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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 11-08-16Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>Tuesday, 16 August 2011 Issue No: 3864CONTENTS
[01] Message of peace from Panaghia Soumela MonasteryEcumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos (Bartholomew) on Monday officiated at the service of the Dormition of Virgin Mary at the historic Panaghia Soumela Monastery in the Trabzon province, on Turkey's Black Sea coast..Vartholomeos, who was joined by Archbishop of America Demetrios, called for peace and love in the world, speaking in both Greek and Turkish. Additionally, the Ecumenical Patriarch thanked the Russian Orthodox Church for its presence at the celebration and expressed a wish that one day he will co-offiiciate a religious service at the site with the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Cyrill. Approximately 700 pilgrims from around the world attended the liturgy inside the monastery, which is locate at an altitude of 1,200 metres. The occasion marks the second consecutive year that the Patriarch has officiated at a service on Aug. 15 at the specific monastery, the second such event since the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey. In June 2010, the Turkish government accepted the Patriarchate's request to hold mass in the monastery, which was converted into a museum and has not operated as a Christian place of worship since 1923.The monastery is considered as the spiritual metropolis of Pontian Hellenism [02] PM: Greek people's sacrifices will not be wasted"The Greek people's sacrifices will not be wasted. Not only will we overcome the crisis but we will also provide a prospect and hope," PM George Papandreou stressed on Monday from the island of Skiathos, where he is on holiday.Papandreou attended a liturgy at the Evangelismos of Virgin Mary monastery and sent a message of optimism and hope, stating that the government is focused on the effort to proceed with major changes in order Greece to be able to stand on its own. [03] Papoulias calls for social solidarity, unityPresident of the Republic Karolos Papoulias on Monday called for harmony and understanding in order to remain united in the battle to help the country overcome a deep economic recession.Papoulias, who is currently on vacation, attended a liturgy at a church in Preveza, NW Greece, on the occasion of the celebration of the Dormition of Virgin. [04] ND leader: Fatalism does not suit usMain opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Antonis Samaras on Monday sent a message of hope that the country will overcome its difficulties, during a visit to the monastery of Panaghia Soumela in Imathia prefecture, north-central Greece, where he attended aliturgy for the Dormition of Virgin religious holiday."The country is experiencing a difficult time but will manage to overcome the difficulties..." he stressed, adding that grumbling and fatalism does not suit the Greek people. Samaras, accompanied by this wife, visited the Panaghia Soumela Monastery, named after the eponymous site on the Black Sea coast. [05] Papandreou talks on phone with French Prime MinisterPrime Minister George Papandreou on Monday had a telephone contact with French Prime Minister Francois Fillon. The two leaders focused on the acceleration of the implementation of the 21 July EU Summit's decisions and the need of a eurobond.Moreover, the two premiers discussed the developments in the eurozone and the prospect of a 'development' bond. [06] Greece calls for eurobond issue to deal with eurozone crisisGreece on Saturday stressed the need for the immediate issue of a eurobond in order to deal with the debt crisis in the entire eurozone, and not only Greece's case.In an interview appearing in 'Proto Thema' newspaper appearing on Saturday, minister of state and government spokesman Elias Mossialos said that it has been proven how right that Greece had been to insist on an overall arrangement that would deal with not only the Greek problem but would also send a clear message to the markets that Europe is determined to make use of its collective power. "That is the issue at hand. Here we have a collective force that is not being used," he said. Mossialos said that the present risks could have been avoided if political decisions had been taken to strengthen the temporary support mechanism, and even more so if a decision had been taken to issue a eurobond. The problem would not be a small delay, but an overall turnabout by the EU towards policy decisions, he said. General News [07] Wherever there are Greeks, a church is devoted to the 'Panagia'Everywhere in Greece, from the major urban centers to the remotest island and village, and in all corners of the world where Greeks live, there is a church dedicated to 'Panagia', the Virgin Mary.On August 15, the feast of the Dormition (Assumption) of the Virgin Mary, tens of thousands of Greeks flock to her churches to piously pray to her and seek her grace. In the words of the late Fotis Kontoglou, the refugee from Asia Minor who has been called the "father" of a whole generation of artists known as the "thirties generation" , the August 15 feast is the "Easter of summer", as it is celebrated as widely and devotedly by the Orthodox Church as the Resurrection of the Christ. The Pontian (Black Sea) Greeks of the US and Canada have their own special church devoted to the Virgin, the church of the Panagia Soumela, at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains in West Milford, northern New Jersey. It all began in 1982, when the Panagia Soumela Pontion Amerikis (Panagia Soumela of Pontians of America) Institution was set up in New York for the purpose of reviving the August 15 devotion in the "Pontian Land of the New World". Twenty-three years later, in 2005, the "Holy Institution Panagia Soumela, Inc". purchased a large land expanse in West Milford, that now has an Orthodox Christian church and a cultural center. It is here that the annual three-day panegyr takes place from August 14 to 16, attracting devout from many other states in the US and from Canada. The name 'Soumela' comes from the Greek 'stou Mela', meaning 'at Mt. Melas' signifying a specific locality in the Pontos in Asia Minor. The revered icon of Panagia (of) Soumela takes its name from the historic Monastery of Panagia Soumela in the Pontos, and has been kept there for centuries. According to tradition, the icon was painted by St. Luke the Evangelist (Apostle Luke) and is older than the Monastery. The icon was originally kept in Athens, originally called the Panagia Atheniotissa (Panagia of Athens), but was later removed to Pontos for safe-keeping, when the Saracens destroyed the city of Athens, by two monks, St. Barnabas and St. Sophronios who are also said to be the founders of the Monastery of Soumela. The original icon is now in the new monastery of Panagia Soumela in Greece, southwest of Veria, in the village of Kastanies on the slopes of Mt. Vermion, which was founded by refugees from the Pontos, while one of three exact copies of the miraculous icon lies in the monastery in the Pontos. The Dormition of the Theotokos (Feast of the Assumption) is commonly celebrated by the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches on August 15. In Greece, the feast day -- the third most important religious holiday after Christmas and Easter -- is commemorated with church services and panigiria (festivals) throughout the country. The Church of the Megalohari (Great Grace) on Tinos and the Panagia Soumela Monastery in northern Greece draw most of the country's faithful this time of the year. On the Cyclades island of Tinos, the Feast of the Assumption is celebrated with distinct Byzantine splendor, while in northern Greece, the Pontian (Black Sea) Greeks' most revered religious site within the country, the Panaghia Soumela Monastery in the foothills of Mount Vermio, also hosts celebrates the feast day in great splendor. [08] August's full moon celebrated with museum openings, concertsThe largest full moon of the year on Saturday, August 13, was celebrated with theatrical performances and other cultural events at 78 archaeological sites and museums across the country, which remained open for the public until the early morning hours.The archaeological sites of the Acropolis in Athens and the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion were closed due to restoration works, leaving man people in Athens to watch the full moon from the New Acropolis Museum. In recent years the culture ministry has dedicated the occasion to a noted Greek poet. This year's full moon in August was dedicated to Nobel laureate Odysseas Elytis, given that 2011 marks the centennial of his birth [09] Mass exodus of holidaymakersAugust's last holidaymakers' exodus from Greece's urban centers peaked on Friday and Saturday, as travelers took advantage of the three-day weekend ahead of Monday's feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, the third most important religious holiday in the country after Christmas and Easter.Ferries have 100 percent capacity, with the most popular destinations being the islands of Tinos and Paros, where the August 15 feast of Virgin Mary is highly celebrated, while airlines beefed up domestic flights. Police have taken precautionary measures on the national roads to prevent accidents. According to the Weather Bureau, the weather will be hot and sunny over the following days. [10] Five foreign nationals arrested on Corfu for counterfeit banknotesFive Romanian nationals have been arrested in the northern part of Corfu island for possession and use of counterfeit money, police said on Saturday.Three Romanian women, aged 19 and 28, and three Romanian men, aged 22 and 24, were arrested and will be taken before a public prosecutor. Police said a 19-year-old Romanian woman, who was arrested on Wednesday, had purchased merchandise which she paid for with two fake 50-euro bills in several merchant shops in the town of Roda. Following complaints filed by the shopowners, police launched an investigation and located the other four members of the ring in a hotel room in Sidari, where police found and confiscated 53 fake banknotes of 50 euros denomination, four cell phones, and 1,500 euros in cash. The investigation was continuing for more ring members. [11] Migrant-laden craft intercepted off CreteSixty-seven illegal migrants were located in a 15-metre boat on Saturday evening just one nautical mile off the southern coast of Crete.According to port authorities, the boat's destination was Italy, but it took on water and was left adrift. Coast guard officers transferred all of the illegal migrants, 66 Egyptians and a Libyan, to a village football pitch in the town of Paleohora. First aid and food was offered to the illegal migrants while their boat was towed to a nearby harbour. During the investigation it was revealed that the illegals, aged from 15-30 and all men, worked in strife-torn Libya. Five individuals were identified as the smugglers and will be sent before a local prosecutor. [12] Drug dealing arrests in wider AthensA 26 years-old man and a 56 years-old, both Greeks, were arrested on Saturday in Attica charged for drug dealing.The younger one was arrested in Neo Psychico district of Athens when police found on him 100 grams of cocaine. Police also confiscated a taser, 500 euros cash, a mobile phone and a car. At a separate incident, a 56 years-old was arrested at the coastal Attica city of Glyfada following a tip-off. In the suspect's posession, police officers found and confiscated 271 grams of cocaine, 1,940 euro cash, seven counterfeit 50 euro banknotes, an agenda, two cell phones and a car. Both suspects were sent before Athens prosecutor. [13] Drug dealers arrested in LoutrakiPolice arrested on Monday at the popular summer resort of Loutraki a 24 years-old Albanian national and a 25 years-old Romanian woman for possessing seven grams of cocaine.A search in their residence revealed packages containing a total of 66 grams of cocaine. Moreover, police confiscated 1,110 euros deriving from drug dealing and two cell phones. The suspects will be sent before Corinth prosecutor. [14] Burglars take off with 88 thousand euros from Paggaio Town HallPolice in Paggaio, Kavala, have launched an extensive investigation for the arrest of unidentified thieves who broke into the Town Hall after midnight Saturday and made off with 88,000 euros.The thieves broke into the Paggaio Town Hall in Eleftheroupolis through a window, burgled the strong box and disappeared with the money. [15] Wildfire in Megalopoli under controlA wildfire that broke out on Sunday in a forestal area near Megalopoli, Arcadia prefecture, southern Greece was on Monday under control.Eleven fire engines with a 25 member crew and three firefighting aircrafts took part in the battle to contain the blaze. [16] 4.5R recorded in SW GreeceA mild earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale jolted at 4:05 on Sunday the wider region of Meligalas, Messinia prefecture, southwestern Greece. The quake's epicentre was located 180 km southwest of Athens. No damages were reported.Weather forecast [17] Fair on TuesdayFair weather and variable winds are forecast for Tuesday. Wind velocity will reach 4 on the Beaufort scale. Scattered clouds most parts of the country with temperatures ranging from 15C-36C. Sunny on the islands, 20C-35C. Fair in Athens, 20C-36C; the same for Thessaloniki, 20C-35C.[18] The Sunday edition edition of Athens dailies at a glanceProposals for reforms in the country's cavernous public sector and punishing recession mostly dominated the headlines on Sunday in Athens' newspapers.AVGHI: "Recession's vise tightens". ETHNOS: "Exams every year for all civil servants". KATHIMERINI: "Alarm in Greece and Europe". AVRIANI: "Government resorts to early elections before system collapses completely ". ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Up to 50-percent cut in public sector". RIZOSPASTIS: "Communist party action a guarantee in the battle with the monopolies". PROTO THEMA: "60 enterprises go bankrupt every day". REALNEWS: "Brussels decision for Greece in doubt". TO PARON: "Secret meeting on Greece's withdrawal from 12-nautical-mile position". TO VIMA: "Bring back the money - Support investments as Italians do". ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Government sets up 'pyramid scheme' via NGO to hire 55,000 civil servants throughout Greece". VRADYNI: "Public sector: "The great reversal". 36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: ILIAS MATSIKAS Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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