Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visits Poland

His All Holiness, Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch started a visit to Poland on Monday.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at Maria Magdalene Church in Warsaw

While in Poland Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will visit Warsaw, Lublin and the Holy Mountain of Grabarka to attend the Transfiguration feast celebrations in the sanctuary, PAP was told by spokesperson for the Polish Orthodox Church father Henryk Paprocki.
The Transfiguration is the biggest Orthodox feast in Poland. Pilgrimages to Grabarka, the main Orthodox cult site in Poland, date back to 1710.
On Tuesday Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will meet with Sejm Speaker Grzegorz Schetyna.
On Friday he will receive an honorary doctorate of the John Paul II Catholic Lublin University during a ceremony in Lublin.
There are from 550 to 600 thousand Orthodox faithful in Poland, mainly in the Podlasie northeastern region.
(PAP) 

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Τουριστικό αφιέρωμα στη Βόρεια Ελλάδα σε πολωνικό περιοδικό

Το μηνιαίο ανδρικό περιοδικό Gentleman, με τίτλο «Δημοκρατία του Δία», δημοσιεύει τετρασέλιδο αφιέρωμα της Elżbieta Pawełek και του Zygmunt Chwast στη Θεσσαλονίκη, την Καβάλα και την Θάσο, το οποίο συνοδεύεται από πληθώρα έγχρωμων φωτογραφιών από τους Φιλίππους, την Θάσο και τις ακτές της βόρειας Ελλάδας.
Στην εισαγωγή του δημοσιεύματος υπογραμμίζονται τα εξής : «Η Γαλλία έχει το δικό της Έβερεστ, η Ιταλία το Mont Blanc, ενώ η Μακεδονία τον Όλυμπο, την κατοικία των θεών. Γιατί επέλεξαν αυτό το μέρος; Διότι εδώ υπάρχουν τα πάντα: χρυσές ακτές, ηλιόλουστα νησιά και καταπληκτικές ταβέρνες με θαλασσινά».     

Kavala

Στην ενότητα που τιτλοφορείται «Το άρωμα της ανατολής», οι αρθρογράφοι περιγράφουν την περιήγησή τους στην Καβάλα, την οποία στην αρχαιότητα είχε επισκεφθεί και ο Απόστολος Παύλος κατά την πρώτη ιεραποστολή του στην Ευρώπη. Επίσης αναφέρονται στην πολιτιστική κληρονομιά των Τούρκων και τη θυελλώδη ιστορία της πόλης.
Στην ενότητα «Σμαραγδένιο Νησί», οι αρθρογράφοι παροτρύνουν τους τουρίστες να επισκεφθούν την Θάσο, που αποτελεί ιδανικό προορισμό για ολιγοήμερη αναψυχή. 

Thasos Ancient Agora

Στην ενότητα με τίτλο «Ταβέρνα κάτω από τα αστέρια», ειδική αναφορά γίνεται στους μεζέδες και τα κυριότερα πιάτα της ελληνικής κουζίνας. Καταληκτικά σημειώνεται ότι «όταν τα τζιτζίκια τραγουδούν σαν τρελά κατά τη διάρκεια του δείπνου και φτάνει ο ήχος των κυμάτων από την ακρογιαλιά, διότι τα τραπέζια είναι στημένα κοντά στο νερό, και πάνω από τα κεφάλια βλέπει κανείς τον έναστρο ουρανό, όλα αποκτούν μια εκλεκτή γεύση. Είμαστε περίεργοι τι θα έλεγε τώρα ο Δίας;». 

Η δημοσιογράφος Elzbieta Pawelek και ο φωτογράφος Zygmunt Chwast φιλοξενήθηκαν, κατόπιν πρότασης του Γραφείου Τύπου Βαρσοβίας, στη Θεσσαλονίκη και τη Θάσο τον Ιούνιο του 2009.  

Blue Flags 2010

Greece was awarded Blue Flags for 421 Beaches and 9 Marinas by the International Blue Flag Jury, winning second place among 41 countries. 
The prefectures of Lasithi (on Crete), and Halkidiki (northern Greece), as well as the islands of Corfu and Rhodes were awarded the highest number of Blue Flags.
The Blue Flag is an internationally recognized standard for quality, develporewarding sustainable development at beaches and marinas, relying on strict criteria, such as water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety.
Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature: Greek Beachs awarded the Blue Flag for 2010
Greek News Agenda: 425 Blue Flags for Greece

Wine Roads in Northern Greece

 (GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Encompassing Macedonia, Thrace and Epirus, the non-profit “Wine Producers’ Association of the Northern Greece Vineyard” supports the region’s tradition of vine growing and winemaking while offering Greeks and foreigners alike the opportunity to visit vineyards. The online directory “The Wine Roads of Northern Greece” offers detailed maps and travel-destination suggestions, highlighting vineyards and the general landscape of northern Greece. The northern Greece wine network features eight wine routes, leading from Mt Olympus, home of the Gods, and Zitsa in Epirus to Byzantine Thessaloniki. Others run from Amyntaio in the north to the Aegean playground of Halkidiki and the delightful, distant Thrace. Several Greek wineries are opening their gates on May 16 and 17 – part of the “Open Gates Programme” launched on the initiative of the European Network of Wine Cities – offering visitors the opportunity to feel the intoxicating aromas and flavours of Greek vineyards. Its objective is that each participating town create an event around wine so as to acquaint consumers with the production of this alcoholic beverage. More specifically, there will be two-day wine events all over Europe.

Fairs – Exhibitions – Conferences in Greece

Athens
ATHENS INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR (21 – 24 May 2009) http://www.art-athina.gr/
ATHENS EPIDAURUS FESTIVAL( GENERALLY FROM JUNE TO SEPTEMBER BUT DATES TO BE DETERMINED) http://www.greekfestival.gr/ 
ROCKWAVE FESTIVAL ATTIKI – TERRA VIBE (ALREADY PROGRAMMED FOR 27 – 28 – 29 June 2009) http://www.rockwavefestival.gr/home/
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MEDIA AND DISABILITIES ATHENS (22-23 June 2009) http://www.ameamedia.gr/en/conference 
THE ATHENS SUMMIT ENERGY SECURITY & CLIMATE CHANGE (12 – 13 June 2009) http://www.ftglobalevents.com/athenssummit/overview.asp  
RALLY ACROPOLIS LOUTRAKI (11 – 14 June 2009) http://www.acropolisrally.gr/pre/ 
INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FILM FESTIVAL ATHENS (DATES TO BE DETERMINED) http://www.caid.gr/isffa/about.html 
EUROPEAN MUSIC DAY MAINLY HELD IN ATHENS (18 – 23 June 2009) http://www.musicday.gr/home.php?lang=2
CLASSIC MARATHON ATHENS (8 November 2009 – not in summer time but is worth to participate or visit) http://www.athensclassicmarathon.gr/default.2.asp

Northern Greece  
INTERNATIONAL FUR FAIR OF KASTORIA (7 – 10 May 2009) http://www.furfair.gr/index.php 
INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR OF THESSALONIKI (28 – 31 May 2009) http://www.thessalonikibookfair.com/?menu=920 
OLYMPUS MARATHON (28 June 2009) http://www.olympus-marathon.com/index.php?newlang=english
SANI FESTIVAL – HALKIDIKI (DATES TO BE DETERMINED) http://www.saniresort.gr/page/default.asp?id=3905
EARTH FESTIVAL VLASTI KOZANI (DATES TO BE DETERMINED) http://www.oikotopia.gr/EarthFestival-en.htm
COSMOPOLIS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL KAVALA (DATES TO BE DETERMINED) http://www.kavala-cosmopolis.com/en/index.html
Islands 
HALKI INTERNATIONAL SEMINARS (17 – 21 June 2009) http://www.eliamep.gr/en/frontpage/top-story-2/halki-international-seminars-2009-call-for-applications/ 
NAXOS FESTIVAL (DATES TO BE DETERMINED) http://www.bazeostower.gr/eng/index.html 
ECOFILM RHODES (23 – 28 June 2009) http://www.ecofilms.gr/ 
GUITAR FESTIVAL HERMOUPOLIS SYROS (12 – 16 July 2009) http://www.guitarfestival.gr/index.php?lang=en 
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE AEGEAN SYROS (1 – 11 July 2009) http://www.festivaloftheaegean.com/schedule.html 
SANTORINI SUMMER CONFERENCES (24 June – 1 July 2009) http://www.ecsa-greece.gr/esa/
RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL RETHYMNO (DATES TO BE DETERMINED) http://www.rfr.gr/index.html 
ICARUS FESTIVAL IKARIA (DATES TO BE DETERMINED) http://icarus-festival.ikaria.gr/index.php?mylang=english IONIAN CONCERTS CORFU (DATES TO BE DETERMINED) http://www.corfufestival.gr/index_en.html 
General Info about events in Greece is available at: 
AGROTRAVEL http://en.agrotravel.gr/agro/site/Home/t_section 
MINISTRY OF CULTURE http://www.culture.gr/war/cult_fnews_en.jsp 
MINISTRY OF TOURISM http://www.gnto.gr/pages.php?pageID=851&langID=2 
UPCOMING CONFERENCES IN GREECE http://www.conferences.gr/upcoming-conferences.html 
FESTIVALS IN GREECE BY MATT BARRETT http://www.greecetravel.com/holidays/

Greece: Exceptional Find Unearthed

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Archaeologists apparently uncovered one of most fascinating finds to date at the archaeological site of Vergina, northern Greece, earlier this week, namely, an immense cylindrical copper vessel inside of which was a slightly smaller, similar vessel. The exquisite artefact contained an oak wreath crafted in gold, lying atop human bones and immersed in water amid roots. The find is considered exceptional, as the wreath is almost equal in quality and dimensions to those found at the Royal Tombs at Vergina (Modern name of the city Aigai, the ancient first capital of the kingdom of Macedonia). The city of Aigai was discovered during the 19th century and is included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The most important remains are the monumental palace, lavishly decorated with mosaics and painted stuccoes, and the burial ground with more than 300 tumuli, some of which date from the 11th century B.C. One of the royal tombs in the Great Tumulus (photo) is identified as that of Philip II, who conquered all the Greek cities, paving the way for his son Alexander and the expansion of the Hellenistic world.  It remains a mystery for the archaeologists of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki who run the excavations why such a complete find was found outside the limits of the extensive cemetery of the royal necropolis. Athens News Agency: Exceptional find in Vergina; Ministry of Culture: Building for the protection of the royal tombs of Vergina; UNESCO: Archaeological site of Aigai

A Unique National Marine Park in Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)    The Mediterranean Monk Seal also known as Monachus Monachus, is Europe’s most endangered marine mammal, and is among the six most endangered mammals in the world.  Greece has allocated a vast area for the preservation of the Monachus Monachus and its habitat in the Aegean Sea. The Greek National Sea Park of Alonissos – Northern Sporades(www.alonissos-park.gr), which extends around the Northern Sporades island complex, and is the main action ground of the Hellenic Society for the study and protection of the monk seal (Mom). It should be stated that legislation in Greece is very strict towards the hunting of the seal and that the public in general is very much aware and supportive of the effort for the preservation of the Monachus Monachus. The National Marine Park of Alonnisos – Northern Sporades was the first designated Marine Park in the country and is currently the largest marine protected area in Europe (approximately 2,260 Km2). Besides the sea area, the Park includes Alonnisos (www.alonissos.gr), six smaller islands (Peristera, Kyra Panagia, Gioura, Psathura, Piperi and Skantzoura), as well as 22 uninhabited islets and rocky outcrops. The Northern Sporades island-complex stretches out into the Aegean, east of the Pelion peninsula. On the serene Sporades, life still continues along its old rhythms. Tourism has brought prosperity to these islands without affecting much of their traditional lifestyle, especially on the island of Alonissos.  National Marine Park of Alonnisos – Northern Sporades: Photo Gallery 

Greek Island Skyros is not a destination of mass-tourism

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)     The island of Skyros lies in the Northern Aegean, the largest and most isolated of the Northern Sporades. The island is more or less divided into two halves: the fertile north, with its green, rolling hillsides and the barren, mountainous region in the south. The capital “Skyros” or “Hora” is built amphitheatrically on the slopes of a hill, and in the shadow of a medieval castle and the Byzantine monastery of St George of Skyros. Beyond the capital there’s a wonderful, long, sandy beach at Magazia and several beaches along the west coast at Atsitsa.