Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-12-13

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Alexandria Patriarch winds up visit

[02] Ski resorts open

[01] Alexandria Patriarch winds up visit

Speaking after the liturgy, Ieronymos paid tribute to the Patriarchate's "immense" missionary work in Africa, adding that Theodoros always "brings a smile of hope and courage to our African brothers".

Theodoros, in turn, thanked Ieronymos and the Church of Greece for its support to the missionary work of his Patriarchate "whose flock extends to 54 countries in Africa with millions of faithful".

Theodoros also made special reference to the Egyptian Greeks: "They left Egypt, but their heart lives in the land of the Nile. And Alexandria continues to be strongly reminiscent of Greece, where we guard the legacy left to us by our forebears."

He further expressed appreciation for the Greek government "which has never abandoned the Patriarchate", and all those who support the Orthodox Church of Africa's work, as well as to Egyptian president Hosni Mubarack's "support of our Greek Orthodox Patriarchate".

Ieronymos and Theodoros afterwards went to Mt. Penteli where a reforestation project was in progress in the fire-stricken areas.

Theodoros strongly criticised those "who do not respect nature" and who "for the sake of financial interests" destroy the forests both in Africa and Europe, and everywhere else.

"The most beautiful gift for our planet would be for it to become green with trees," he said, stressing the need for a "green revolution" for all of Africa, and warmly congratulated the municipalities, communities and individuals who showed up Sunday to plant a tree.

Ieronymos said that "we came to today to send away the grief from the destruction...this is the message of the contribution of the people who showed up today to plant trees, so that we may see this place turn green again", and made note of the "inspirer" of this effort, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

The visit was concluded with an official luncheon hosted in Theodoros' honor by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, which was also attended by alternate foreign minister Dimitris Droutsas, deputy education and religious affairs minister Ioannis Panaretos, and the Egyptian ambassador to Greece.

Caption: Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece take part in tree planting project on fire-stricken Mt. Penteli. (ANA-MPA/P. Saitas)

[02] Ski resorts open

Residents in many parts of Central and Western Macedonia woke up on Sunday to snowy post-card landscapes.

Numerous roadways in northern Greece required snow tires, especially towards the Mt. Voras (Kaimakcalan) ski center, the 3-5 Pigadia ski center, and the Seli national ski center, while the road from Maoussa to Seli was closed.

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