Elder Moulatsiotis makes it clear that the new citizen identity cards, proposed by the former government of George Papandreou are not welcomed by the Church of Greece.
Several months ago, thousands of Orthodox Christians in Greece hit the streets to protest against the introduction of these new identity cards. Participants had also said that these new electronic ID cards would include the number 666, or the "number of the beast," hidden in a design. The bottom line is that the state aims for tighter control over its citizens and many believe that the design of the cards includes the number described in the Book of Revelation.
One reason they believe this is that the electronic card strips all references to religion.
The Church of Greece deems that the new identity card offers too much information about citizens, making it easier for the state to wield control over citizens and notes that it will not permit the cards to circulate if the state does not work together with the Church of Greece on this issue.
The new cards will contain information on taxes, the history of appeals to state bodies and other personal information (biometric information) and what is worse, the holder of the card is not allowed to know what information the card contains!
Presently, Greece uses the traditional paper identity certificates.