Religion in Greece

The religion of Greek people is an important aspect of Greek culture. The Greek
population in mainland Greece and the Greek islands is Christian Orthodox per 98%. The
religion of the rest of the population is Muslims, Catholic, and Jewish. Greece and Russia
are the only countries to have such a great proportion of the Orthodox population.

The Orthodox Church forms the third largest branch of Christianity, after the Roman
Catholics and the Protestants. You will find below information about the history of
Orthodox religion in Greece: the founders of the orthodox church, the Schism, the
connection with the Greek nation, the separation with the state and other religions in
Greece.

The founders
According to the history of Orthodoxy, the first who came in the Greek territory to preach
Christianity was Saint Paul in 49 AD. Although many people converted to Christianity in
the centuries that followed, this didn't become an official religion until the Emperor
Constantine the Great established Christianity as the official religion of the Byzantine
Empire.
The Schism
In 1054 AD, Christianity was divided into Eastern and Western Church, the Orthodox and
the Catholics. This division was called " The Schism" and was the result of long disputes
between the Pope of Rome and the Patriarch of Constantinople. The disputes referred to
the celibacy of the clergy (Catholic priests had to remain unmarried, whereas the orthodox
priests could marry before becoming ordained), receiving the Holy Communion and the
wording of the Creed: for the Orthodox, the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father, whereas
Rome added and the Son(filioque). However, the largest problem between the two
Churches was the demand of the Pope to have full control over the Eastern Patriarchs
(of Constantinople, of Alexandria and of Antioch).

Orthodox Church and the Greek Nation

The Orthodox Church is strongly connected to the Greek Nation since the Byzantine times
when the Patriarch of Constantinople had a strong power over the national matters.
During the Ottoman rule, from 1453 to 1821, the Orthodox religion was an important
element for the conservation and the definition of the Greek Nationality. During the
several occupations, the Orthodox Church made a great effort to preserve the Greek
language, culture, traditions, and the Orthodox faith. They managed to preserve the
religious conscience and the feeling of affiliation.

Separation State - Church

Officially and like in all European countries, the Greek State and the Orthodox Church are
separated. This separation is not written or regulated by the Constitution and the Greek
Orthodox Church has great power in Greek society.

Other religions in Greece

As mentioned, 98% of the Greek population is Christian Orthodox. A percentage of 1,3%
are Greek citizens of the Muslim religion, most people living in Thrace who were not
affected by the population exchange of 1922 between the Greeks of Asia Minor and the
Turks of Greece. The rest 0,7% are Catholics, Jewish, Jehovah's Witnesses, and others.
Most Catholics live on the island of Syros, remain from the Venetian occupation of
Cyclades in the Medieval times.