Greek Orthodoxy

Too much controversy has been stirred up by the 12.77 percent won by the three far-right parties - the Spartiates (Spartans), Greek Solution and Niki (Victory) - in the June 25 legislative election.

From the imposing monastery of Megiste Lavra to the Russian monastery, Mount Athos is a deeply mystifying place.

The all-male monastic community of Mount Athos in northern Greece reopened its doors to pilgrims on Monday, on the condition that they are in possession of the special permits required.

Entry is also allowed to all employees of the monasteries of the Athonite State. Visitors numbers, however, will be limited to 15 people per monastery.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tueday visited the Mariamite Cathedral of Damascus, one of the oldest Greek Orthodox churches in the capital, as part of a rare visit to Syria.

Police said on Friday that a man who was arrested on June 13 for stealing votive offerings from the Iviron Monastery on Mount Athos in northern Greece had also plundered other monasteries in the monastic community to the tune of at least 150,000 euros.

A Romanian national was in custody on Friday after he was arrested on Thursday night for stealing votive offerings attached to an icon of the Virgin Mary at the Iviron Monastery on Mt Athos in northern Greece.
The 56-year-old suspect was arrested in a forested area of the monastic community after a police operation.

Two prominent judicial officials were selected to top positions in the Supreme Court on Friday, following a meeting of the cabinet on Friday and despite intense criticism by the political opposition over the legitimacy of the process.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem issued assurances on Monday that the Holy Light would travel to Greece this year regardless of a call by a group of local atheists' for the flight not to be paid for by the Greek government. The Greek Union of Atheists protested against the annual air transport costs to bring the flame to Greece in a spirit of pomp and pageantry.