Atheists: Athens-Jerusalem delivery for Holy Flame should not be paid by taxpayers

The Atheist Union of Greece have called for the abolition of the transport of the Holy Light from Jerusalem to Athens. The light flown to Greece comes from the Holy Fire that miraculously appears every year at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Great Sunday. The miracle of the light delights believers and non-believers alike.

The light is then transported to Athens via a special flight that is paid for by the Greek State so that it can come to Greece and be distributed to every church across the country.

Atheists in Greece are opposed to state funds being used to transport the “Holy Light” and are calling for the state to publicize the exact cost of the transportation.

In a nutshell, the atheist group is opposed to the fact that the light comes to Greece with the honors reserved for heads of state. It points to the fact that a private entity had paid for the transport costs until 2000 but that the state has been footing the bill from 2002 onwards. It points out that no other country burdens taxpayers money  for the transport of the flame even though the light is also delivered to Russia, Serbia and Armenia.

Atheists want to know what the cost of the special flight to deliver the flame and the people accompanying it is, they want to know the cost of accomodation for people entrusted with the delivery of the Holy Light as well as a full account of expenditure in the special ceremonies associated with the arrival of the flame to Greece.