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Greece Is Set to Be First Orthodox Country to Allow Same-Sex Marriage

Greece was expected to legalize same-sex marriage and equal parental rights for same-sex couples on Thursday as lawmakers considered a bill that has divided Greek society and drawn vehement opposition from the country’s powerful Orthodox Church. Although Greece would be the 16th European Union country to allow same-sex marriage, it would be the first Orthodox

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Greece poised to legalize same-sex marriage despite Orthodox outcry

Greece is poised to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide, despite urgent warnings from the Greek Orthodox Church. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, an ostensibly center-right politician, is relying on a coalition with left-wing lawmakers to push through the legislation next week without support from a significant faction of his own New Democracy party. The proposal has

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Greece faces Orthodox Church opposition over same-sex marriage plans

Greece would become the first Orthodox-majority country to legalise same-sex marriage if the law passes. ADVERTISEMENT Greece’s centre-right government is speeding up its timetable to legalise same-sex marriage – despite growing opposition from the powerful Orthodox Church. Government officials said the draft legislation would be put to a vote by mid-February. Greece would become the

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Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas in Europe and beyond

A variety of traditions mark Christmas Day, which falls on 7 January for the Orthodox faith. ADVERTISEMENT Orthodox Christians in Europe and the wider world packed churches on Saturday night for Christmas Eve services. Traditions vary, but typically the main worship service for Orthodox Christians takes place the night before Christmas Day, which falls on 7

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Russian Orthodox Church condemns abortion as murder, at odds with Putin

The Russian Orthodox Church reaffirmed its strict opposition to abortion this week, putting it at odds with the Kremlin’s more relaxed position. A spokesperson for the church released a statement on Wednesday clarifying that the Holy Synod — the church’s governing body chaired by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow — condemns all elective abortion as murder.

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Orthodox priests in Moldova rebel against Moscow rule

“This fight between Orthodox brother has outraged people.” – priest said. Long torn between loyalty to the Russian or Romanian Orthodox Church, the Moldovan village of Cimiseni has made its choice, triggered by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The parish in the village near the capital Chisinau, whose 2,850 inhabitants mostly speak Romanian, is one of

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