By Diana Gallego
Greece is the birthplace of one of the oldest religions, ancient Greek Polytheism. Through the centuries, as the Abrahamic religions swept across countries and continents, they found homes in Greece as well. Below is a quick look at those religions, as well as dominations and pagan religions that have made a place in Greek culture.
Orthodox Christian
Greece is home to many monasteries and nunneries. The monastery complex of Meteora was built on high mountains. The monks lived and worshiped in total isolation from the civilization below. Meteora is also home to two nunneries: St. Stephen and Roussanou. These women devoted their time to God and spent all their days praying and studying Scripture.
Roman Catholic
While Orthodox Christianity is the primary denomination of Christianity in Greece, Catholicism still holds residence. There is much discourse between the two denominations, especially in smaller cities in towns. However, most Catholics live in bigger cities such as Athens. Athens is home to the Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Other Religions
Islam was introduced to Greece when the country was annexed into the Ottoman Empire. Today, the Muslim population is considered a minority as the Ottoman Empire fell and Muslim people immigrated to Athens and Thessaloniki in the 20th-century. A majority of the Muslim population resides in Western Thrace, which is home to the Yeni Mosque–an Ottoman mosque from 1585.
Thessaloniki and Athens are also home to the Jewish community, a majority of them living in the capital. During the time of the Crusades, many found refuge in Thessaloniki and even thrived during the Ottoman Empire. However, when Greece was taken over by the Axis Powers during World War II, a majority of the Greek Jewish community immigrated to Israel. Today, about 5,000 Jewish people reside in Greece, with 2,500 in Athens and 1,000 in Thessaloniki.
As paganism entered the religious mainstream, Hellenistic polytheism returned to Greece. In the late-20th and early-21st centuries, the religion was recognized, and new temples were built in honor of the ancient Greek pantheon. The ancient archeological sites are protected by the Ministry of Culture and deemed to be historical sites, thus the creation of new temples such as the temple in Oraiokastro outside of Thessaloniki.