What Is The Religious Makeup Of Greece

Religion in Hellenic republic is quite of import, in comparing to nigh other European countries. It is tied to every aspect of the culture. Read on to find out more than about what it ways to be a Greek Orthodox Christian.

The importance of religion in Greece

In comparing to most other European countries, religion is quite important in Greece. It is tied to every aspect of the civilization, and the percent of cocky-identified religious people is amongst the highest in Europe.

The official religion in Greece is Eastern Orthodoxy, known also as Greek Orthodoxy. Reference to the Greek Orthodox faith on national Greek ID cards was mandatory until 2001.

A Byzantine church in Athens - Religion in Greece

Religion in Greece – Churches around Greece

If you are driving effectually Greece, the number of churches that seem to be everywhere will surprise you. Wherever you are, chances are that if yous look around you lot will be able to see at least one church.

Given our long and varied history, many of those churches are over 500 years old, not to mention the Aboriginal Greek temples that be in several parts of Greece.

The church of Agia Fotini near Tripoli, uniquely combines several elements in one church!

The church of Agia Fotini near Tripoli

Apart from the official churches and chapels, yous will besides discover several tiny churches on the roadside, all around the country.

Unfortunately, many of those little shrines were built in the memory of someone who died at a motorcar blow. Sometimes, nevertheless, they were built past those who survived an accident, thanking the saint who protected them.

Religion in Greece – How are names chosen?

In Greece, children are baptized Christian Orthodox in church, when they are a few months onetime. They are traditionally named after their grandparents, who were typically named after a Christian Orthodox saint.

During the anniversary, the baby is immersed in a large tub of water. Babies are typically half-dozen-12 months old when they are baptised.

Equally you can imagine this ceremony is not all that pleasant for the baby – there is commonly a lot of crying going on!

A Greek christening

Quite often, people cull to shorten their names – so for example, Konstantinos can be called Kostas, and Panagiota can be shortened to Penny. My parents shortened my own name, Vassiliki, to Vanessa. (Apparently, I owe this to Vanessa Redgrave, who was popular at the fourth dimension I was built-in).

These days, many couples cull to give their children a name they like rather than name them after their grandparent. Nevertheless, baptisms in church nevertheless accept place for most children.

Religion in Greece – Namedays

Most Greek people have a nameday. A nameday is the day when the Orthodox Saint who we were named after celebrates. Traditionally, a nameday used to be more important than a altogether.

Inside a Greek church

Some of the nigh of import Greek namedays are the post-obit:

Giannis – St. John (January 7)
Giorgos – St. George (April 23, or the get-go Monday after Easter)
Kostas and Eleni – St. Constantine and St. Helen (21 May)
Maria (the Supposition of Mary on 15 August and the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on 21 November)
Dimitris – St. Dimitrios (26 October).

Traditionally, people received friends and relatives at home on their nameday. No invitation was needed, and it was just assumed that people would drop by. This is becoming less mutual these days.

Religion in Greece – Fasting

For most religions, fasting is a custom related to cleansing, and at that place are several fasting periods throughout a year.

The Greek Orthodox church building follows a rather strict fasting regime. It consists of a specific diet on nearly 180 days in total throughout the twelvemonth. The longest streak begins on Clean Mon and continues throughout the whole of Lent.

The fasting calls for an almost vegan nutrition, where confusingly seafood (but not fish) is also allowed. The fasting regime also includes abstinence from "annihilation pleasurable", which makes one wonder how religious Greeks make babies.

A church in Greece

The longest periods of fasting are the weeks before Easter, earlier Christmas and before the Dormition of Virgin Mary on 15th August. Too, Wednesdays and Fridays are days of fasting.

A few foods like olive oil and wine accept their own special place in the fasting regime, so they are non allowed on all fasting days.

Confused? Yous are not lonely. However, there are several people in Hellenic republic who follow a strict fast throughout the whole twelvemonth!

Greece Religion – Easter

In most countries where Christianity is a major faith, Christmas is the most of import religious holiday. In Hellenic republic, however, Easter is a lot bigger than Christmas.

On the calendar week before Easter, fasting becomes extra strict, and there is a daily ceremony in churches all around the state.

One of the highlights of those ceremonies is the Perifora tou Epitaphiou, on the evening of Good Friday. This consists of a flower-adorned cubicle, the Epitaphios, representing the grave of Jesus Christ. The Epitaphios is carried around the church and the neighbourhood, and people follow in a procession.

The Epitaphios procession before Greek Easter

Unlike Christmas, Greek Easter is not actually commercialized. There is no tree to decorate, no stocking fillers, no socks over the fireplace.

The but things bought for the Easter ceremony are candles, to be lit upwardly in the church on Holy Saturday. These are traditionally bought by a person'due south godfather or godmother.

Greek Easter Food

Greek Easter traditions include LOTS of food. Tiropita, spanakopita, and various types of salads. Local meat delicacies with weird names, such as kokoretsi and gardoumpa. A tasty, hearty meat soup called magiritsa, made out of animal parts that are non fifty-fifty allowed in some countries. Carmine hard-boiled eggs, which are meant to be crushed into each other.

Read Easter eggs for Greek Easter

Finally, the star of the day, lamb on the spit, which ways the WHOLE lamb on the spit.

Greek Easter - Lamb on the spit in Arachova

Easter is a large day and an even bigger banquet, and it's celebrated in traditional way all around Greece. In some places information technology is historic for several days. Schools remain airtight throughout the Skilful Week and the week after Easter.

Here is some more information about what to wait if yous are visiting during Greek Easter. As for Greek nutrient, take a look here: Greek nutrient you need to endeavour.

Faith in Greece – Going to church building

Although attending church on Sundays is not extremely important in big cities in Hellenic republic, information technology is quite common in rural areas and smaller towns.

Religion in Greece

In many areas, the church building is not only a place to worship God, but also a place to come across like-minded people and to socialize. In fact, many activities, similar choirs or excursions, are organized by the local churches.

Organized religion in Hellenic republic – Panigiria

A panigiri is a local banquet in commemoration of a saint. Since there are several saints in Greece, there is an abundance of panigiria throughout the year, everywhere in the country.

Autonomously from the religious chemical element, in that location is live music, and lots of food and drink. If you are on a Greek isle, brand certain you enquire around. If yous are lucky, you will witness one of the best examples of religion meeting Greek culture. My favourite choice for a panigiri? Ikaria!

Religion in Greece – The evil centre

The evil heart is a common idea around the Mediterranean, and not only. Information technology is a curse, believed to be given to a person by someone looking at them.

Although the evil middle tradition is arguably of a infidel nature, the Orthodox church building accepts it nevertheless.

Getting rid of the evil eye in Greece

If you walk effectually whatever of the touristy areas in Greece, you lot are likely to come across several pieces of jewellery or ornament that will keep the evil heart abroad.

Here is some more information on the concept of the evil middle. The resemblance to the Eye of Horus might non be entirely a coincidence!

Religion in Hellenic republic – Monasteries

Terminal, but definitely not least, religion in Greece is tied with the hundreds of monasteries. The Meteora monasteries, every bit well as the peninsula of Agion Oros / Athos, are world famous. Merely there are literally hundreds of monasteries and nunneries throughout Hellenic republic.

Monks in a Greek monastery

You can visit most of the Greek monasteries and nunneries at specified times. Just call up to be modestly dressed and behave accordingly.

Ofttimes asked questions about Religion in Greece

Here are some questions that people ofttimes ask about organized religion in Greece:

What is the primary religion in Greece?

The main faith in Greece is chosen Christian Orthodoxy, or Greek Orthodoxy. Over hither, nosotros just telephone call it Christian Orthodoxy.

How many religions are there in Greece?

Apart from Christian Orthodoxy, there are small percentages of people who follow other religions in Greece. Examples are Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, and people who follow the Greek National Religion, which is related to the 12 Olympian Gods.

Is Greece an Islamic country?

Hellenic republic is non an Islamic country. At that place are, however, Muslim people in Greece. The Muslim minority is almost 1% of the population.

What are the Greek religious beliefs?

The main religion in Greece is Christian Orthodoxy. With that said, non anybody in Greece follows these principles. Some people identify every bit agnostics or atheists.