Greek Religion:
The Ancient Greeks worshipped many gods and goddesses. Each God had a different personality and domain. Greeks had no single guiding work of scripture like the Jewish Torah, the Christian Bible, or the Muslim Qu’ran. Greece also did not have a strict priestly caste. The relationship between humans and deities was based on the concepts of exchange. Gods and Goddesses were expected to give gifts. Votive offerings, which have been excavated from sanctuaries by the thousands, were a physical expression of thanks on the part of individual worshippers.
Greeks worshipped in sanctuaries located, according to the nature of a certain deity, within the city or the countryside. Temenos contained the temple with a monumental cult image of the deity, an outdoor altar, and statues. Temples benefited from natural surroundings. For example, the temple at Sounion dedicated to Poseidon, god of the sea, commands of the water on three sides, and the Parthenon on the rocky Athenian Acropolis. Central ritual act in Greece was animal sacrifice, mostly of oxen, goats, and sheep. Sacrifices took place in the sanctuary, and at an altar in front of the temple.
For example, the temple at Sounion dedicated to Poseidon, god of the sea, commands of the water on three sides, and the Parthenon on the rocky Athenian Acropolis. Central ritual act in Greece was animal sacrifice, mostly of oxen, goats, and sheep. Sacrifices took place in the sanctuary, and at an altar in front of the temple.
Libations were also commonly made. City festivals and national sporting competitions were a big part of the religion. They had festivals to honor a particular god. Visitors from all over Greece attended these events. There were also smaller festivals, sometimes only attended by a select number of individuals such as, Arrhephoria in Athens, where only priestesses and maximum of four young girls attended.
Historical record reveals a lot about formal religious occasions and ceremony, but we should remember that Greek religion was practiced anywhere, at any time, by individuals in a personal way. Individuals could also visit a temple at anytime they wanted and it was customary to say a prayer even when just passing them in the street. Offerings were left such as incense, flowers, and food.
People could also organize their own sacrifice if they had the means to do so. Religions practiced in Greek city-states were characterized by their rich variety. Different cities worshipped different deities. Greeks themselves were well aware that the Artemis worshipped at Artemis worshipped at Sparta the virgin huntress was very different deity from the Artemis.
Different cities worshipped different deities. Greeks themselves were well aware that the Artemis worshipped at Artemis worshipped at Sparta the virgin huntress was very different deity from the Artemis.
Theology and Religious belief in Ancient Greece. Theology did not come naturally to the faith. Syncretism was an essential feature of Greeks paganism. One of the earliest tries to give the theology to the Greek religion was found in the works of the poet Hesiod. There are also mystery Greek religions which are those whose spiritual leanings were not satisfied by the public cult of the gods could turn to various mystery religions.
The Orthodox Church is strongly connected to the Greek Nation. They have been connected since Byzantine times when the Patriarch of Constantinople had a strong power over the national matters.
During the Hellenistic period, the Roman Empire exotic mystery religions like those of Osiris and Mithras became widespread. Early Christians rose to political power. Public aspects of Greek religion and culture were systematically exterminated. Religion survived only in rural areas to be periodically revived.
Many neo-pagan religious paths, such as Wicca, used aspects of ancient Greek religions in their practice. According to Orthodoxy, the first who came tin the Greek territory to preach Christianity was Saint Paul in 49 AD.
Woman of Greece prepare the food for the Saints day celebration, which are like birthdays. Name day did not involve present giving but it did include an open house to family and neighbors who wish to give good wishes. Woman also decorate and carry Christ’s Bier through the streets and singing hymns on Good Friday, they also decorate the churches in white.
Other Religions have also been mentioned in Greece. 98% of the Greek population is Christian Orthodox. Another percentage of 1.3% are Greek citizens of Muslim religion .
The rest .7% are Catholics, Jewish, Jehovah’s Witnesses and others. In the eighth Century the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the Patriarch of Constantinople came into conflict with one another and this led to the separation of the two sects, a period of history known as the Schism.
During Easter which, is the biggest holiday, woman are of ten the caretakers of the religious observance of fasting and have even been known to fast in their husbands place during the forty days of lent.