Greece has made history by becoming the first Christian Orthodox-majority nation to embrace same-sex marriage and adoption rights.
The landmark legislation, which passed with a 176-76 majority in parliament on Thursday, was hailed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis as a bold move to end a long-standing injustice.
But the law also sparked a fierce backlash from the influential Orthodox Church, which staged a massive protest rally in Athens.
Thousands of conservative demonstrators flooded the Syntagma Square, waving flags, holding crosses, chanting prayers and singing biblical verses.
Meanwhile, LGBTQ groups and activists celebrated the victory of love and equality in Greece.
Stella Belia, the leader of Rainbow Families, a group of same-sex parents, told Reuters: “This is a historic moment. This is a day of joy.”
Greece joins 15 other EU countries and 35 nations worldwide that have already legalised same-sex marriage.
The country had previously lagged behind its European peers, largely due to the strong opposition from the Church.
It is also the first country in south-eastern Europe to achieve marriage equality.
The head of the Orthodox Church, Archbishop Ieronymos, denounced the law as a threat to the social fabric of the nation.
The bill only required a simple majority to pass through the 300-seat parliament.
Mr Mitsotakis, who spearheaded the reform, had to rely on the support of opposition parties, as many of his own centre-right MPs voted against it.
He told the parliament during the debate: “People who have been invisible will finally be made visible around us, and with them, many children will finally find their rightful place.”
He added: “The reform makes the lives of several of our fellow citizens better, without taking away anything from the lives of the many.”
