Constantine

Linked to last Roman Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos

Police are investigating the scenario of suicide - The 45-year-old was a financier, Prince Michael's son-in-law and married to Gabriella, whose godfather was former King Constantine

The 52-year-old man, who was killed last night in the "Saints Constantine and Helena" resort near Varna, is a Ukrainian citizen, according to unconfirmed information reported by the Bulgarian National Television (BNT).

Sotirios Gkaintatzis danced across burning coals, his stomping bare feet raising sparks and puffs of smoke as he held aloft an icon of Saints Constantine and Helen.

Gkaintatzis is the leader of a group of "anastenaria" - the devotees of St. Constantine who celebrate these centuries-old rites in a smattering of small villages near Thessaloniki, in northeastern Greece.

Restoration work on the mausoleum in the former royal estate of Tatoi, north of Athens, has been approved, Culture & Sports Minister Lina Mendoni said on Thursday.

She was introduced to the Greek public on the occasion of the funeral of the late king Constantine; her presence attracted media attention and was widely reported on social media. It seemed that most people did not even know that there are descendants of the last Tsarist family of Russia.

On the shoulders of his three sons and his grandsons, the late King Constantine was led to his final abode near the graves of his parents and other ancestors, in Tatoi.

European royalty gathered in Athens on Monday for the funeral of former King Constantine of Greece, born a prince but spurned by his country which abolished the monarchy in 1974.

The first time I ever spoke with former king Constantine was shortly after the publication of my book "The Rape of Greek Democracy: The American Factor" in 1997. The phone rang and I heard a deep voice say: "Good evening. This is the king." It took me a moment to realize who it was exactly, but that call was the first of many conversations about history over the course of many years to come.

The funeral procession of former King of Greece Constantine II will be held at the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens followed by a private burial at the cemetery of the former royal estate of Tatoi, north of the Greek capital Monday. His body will lie at rest in Saint Eleftherios chapel next to the Cathedral ahead of the funeral service.