The church bused people in from various parts of the country and most contingents were led by priests, monks, and nuns who were present in large numbers. The crowd was in its majority women and older people, although there were many youth present too. All banners and icons were forbidden by the church hierarchy; instead, a sea of Greek and Byzantine Empire flags marked the rally.

A similar rally of 120,000 was held in Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city, June 14. Ultraright and fascist forces have felt able to openly participate in these rallies and in the TV debates that have abounded since, peddling anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant views.

Religious identification was imposed on ID cards in 1942 during the Nazi occupation of Greece for use in identifying and deporting Jews to concentration camps. Discrimination against national and religious minorities is widespread here, evidenced in the depressed living standards of Muslim Turks and Gypsies. The constitution prohibits anyone who is not Greek Orthodox from holding certain public posts, such as that of an elementary school teacher.

But the move by the government does nothing to end this long-standing discrimination, and it comes as a part of the Greek government implementing what are known as the Schengen Agreements. Under the guise of combating crime, terrorism, and drug trafficking, the agreements are laying the basis for a Europe-wide ID card aimed at bolstering government surveillance and police measures.  
 
 
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