One of the most beautiful and inspirational traditions of the Greek Orthodox Church is the annual family celebration of the Vasilopita. This original event which happened in Cappadocia of Caesarea in the last half of the fourth century, is very much alive in our Orthodox homes each year. The Greek word Vasilopita is directly translated [...]
Archive | Religion RSS feed for this section
St. Prokopios Icon at the Byzantine and Christian Museum of Athens
Visitors at the Byzantine and Christian Museum will have the opportunity to witness a Byzantine icon of St. Prokopios, measuring 91,5cm x 62,5cm, which had been stolen from the Church of St. Prokopios in Veroia, over the 1967 – 1974 period. The icon dates from the 14th century and serves as an excellent example of [...]
Metropolitan of Piraeus Opposes Mosque Building Bill
Metropolitan of Piraeus Seraphim filed an appeal to the Council of State asking from the Greek government to withdraw a bill about building a mosque in Athens. The Orthodox Metropolitan made an extensive reference to the wars Christianity has faced over the years, from 325 B.C. with Arios until today’s Jehovah Witnesses, which only aimed [...]
Employees of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Unpaid for Three Months
People working in the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople including priests of all ranks, secretaries, and members of all sectors have not been paid for the past three months. According to employees of the Patriarchate, their wages have not been paid since June, while Athens has reassured them that the money has been sent to the [...]
It’s Official, Mosque in Athens
The mosque issue will be officially voted in the Greek Parliament in the following Tuesday and after that actions for further construction will be undertaken. The mosque will be placed in Votanikos, where the Old Navy was, but it will be smaller than the initial plan. It will have occupancy of 350 people instead of [...]
Turkish Tourists Spend Bayram Holiday in Greece
Thousands of Turkish tourists, taking advantage of the holiday of Bayram, are arriving on the Greek islands these past few days. Although Bayram falls on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the Erdogan government has decided to declare Monday and Friday holidays too, making the whole week off. The islands have begun to receive increased numbers of Turkish [...]
Alternate Tourism Routes in Kythira
Legends say that Kythera was the birth place of Celestial Venus, the goddess of pure platonic love. Maybe that’s why visitors to the island should take time to explore the unexpected place of sudden love, the place where the Aegean meets the Ionian Sea. Kythera is a small island in the Ionian, located south of Peloponnese. Small [...]
Ramadan Draws to an End – A Look at Its Origins and a Greek Convert to Islam
The 1st of August marked the first day of a special month for Muslim communities all around the world. Ramadan, which is the ninth Islamic month and a period of fasting, is based on a combination of physical sightings of the moon and astronomical calculations. Ramadan is the month in which the first verses of [...]
Shariah Abolished for Greek Muslims
According to an article of the Greek newspaper “Eleftherotypia”, under the scope of reforms in the Greek Family Law, the Shariah will be abolished for Greek Muslims. This Muslim law establishes among others the right of polygamy and gives only to men the right to divorce their wives which constitutes a problem for the women [...]
Events for the End of Ramadan at Kalatravas Stadium
According to newsbeast.gr, the stadiums OAKA and SEF will be used by Muslim communities who live in Athens, to celebrate the end of Ramadan on August 30 or 31, depending on the beginning of the new moon that brings the end of their fast. After the Olympic Games of 2004, 11 public Muslim ceremonies took [...]
Low Tourist Traffic in Popular Religious Destinations on Assumption Day
Hoteliers in the popular religious destinations of the country are disappointed with this year’s low touristic traffic, as many of the rooms still remain empty today, on August 14, one day before the commemoration day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Despite the decline in prices, reservations are fewer than last year, with the [...]
Historical Churches of Athens Renovated
According to an article in the Greek newspaper “Kathimerini”, two of the most historical churches of Athens, the church of Agios Konstantinos across from the National Theatre in Omonoia, and the catholic church of Agios Dionysios on Panepitimiou Street, will soon be renovated. The earthquake that hit Athens in 1999 caused damages to these two [...]
-
02 / 11 The Telegraph: Merkel Has Herself to Blame if Greece Defaults
-
02 / 11 Head of Greek Catholics Appeals To Pope Hor Help In Crisis
-
02 / 11 Italy’s Prime Minister Offers Praise for Greece and Optimism About Euro Zone
-
02 / 11 Cabinet Approves Debt Deal After PM Warns of ‘Chaos’
-
02 / 10 Papademos Says He Will Remove Dissenters Because Default Would Bring Misery
Calendar – Exhibits, Concerts, Fun
- Lecture on Human Values by Academic Helene Glykatzi-Arhweiler February 8, 2012
- 3rd Annual Greek Shipping Forum to Be Held in Athens February 8, 2012
- 11th Athens Xclusive Designers Week in March February 7, 2012
- Australian Embassy in Athens Celebrates Australia Day February 4, 2012
Salonica
3°
Athens
48°
