The Greek government, under pressure, relented and allowed limited attendance at churches celebrating the feast of the Epiphany, reversing a ban on attendance designed to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Not all churches opened during the morning service but the ones that did congregations were limited from 25 to 50 persons.
A previous agreement between the Greek Church and the government, the traditional blessing of the waters conducted each year on the Epiphany, on Januar y 6, took place inside the churches and not in rivers and beaches as would typically happen.
The Orthodox Church celebrates Jesus' baptism during the Epiphany.
The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece had reacted angrily on Monday to the ban imposed.
Without consultation, they had decided it would openly challenge it.
The government had also responded strongly, saying no one can choose which laws to follow.
