On Thursday, Greece achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex civil marriage, overcoming opposition from the influential and socially conservative Greek Church.

A cross-party majority, consisting of 176 lawmakers out of the 300-seat parliament, voted late Thursday in favor of the groundbreaking bill presented by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ center-right government.

Despite the reform being rejected by 76 lawmakers, with two abstaining from the vote and 46 not present in the house, the bill successfully passed, the Associated Press reported.

Mitsotakis tweeted after the vote that Greece “is proud to become the 16th (European Union) country to legislate marriage equality.”

“This is a milestone for human rights, reflecting today’s Greece — a progressive, and democratic country, passionately committed to European values,” he wrote.

Upon the announcement of the vote result, numerous supporters of the reform, who had gathered outside parliament to watch the debate on a screen, erupted in cheers and embraced.

Earlier, individuals opposing the bill had also demonstrated nearby, holding prayer books and religious icons.

Opinion polls indicate that the reform is supported by a slim majority of Greeks, and the issue has not sparked significant divisions in a country more preoccupied with concerns about the high cost of living.

Written by B.C. Begley