VII.—GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL DIVISIONS.
The protecting powers have bestowed upon Greece a parliamentary and constitutional Government, modelled upon West European patterns. Theoretically the King of the Greeks reigns, but does not govern, and his ministers are responsible to the Chambers, whose majority changes with the fluctuations of public opinion. In reality, however, the power of the King is limited only by diplomacy. Nor do those Western institutions respond to the traditions and the genius of the Greeks, and although the charter has been modified three times since the declaration of independence, it has never been strictly adhered to.
In accordance with the constitution of 1864, every Greek citizen possessing any property whatever, or exercising a profession, has a right to vote on attaining his twenty-fifth year, and becomes eligible as a deputy at thirty. The deputies, one hundred and eighty-seven in number, are elected for four years, and are paid for their services. The civil list of the King, inclusive of a subvention granted by the protecting powers, amounts to £46,000 a year.
The orthodox Greek Church of Hellas is independent of the Patriarch of Constantinople. It is governed by a Holy Synod, sitting in the capital, and presided over by an archbishop as metropolitan. A royal commissioner is present at the meetings of the Synod, and countersigns every proposition that is carried. Decisions not bearing this official signature are void. The King, on the other hand, is permitted to dethrone or remove a bishop only by consent of the Synod, and in accordance with the canon law. The constitution guarantees religious liberty, but this official Church nevertheless exercises considerable powers, and frequently calls upon the civil authorities to give force to its decrees. The Synod carefully watches over the observance of religious dogmas; it points out to the authorities heretical or heterodox preachers and writers, and demands their suppression; exercises a censorship over books and religious pictures; and calls upon the civil tribunals to punish offenders.
There are no longer any Mohammedans in Greece, except sailors or travellers, and the last Turk has quitted Eubœa. The only Church besides the established one which can boast a considerable number of adherents is the Roman Catholic. It prevails amongst the middle classes on Naxos, and on several others of the Cyclades, and is governed by two archbishops and four bishops.
Greece is divided into thirteen nomes, or nomarchies, and these, again, into fifty-nine eparchies. Each eparchy is subdivided into districts, or dimes (dimarchies), and the latter into parishes, governed by paredres, or assistant dimarchs. These officials are appointed by the King, and are in receipt of small emoluments. The number of officials is proportionately greater in Greece than in any other part of Europe. They form the sixtieth part, or, including their families, the twelfth part of the population, and although their pay is small, they swallow up between them more than half the public income. {86}
The thirteen nomes and fifty-nine eparchies of Greece, with their population in 1870:—
Eparchies.
Population.
Mantinea
46,174
Kynuria
26,733
Gartynia
41,408
Megalopolis
17,425
Arkadia
131,740
Lakedæmon
46,423
Gythion
13,957
Itylos (Œtylos)
26,540
Epidauros Limera
18,931
Lakonia
105,851
Kalamæ
25,029
Messini
29,529
Pylia
20,946
Triphylia
29,041
Olympia
25,872
Messenia
130,417
Nauplia
15,022
Argos
22,138
Korinthia
42,803
Spetsæ and Hermionis
19,919
Hydra and Trizinia
17,301
Kythyra
10,637
Argolis and Korinthia
127,820
Syros
30,643
Koa
8,687
Andros
19,674
Tinos
11,022
Naxos
20,582
Thira (Thera, Santorin)
21,901
Milos
10,784
Kyklades
123,293
Attiki
76,919
Ægina
6,103
Megaris
14,949
Thiva (Thebæ)
20,711
Livadia
18,122
Attiki and Viotia (Bœotia)
136,804
Khalkis
29,013
Xerochorion
11,215
Karystia
33,936
Skopelos
8,377
Euvia (Eubœa)
82,541
Phthiotis
26,747
Parnasis
20,368
Lokris
20,187
Doris
49,119
Phthiotis and Phokis
106,421
Mesolongion (Missolonghi)
18,997
Valtos
14,027
Trichonia
14,453
Evrytania
33,018
Navpaktia
22,219
Vonitza and Xeromeros
18,979
Akarnania and Ætolia
121,693
Patras
46,527
Ægialia
12,764
Kalavryta
39,204
Ilia (Elis)
51,066
Achaia and Ilis (Elis)
149,561
Kerkyra (Corfu)
25,729
Mesi
21,754
Oros
24,983
Paxi (Paxos)
3,582
Leucas (Santa Maura)
20,892
Kerkyra (Corfu)
96,940
Kranæa
33,358
Pali
17,377
Sami
16,774
Itaki
9,873
Kephallinia
77,382
Zakynthos (Zante)
44,557
The modern nomenclature has been adopted in the above table.
