Religion in ancient Greece comprised of a complex set of beliefs and ritual practices and adherence to of the many cults. Each of the ancient Greek cities or polis worshiped its own patron God or Goddess. The Greek pantheon recognized a number of deities such as Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Athena, Demeter, Dionysus, Hades, Hera, Hermes, Hestia, Poseidon, and Zeus. Social live evolved around religion and the festivals held in honor of these gods and goddesses became events of great political, social, and philosophical importance.
Social thought in ancient Greece was heavily influenced by the religion of the polis. Ethics and morality were derived from theological and metaphysical beliefs and these in turn influenced the law of the land. Greek mythology is perhaps the most eminent, among the mythologies of the ancient world. Gods controlled the natural elements and human emotions and were also subject to vices. The Iliad and the Odyssey are full of references to divine interference in the wars and fates of human beings.
Greek and the Orthodox Church
Over 97% of the population of Greece is Orthodox Christian. The Orthodox Church is the third largest branch of Christianity. St Paul is believed to have been the first apostle to have arrived in Greece to preach the word of Christ in about 49 AD. The spread of Christianity through Greece can said to have started with the Roman Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity. By the eighth century AD, a number of differences started to crop up between the Roman clergy and the regents at Constantinople. With the differences growing sharper and more intense, the Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church underwent a separation in 1504. The majority of the Greek population embraced Orthodoxy.
The dominance of Orthodoxy in Greek society is a result of the important role played by Orthodox priests and the church in the history of the country. During the Ottoman reign, Greek nationality was preserved and secured by the Greek Orthodox Church. With the liberation of the country from the Ottoman Empire, the Church and the priests were again involved in the propagation of the Greek language, traditions, and culture.
Despite a separate of the Church and the state, Orthodoxy is quite a dominant sentiment in Greece. The constitution of Greece secures religious freedom for the people. The overwhelming majority of Orthodoxy in Greece, however, ensures that all legislation is in the interests of those affiliated with the Orthodox Church. Besides, access to all public services is only allowed to those who belong to the Orthodox Church. Religious education is a mandatory part of the education system and students are obliged to follow the Orthodoxy curriculum.
Religious Demography and the Minorities
There are about 200,000 Roman Catholics living in Greece - most of them in Athens, the Cyclades and the Ionian Islands. It is estimated that there are about 20,000 Protestants in Greece. The legacy of Islam is a hand-down from the Ottoman times. The 2001 census recorded an Islamic population of 97, 604. There is also a minority population of Jews and Baha'is living in Greece. Traces of the ancient pagan religion still exist.
The constitution of Greece recognizes the Orthodox Church as the 'prevailing' or dominant religion. Greece is considered an exception in a strictly secular Europe, despite the guarantee of religious freedom.
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