The Greek parliament has approved the bill legalising same-sex marriage, becoming the first Christian-majority orthodox country to approve the bill.

The bill, which required a simple majority to pass, was eventually approved on Thursday after 176 lawmakers in the 300-seat parliament had voted in favour of same-sex marriage while 76 voted against, with 46 not present and two abstaining from voting.

According to the bill that was passed, same-sex couples now have the right to get married and adopt children; however, it does not support LGBT couples in using assisted reproduction methods, and surrogate pregnancies will also not be extended to them.

Greece’s prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, “It’s a very important step for human rights, a very important step for equality, and a very important step for Greek society.”

Mr Mitsotakis added that the new law would “boldly abolish a serious inequality.”

However, there have been divisions in the country and disagreements from the powerful Orthodox Church since the law was passed.

The Orthodox Church strongly opposes same-sex marriage, believing homosexuality is a sin, while many in the LGBT community believe the bill does not go far enough.

Also, people who support the church have led protest rallies in Athens by displaying banners, holding crosses, reading prayers and singing passages from the Bible in the capital’s Syntagma Square.

Archbishop Ieronymos, the head of the Orthodox Church, said the approved law would “corrupt the homeland’s social cohesion.”

Greece’s legalising same-sex marriage makes it the first country in south-eastern Europe.

At least 35 countries worldwide have legalised same-sex marriage.