It is the first country with an Orthodox majority to legalize civil marriage between people of the same sex. On the evening of Thursday, February 15, the Greek Parliament adopted by a large majority a bill on marriage and adoption for same-sex couples – a major societal reform despite fierce opposition from the Orthodox Church.

Supported by the ruling right-wing New Democracy party of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the text was approved by 176 of the 254 deputies present in Parliament after two days of debate.