Greece legalises same-sex civil marriage

Supporters of same-sex marriage bill take part in a rally, at central Syntagma Square, in Athens, Greece (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)

Greece has become the first Orthodox Christian country to legalise same-sex civil marriage, despite opposition from Church officials.

A cross-party majority of 176 lawmakers in the 300-seat parliament voted late Thursday in favour of the bill drafted by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ centre-right government.