Greece
Greeks bridle at historic deal to split Orthodox church from state
By Nikolia Apostolou — January 18, 2019
ATHENS, Greece (RNS) — Next month, the country's parliament is expected to vote on an agreement to make the Greek state neutral toward religion, ending the primacy of Greek Orthodoxy in the country’s constitution.
Human rights court rules against Greece in Sharia law case
By Elena Becatoros — December 19, 2018
(AP) — Greece violated a prohibition on discrimination by applying Islamic religious law to an inheritance dispute among members of the country’s Muslim minority, the European Court of Human Rights ruled Wednesday.
Greek town ritually burned Judas as Orthodox celebrated Easter
By Jerome Socolovsky — April 9, 2018
ERMIONI, Greece (AP) — The tradition dates back centuries in some places. In the Greek town of Ermioni, it has been observed the past 25 years.
In Greece, the evil eye is trending
By Jenny Lower — September 21, 2017
ATHENS, Greece (RNS) — The growing popularity of the mati, the 'all-seeing eyeball,' appears to reflect a growing interest in New Age spirituality as well as the psychological toll of Greece’s ongoing debt crisis.
A battle for the souls of refugees
By Jenn Lindsay — July 28, 2017
LESBOS, Greece (RNS) — Muslim refugees arriving on the island of Lesbos in Greece don't seem interested in religion, but sometimes they are met by Christian evangelical groups.
Spiritual seekers reconstruct ancient Greek polytheism
By Juliet Muir — March 7, 2017
LOS ANGELES (RNS) The neopagan movement stems from ancient Greek mythology that centers on religion, philosophy and tradition.
With construction of a new mosque, Greek Muslims look to come out of the shadows
By Umar Farooq — November 2, 2016
ATHENS, Greece (RNS) Decades of legal restrictions and a lack of funding have meant only three prayer spaces are registered properly with authorities. But that's about to change.
Greek hospitality is put to a religious test
By Jerome Socolovsky — November 2, 2016
ATHENS, Greece (RNS) Greece has won high praise for its hospitality toward migrants who have passed through on their way to other parts of Europe. But some are putting down roots in what is one of the most homogeneous Christian nations in the world, where national identity has long been intricately linked to religion.
Greece and Turkey spar over Ramadan prayers at Hagia Sophia
By Lauren Markoe — June 14, 2016
(RNS) The beloved Hagia Sophia is not officially a mosque or a church. Now some Christians are afraid that its secular status is changing.
‘You are not alone,’ Pope Francis tells refugees, brings 12 to Rome
By Rosie Scammell — April 17, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The pontiff's dramatic gesture capped a lightning visit, with Orthodox Christian leaders, to a Greek island that had a politically-charged message for Europe.
Supreme Court poised to turn right in 2013 term
By Richard Wolf — October 3, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) Conservative interest groups, perhaps seeing their best chance in years to advance their causes, have argued aggressively in their briefs to the court not only for favorable rulings but for overturning some of the court's time-honored precedents.
Religion at the Olympics, from ancient Greece to London
By Chris Lisee — July 24, 2012
(RNS) The Olympics began in ancient Greece as a festival to honor a single god, Zeus. But organizers of the games must now navigate myriad sacred fasts and holy days. By Chris Lisee.
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