page_title: Religion in Belgium
section_title: Eastern Orthodoxy
hierarchical_section_title: Religion in Belgium / Religions / Christianity / Orthodox Christianity / Eastern Orthodoxy
caption_attribution_description: Nederlands: Russisch-Orthodox kerkje in Lampernisse (nabij de weg tussen Oostkerke en Pervijze) English: Russian Orthodox church in Lampernisse (close to the road between Oostkerke en Pervijze). Lampernisse, Diksmuide, West Flanders, Belgium This is a photo of onroerend erfgoed number 78317
context_page_description: Religion in Belgium is diversified, with Christianity, in particular the Catholic Church, representing the largest community, though it has experienced a significant decline since the 1980s. However, according to the Eurobarometer poll carried out by the European Commission in December 2018, the share of Christians increased by 10% points from 52.5% in 2009 to 62.8% in 9 years, with Roman Catholicism being the largest denomination at 57.1%. Protestants comprised 2.3% and Orthodox Christians comprised 0.6%. Non religious people comprised 29.3% of the population and were divided between those who primarily identified as atheists or as agnostics. A further 6.8% of the population was Muslim and 1.1% were believers in other religions. On the other hand, the following Eurobarometer's survey done in May and published in September 2019 showed Christians decreased from 62.8% in 2018 to around 60% in 2019, with Catholics at 54%, Orthodox Christian 1%, Protestant 3%, other Christian 2%, Muslim-Shia 2%, Muslim-Sunni 2%, other Muslim 1%, Atheists 10%, non believers or Agnostics 21%, and other Religions 4%.
context_section_description: The Eastern Orthodox Church in Belgium is subdivided into several canonical jurisdictions:
  Diocese of Brussels and Belgium, of the Russian Orthodox Church;
  Metropolis of Belgium, of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople;
  Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Western Europe;
  Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Western Europe;
  Eparchy of Central and Western Europe, of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
caption: Russian Orthodox church in Lampernisse, Diksmuide.
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