Church of Cyprus to begin providing benefits to children from large families
Payments of €1,500 at baptism, €1,000 at key stages of schooling, and annual vouchers of €100 for Easter and Christmas are planned.
On 13 November 2025, Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus announced the launch of a new support programme for large families. The plan covers the entire island, and applications will be submitted electronically, Phile News reports.
The program provides financial assistance to families where a third or subsequent child is born after 1 January 2025. Among the benefits offered are €1,500 at baptism, €1,000 when the child begins primary school, secondary school, and lyceum, as well as annual vouchers of €100 for Easter and Christmas until the child reaches the age of 18.
According to the Archdiocese’s projections, from 2025 to 2039 approximately €72 million will be allocated to the programme. Of this amount, €44 million will go toward direct payments to families, and €28 million will be spent on annual holiday vouchers.
To qualify, at least one parent must be an Orthodox Christian and a citizen of Cyprus, the family must reside on the island permanently and be married in the Church, and the child must be baptized in the Orthodox Church.
Earlier, UOJ reported that the UGCC stated that rejecting large families renders the deaths of soldiers in vain.
