An atheist organisation in Greece is set to host public meat dinners on Good Friday, one of the most solemn days in the Orthodox Christian calendar.
The Atheist Union has announced that the events dubbed “Open Dinners” will take place in Athens, Thessaloniki, Serres and Volos.
According to the group’s statement, the gatherings are intended as a space “to meet, talk, and eat whatever we feel like, without restrictions imposed by supernatural beings.”
The initiative directly contrasts with the religious significance of Good Friday, traditionally observed with fasting and mourning by the Greek Orthodox faithful.
Explaining their reasoning, organisers said:
“While some choose religious grief, we choose the beauty of companionship. We discuss the achievements of science and the importance of rational thinking.”
The invitation is open to “atheists, agnostics and others”, with attendees free to order food according to their personal preferences.
In Athens and Serres, the dinners will take place at souvlaki venues, while in Volos participants will gather at a local ouzeri. In Thessaloniki, attendees will first meet at the Kamara before heading to a nearby venue together.
The events are expected to spark discussion, as they once again place questions of tradition, belief and personal choice at the centre of public life during one of Greece’s most significant religious observances.