When visitors gathered at the Halandri meetinghouse in northern Athens on Thursday, April 30, 2026, to tour the building, they each brought personal perceptions of the Church and its members.
As guests toured the building and interacted with Church leaders and members, conversations and experiences helped them become better acquainted with the Church’s programs and its core message—the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Some of the organizations present were: Caritas Greece, Jesuit Refugee Services, Ithaca Laundry, HIGGS, Doctors of the World, and Greek Ancestry.
Elder Bernhard Cziesla addresses the guests.
Guests tour the Halandri meetinghouse on April 30, 2026.
Guests tour the Halandri meetinghouse on April 30, 2026.
Guests mingle after the tour.
Guests mingle after the tour.
Guests became familiar with some of the key programs of the Church, including FamilySearch, which helps individuals discover and preserve their family history; humanitarian projects, through which the Church supports vulnerable populations in collaboration with local and international partners; and English‑language classes, designed to promote integration, personal development and access to educational and professional opportunities.
The event was hosted by Elder Bernhard Cziesla, a leader of the Church in the Europe Central Area of the Church, together with mission and local Church leaders.
Elder Cziesla said: “We are honored to welcome you and grateful for those from government, humanitarian, and interfaith communities who work alongside the Church. Though we come from different backgrounds, we are united in helping meet the needs of God’s children.
This building reflects simplicity, just as the gospel of Jesus Christ is simple. As the Book of Mormon teaches, ‘we talk of Christ, we preach of Christ’ (2 Nephi 25:26). This building is dedicated to that purpose—a place where people gather to celebrate their belief and draw closer to Him.”
Following Thursday’s VIP and Media Open House, the Church invites the general public to an Open House on Saturday, May 2. Visitors will be welcomed to tour the building, ask questions, and learn how the meetinghouse is used for worship services, youth and family activities, and community gatherings.