Churches in Greece are starting to adopt digital payments, with the first point-of-sale (POS) machine for donations installed Friday at the Catholic Cathedral of Saint Dionysius the Areopagite in central Athens.
The move marks the beginning of a wider initiative to place card terminals in churches, allowing worshippers — especially tourists — to make donations electronically instead of using cash. Discussions among church leaders began last summer, driven by the need to modernize giving practices and accommodate changing visitor habits.
The self-service POS machine, supplied by Donationpos, was placed next to the traditional donation box and cost the church approximately €1,500.
While initially intended for high-traffic and tourist-frequented churches, the system may be expanded to other locations based on demand and feedback.
By Vassilis Goulas