The Italian government has appealed a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg that would remove crucifixes from Italian public schools.

The government made its appeal today before the Grand Chamber of the Court, in a case that the Vatican and many European nations will be watching closely.

Ten other countries signed on to show their support for Italy in the case, several of them Orthodox strongholds, including Greece, Russia and Cyprus.

The case stems from a woman who argued that that all the classrooms in her children’s school in a small town in Italy – a secular country — had crucifixes on the wall.

While Italian courts ruled against her, the European Court of Human Rights upheld her argument last November,

maintaining there had been a violation of the right to education, as wall as freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

The crucifix on the wall, the judgment said, “restricted the right of parents to educate their children in conformity with their convictions, and the right of children to believe or not believe.”

Italian officials have argued that the crucifix is not only a religious symbol but also a cultural one, part of the national identity.

Scottish Cardinal Keith O’Brien said the court’s decision could have sweeping implications, and that that what’s at stake is the “precious religious heritage of many people and nations across Europe.”

Italy’s appeal will be studied by the Grand Chamber of the Court, whose decisions are final. Court officials say no decision is expected for six to nine months.