"Fleece & Release": Greek Church Singer's Salary Increase Demand Sparks Parishioner Boycott, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 11 February 2025) 

                                                  Diva

Masses at the Aya Yorgi Church in Istanbul's Bakırköy district

have been put on hold, based on an announcement made by

Derkon Metropoliti (Greek Bishop) Apostol Danilidis.  The

church's parishioners are refusing to pay for an increase in 

mass singer Statoula Zafiridis's monthly salary.  (!)

After hearing of the additional 10,000 TL (about $277) increase 

demanded by Statoula Zafiridis, who currently gets a monthly 

"mass fee" of 71,750 TL (about $2020) (!), parishioners rebelled 

and last Sunday's mass was canceled. 

The parisioners' boycott was evidently sparked, in part, by 

the fact that Statoula Zafridis is the wife of Daniil Zafridis, who

assists Derkon Metropoliti Apostolos during masses. 

You get what you pay for...