In the United States, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has recently adopted a policy allowing service dogs to enter churches.
During a Holy Eparchial Synod meeting on September 13, 2025, a decision was made to permit specially trained service dogs that accompany people with disabilities to be present in churches during the Divine Liturgy and other services. This new policy is seen as a first step toward making all parishes more accessible.
The new policy specifically refers to “service dogs,” which are trained to perform tasks for individuals with disabilities. It does not apply to pets, emotional support animals, or therapy animals.
It also includes a provision that if a service dog were to cause a disruption, such as by urinating or defecating in the church, it would no longer be permitted entry.
Previously, the policy on service animals was not uniform. While some individual priests and bishops may have permitted service dogs on a case-by-case basis, the official stance was often a point of debate due to the canonical tradition that generally prohibits animals from entering the church building. This new policy establishes a formal and consistent approach for the Archdiocese.
This decision reflects a growing recognition of the needs of people with physical disabilities within the Church, moving toward a more inclusive environment.
Service dogs and churches in Greece
Traditionally, the Church of Greece, like other Orthodox churches, has held the canonical tradition that animals are not permitted inside the holy space of the church building, except for specific animals like cats used to control pests in monasteries. This tradition is rooted in the idea of the sacredness of the church as a place of worship set apart from the secular world.
However, there is no single, unified policy from the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece that explicitly prohibits or allows service dogs. As a result, the decision often falls to the local priest or bishop, leading to a varied situation across the country.
The recent decision by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America to formally allow service dogs may put some pressure on the Church of Greece to consider a more unified and inclusive policy
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