Main texts

When the Constitution was revised in 1975 there was a proposal to replace the invocation of the Holy Trinity in the Constitution by an article on the guarantee of individual and political rights of Greek citizens. After the strong reaction of the Church this proposal was withdrawn and until this very day the Constitution is proclaimed “In the name of the Holy and Consubstantial and Indivisible Trinity”. Similarly, when the last revision took place in 2019, the government suggested that Article 3 should clearly formulate the state’s religious neutrality starting with the phrase: “The Greek State is religiously neutral”. The reference to the prevailing religion would remain accompanied by an interpretive note arguing that such a statement does not lead to the recognition of a state religion and does not have unfavorable consequences for other religions, and overall on the exercise of the right of religious freedom. The proposal passed through both voting procedures in 2019 and was analytically discussed by the following Parliamentary synthesis after the national elections of 2019. However, since it needed a vast majority of 180 votes and not a simple majority of 151 in order to change, this suggestion was rejected by the new Parliament.

Article 3:
1. The prevailing religion in Greece is that of the Eastern Orthodox Church of Christ. The Orthodox Church of Greece, acknowledging our Lord Jesus Christ as its head, is inseparably united in doctrine with the Great Church of Christ in Constantinople and with every other Church of Christ of the same doctrine, observing unwaveringly, as they do the holy apostolic and synodal canons and sacred traditions. It is autocephalous and is administered by the Holy Synod of serving Bishops and the Permanent Holy Synod originating thereof and assembled as specified by the Statutory Charter of the Church in compliance with the provisions of the Patriarchal Tome of June 29, 1850 and the Synodal Act of September 4, 1928. 2. The ecclesiastical regime existing in certain districts of the State shall not be deemed contrary to the provisions of the preceding paragraph. 3. The text of the Holy Scripture shall be maintained unaltered. Official translation of the text into any other form of language, without prior sanction by the Autocephalous Church of Greece and the Great Church of Christ in Constantinople, is prohibited.

Article 5: (...)
2. All persons living within the Greek territory shall enjoy full protection of their life, honour and liberty irrespective of nationality, race or language and of religious or political beliefs. Exceptions shall be permitted only in cases provided by international law. (...)

Article 13:
1. Freedom of religious conscience is inviolable. The enjoyment of civil rights and liberties does not depend on the individual’s religious beliefs. 2. All known religions shall be free and their rites of worship shall be performed unhindered and under the protection of the law. The practice of rites of worship is not allowed to offend public order or the good usages. Proselytism is prohibited. 3. The ministers of all known religions shall be subject to the same supervision by the State and to the same obligations toward it as those of the prevailing religion. 4. No person shall be exempt from discharging his obligations to the State or may refuse to comply with the laws by reason of his religious convictions. 5. No oath shall be imposed or administered except as specified by law and in the form determined by law.

Article 14: (...)
3. The seizure of newspapers and other publications before or after circulation is prohibited. Seizure by order of the public prosecutor shall be allowed exceptionally after circulation and in case of: a) an offence against the Christian or any other known religion (...)

Article 16: (...)
2. Education constitutes a basic mission for the State and shall aim at the moral, intellectual, professional and physical training of Greeks, the development of national and religious consciousness and at their formation as free and responsible citizens.

Article 33: (…)
2. Before assuming the exercise of his duties, the President of the Republic shall take the following oath before Parliament: «I do swear in the name of the Holy and Consubstantial and Indivisible Trinity to safeguard the Constitution and the laws, to care for the faithful observance thereof, to defend the national independence and territorial integrity of the Country, to protect the rights and liberties of the Greeks and to serve the general interest and the progress of the Greek People». [According to this article the President can only be Christian, since there is no provision of another oath or a secular affirmation].

Source: Hellenic Parliament, The Constitution of Greece, revised by Resolution of November 25, 2019 of the IXth Revisionary Parliament, 2022.

Other important legislation :

– Law 590/1977 on the charter of the Orthodox Church of Greece
– Law 4301/2014 on the legal form of religious communities
– Law 1920/1991 and Law 4511/2018 on the religious leaders of the Muslim minority of Thrace (Muftis)
– Laws 2456/1920, 367/1945, 182/1978 on the legal form of Jewish Communities in Greek society
– Law 3512/2006 on the Islamic state mosque of Athens.

D 21 May 2024    AAlexandros Sakellariou

Article 175: Counterfeiting

1. Intentional counterfeiting of the performance of any public, municipal, or community service shall incur a penalty of fine or community service.
2. This provision extends to the misrepresentation of serving as a minister within the Eastern Orthodox Church of Christ or any other recognised religion in Greece, as well as to the misrepresentation of practising law.

Article 200: Disruption of religious gatherings

1. Any individual who maliciously endeavours to obstruct or intentionally disrupt a state-sanctioned religious congregation or ceremony shall face imprisonment for a maximum of two years.
2. The same punishment is applicable to individuals engaging in abusive or inappropriate behaviour within a church or any location designated for a religious gathering tolerated by the state.

Article 371: Violation of professional confidentiality

Clergymen, lawyers, and all types of legal representatives, as well as notaries, doctors, midwives, nurses, pharmacists, and other officials or professionals, in whom individuals typically place trust due to their profession or status, along with their assistants, are subject to punishment by imprisonment for up to one year or a fine if they disclose private secrets entrusted to them or acquired by virtue of their profession or status.

D 13 June 2024    AAlexandros Sakellariou