of the Parish of the Holy Trinity, as well as a branch hosted in the premises of the Foundation for Children “Pammakaristos” in Nea Makri, Attica, which is coordinated by the President of the Foundation, a member of Caritas.
Caritas “Divine Providence” develops a multifaceted social service to every person, regardless of race, religion and language, based on the commandment of the Gospel to love each other:
-The centre is open once a week: clothing, household items, toys, stationery for children, food and personal hygiene products are distributed.
-Assistance is provided in primary health care issues (vaccinations of children, etc.), in cooperation with voluntary associations and public clinics.
-Personal contact with families, mainly families of refugees and migrants, is offered to solve problems and process their documents.
-Distribution of cash vouchers to vulnerable families from anonymous donations each year at Christmas and Easter time.
-Provision of food, cleaning materials and personal care items for the needs of the Foundation for Children in Nea Makri, Attica.
“BETHANY HOME OF PROVIDENCE”
The Philanthropic Institution “Bethany Home of Providence” was established in 1959 with a diocesan ordinance of the Greek Catholic Exarchate fr. Yakinthos Gad and has operated as a retirement home until 2012, at which time it came to private ownership.
In its 53 years of operation, it has accommodated over 1000 senior citizens by providing them with full medical and pharmaceutical care in modern self-owned facilities in the heart of 40-acre pine area in Nea Makri, Attica, 32 kilometers from the center of Athens.