Shocking images of pollution from an area in Paphos have surfaced sparking sadness and disappointment as they highlight a lack of environmental awareness and disregard for the consequences Andreas Evlavis of the Ecologists’ Movement shared photos and videos from the Green Point in Agia Varvara and other waste both inside and outside the facility but environmental ones have hit rock bottom we are suffocating from the stench and foul odors," he wrote Residents of Agia Varvara are voicing their frustration after a sudden power surge on January 23 destroyed electrical appliances in their homes While they expected full compensation for their losses they claim the insurance company contracted by the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) does not intend to reimburse them in full a representative at EAC’s headquarters in Strovolos informed them that their compensation would not cover VAT on the damaged appliances the amount they receive will be calculated based on the appliances' year of manufacture or purchase residents say they have been asked to submit original purchase receipts of the damaged appliances in person One homeowner explained that compensation processing will only begin once all affected residents have submitted their claims This bureaucratic process is particularly concerning for elderly residents some of whom struggle to meet the documentation requirements they fear they may receive no compensation at all expressed disappointment with how the situation is being managed but we expected them to handle this better,” he said He also criticized EAC’s previous statements which assured immediate response and full compensation for those who could prove damages an EAC engineer visited some affected homes shortly after the incident and their damaged appliances—including refrigerators Residents are now demanding that EAC and its insurer reconsider their stance and provide fair compensation for all losses incurred Many feel that the process should be simplified and that VAT and full replacement costs should be covered affected homeowners are considering their next steps they continue to wait for clarity—and compensation—for the damages they have suffered Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew paid a visit to the Apostoliki Diakonia Boarding School in the Municipality of Agia Varvara This visit is part of his official engagements during his stay in Greece emphasizing the Orthodox Church’s active role in collaborating with local communities and educational institutions The Ecumenical Patriarch was warmly received by Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece Also present were the Mayor of Agia Varvara Deputy Minister of Education and Religious Affairs Zeta Makris and Secretary General for Religious Affairs Giorgos Kalantzis The meeting provided an opportunity for the Patriarch to engage in discussions concerning education and the vital role of the Church in supporting the younger generation The visit concluded with blessings and expressions of hope for the continued success of the Boarding School’s mission Both Church leaders and local representatives reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation for the benefit of society Photography Courtesy of Christos Bonis // Archdiocese of Athens // Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas the Patriarchate of Jerusalem solemnly celebrated the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women... Archbishop Elpidophoros of America celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of the Theotokos.. it was announced that two Roman Catholic institutions in Bavaria have decided to jointly.. A car once used by Pope Francis during his 2014 visit to Bethlehem is being transformed into a mobile.. the Monastery of Saint Vlash in Albania hosted a festal Divine Liturgy on the.. Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece presided over the festal Great Vespers at the historic.. (function() { window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { listeners: [] cb) { window.mc4wp.listeners.push( { event : evt callback: cb } ); } } }})(); © 2023 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website These cookies do not store any personal information Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website An area that was dammed for clean energy is now blessed with great natural beauty The Aliakmon is the longest river in Greece: it is estimated that it stretches over 297 kilometres It’s source is from the mountains of Gramos in the northwest of Greece on the border with Albania traversing through large parts of Macedonia before ending up at the Thermaikos Gulf between the cities of Thessaloniki and Katerini there are many tributaries and streams of central and western Macedonia that run off into the river such as the Grevenitikos It should be noted that the Aliakmonas river drives several hydroelectric power stations of the DEH (the National Greek Electrical Company) which has constructed several dams in the region that have created a chain of artificial lakes in the area One of the most beautiful among the artificial lakes created is Agia Varvara – also know as ‘Lake Aliakmon which can be a tad confusing as there are a number of lakes that are fed by the river The artificial lake of Agia Varvara is located in the third of the three sub-regions into which Aliakmonas is usually divided The first of these extends from its source in the Gramos mountains near the village of Paliuria in Grevena; the second is the wider area around the artificial lake of Polyfytou in Kozani while the third starts from Agia Varvara and extends to the mouth of the river at Thermaikos Gulf the lake of Agia Varvara is part of an cluster of similar projects built by DEH over a period of 45 years aiming to harness the hydraulic power potential of the river Aliakmonas The area around the village of Agia Varvara (the old Varvares region) is made up of fertile plains that are mainly used for agriculture The Aliakmonas diversion dam at Agia Varvara was built in the mid-1950s and was crucial for the development of the area Until that time the river tended to form meanders and oxbows and this instability led to the formation of extensive marshes and regular flooding towards the estuary in its present form is due to the upgrading project that took place in 2004/2008 between the villages of Agia Varvara and Metochi that has harmoniously seamlessly blended into the attractive landscape It is now an idyllic combination of turquoise waters forest green (with a few deciduous trees and their turning colours) and stark mountain slopes a landscape of dual importance for the region emerged the lake leads to the consistent irrigation of crops and also directly supplies the water supply network of Thessaloniki it creates an easily accessible destination for walks recreation and of course some water sports This little gem is already attracting tourists from Thessaloniki and Athens and even visitors from the countries that border Greece to the north It’s Pretty simple to get to Agia Varvara lake And it makes for a wonderful add on to any trip to the area to visit the spectacular and unmissable ancient royal tombs of the Macedonian kings at Vergina From there take the provincial road Veroia-Vergina to the “Stena” of Aliakmonas The ‘stena’ is a narrow and quite steep gorge between the Pieria Mountains and Vermio This road leads you to the barrier that dams this body of water Kamaria: The least known lake of central Greece Aoos Springs Lake, a Pastiche of Cobalt Waters, Spherical Islands and Majestic Meadows The Roman Aqueduct of Nikopolis: A Technological Marvel in Preveza, Greece The assistant professor of NKUA and partner of the programme “Empowering Young Roma Women in matters of health prevention and human rights: a new methodological approach” are training young Roma women in Agia Varvara and in Zefyri The training covers issues of domestic violence human rights and mental health with material produced by the Intercultural Education Studies Lab The specific programme is implemented by the Prolepsis Institute in collaboration with the Intercultural Education Studies Lab of the Department of Educational Studies of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Greece’s Transport Minister Kostas Karamanlis on Thursday announced that three more stations on Line 3 of the Athens metro which is currently being extended to the port of Piraeus will include six new stations – Agia Varvara Piraeus and Dimotiko Theatro (Municipal Theater) I pledged that at the beginning of the summer we will have the first three stations of the Metro extension to Piraeus ready: Agia Varvara we have been working intensively all this time,” Karamanlis stated during the tour of Agia Varvara station work continued with the strict observance of all safety measures and employee protection The aim is to have the remaining three stations ready by 2022 Line 3 currently runs from Agia Marina to Doukissis Plakentias station in northern Athens and Athens International Airport The eulogies of the epitaph lament at the holy church of Panagia Eleusis in Agia Varvara were sung by the well-known singer Nikos Vourliotis on Good Friday The Greek rapper is particularly loved in the area of ​​Agia Varvara It is recalled that since the last municipal elections he has held the position of the vice-mayor of culture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjV7Y5qGANY READ MORE: Police say restrictions on ‘Holy Fire’ event in Jerusalem were set by safety engineer Stations on line 3 of the Athens metro will be closed on selected dates during the summer months in order to test an extension of the line to Piraeus the metro operator STA.SY announced on Monday and Agia Varvara will stay closed and line three will only operate between Agia Marina and the Airport The first such period will begin on Saturday passengers for the Agia Marina-Nikaia section of the line can use the temporary bus service X50 Agia Marina-Nikaia and stops at all stations on the metro line's route Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Marianian  Nafplio at the epicenter of world yachting with the 10th Mediterranean Yacht Show Samaria Gorge “War Zone” – “Others Decide, We Pay the Price” Argosaronic Islands: Need for a long-term strategy and modern infrastructure FedHATTA | Tourism Bridges between Greece and the Chinese province of Guizhou Top distinctions for Greece and Santorini at the American Leisure Lifestyle Awards 2025 HOTREC | Supporting SMEs in European Hospitality Tourism | Promoting Crete in the Arabian Gulf Aegean and Emirates expand their partnership Delta | Athens is in 5th place in American searches for 2025 Promotion of Preveza on the metro and tram in Athens TripAdvisor Awards 2025 | Elafonisi Beach World's Best Beach - 9th in Crete, Sani Beach Award 12th BAJAGREECE: Motorsports Competition in Western Macedonia Crete also invests in cycling tourism - 13th Pediadas Tour Competitions with a summer and autumn backdrop: Attica runs at the pace of sports ATM'25 - Tourism | The fight against food waste at the forefront of sustainable development easyJet holidays | Fam trips to Santorini, Skiathos and Rhodes Chania: The next actions of the “Tourism Partnership” Navarino Challenge returns on May 9-11, 2025 Cruise Takeoff in Chania – Record Arrivals in the First Quarter of 2025 Three Greek beaches among the world’s 50 best – Triumph for the Ionian The “Typhoon” that saves the Greek coasts from garbage EOT at the “Arabian Travel Market” | Interest from Gulf countries, India, and Australia CERT to manage Vasilitsa Ski Resort – Investment of over 20 million euros Is American tourism in Europe “slowing down”? What do professionals see for 2025 and 2026 This is Athens & Partners | The 7 partners renew their collaboration - the joint actions FedHATTA: Dynamic presence of Greek travel agencies at the international Dubai exhibition ATM 2025 Ryanair announces new offer for Prime members on June flights Thomas Ellerbeck | “Rhodes can become a model of sustainable tourism internationally” The Times | The perfect time to experience the authentic side of Santorini Chania: The Alternative Tourism Festival returns to the Venetian Port Angela Gerekou: "Tourism is a force for good and Greece can play a leading role" New flights to Greece in 2025 from 4 airlines Crete welcomes Reveil 12 – Festival of Sounds and Ecology Greek tourism - 3rd quarter | 97% of arrivals in Athens and Thessaloniki Modernization aid for the marinas of Symi and Messolonghi HOTREC Assembly: Focus on challenges and reforms in European tourism AEGEAN 2025: Passenger growth and fleet expansion with an eye on the international market FedHATTA Cooperation with Shaanxi Province, China Greek academic in finalists of European Sustainable Energy Awards 2025 Thessaloniki museums join forces to promote the city GNTO introduces “Sustainable Greece” to British Agents Strategic meeting for cruises in Santorini A message of friendship and cooperation at the friendly Greek-Turkish football match in Chios Municipality of Xiromero | Diving tourism: Request for sinking of a decommissioned warship The first La Quinta by Wyndham in Batumi, Georgia Double racing event in Megalopolis on May 11: Festival Enduro and Theater Run 2025 Explora Journeys: Start of the summer season with the luxurious EXPLORA I from Piraeus Strong start in 2025 for Aegean and SKY Express Xanthi Tastes: A Gastronomy Festival with a Cultural Flavor Rhodes: These are the five-star hotels with the highest revenue – Which ones “fill up” first Greek Tourism/Webhotelier: The Winners and Losers in Online Bookings for 2025 GNTO | Promotion of Santorini in target markets Unprecedented blackout in Spain, Portugal, France Greece can play a leading role in the global sports tourism scene Rhodes | Event for the protection of biodiversity Attica, the …Caribbean of the Germans Agios Nikolaos | Cruise season kicks off with arrival of luxury Silver Spirit Operational Plan: “Cretan Food Culture 2026-2030” Destination Management and Promotion Organization in Thessaloniki Kefalonia: The authentic character of the island through the “Travel Reimagined” project Hoteliers vs. Booking.com: The European uprising has begun Tourism | Greece 4th choice for Europeans' holidays in 2025 - what the ETC survey shows New high-standard heated swimming pool in Chania, aimed at sports tourism Greeks Traveled (A Lot!) in 2024 – Where They Went, How Much They Spent Greek-American Dean Spanos brings the NFL to Greece – Opportunities for promotion in the USA Lesvos: The season begins with birdwatching tourists MSC Cruises: Strengthens its presence in Greece with 6 cruise ships New Luxury Arrival in Crete | JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa Opens on June 2 "Peloponnese Trails" inaugurated today: New network of trails for sustainable tourism Knossos: 125 years since the excavations of Arthur Evans The Spanish TV show “Viajeros Cuatro” in Corfu Wyndham - Soliteight | 40 Super 8 hotels in Spain and Portugal Airbnb: Final price now displayed in accommodation searches Investments in the beaches of the Attica Riviera The Municipality of Chania at the “From Crete to Side” Festival in Turkey Region of Central Macedonia: Tourism Promotion Activities in Poland and the Middle East Region of Crete | Connecting Minoan Palatial Centers with Archaeological Sites Biodiversity protection plan is in full swing in Elafonisi Record participation in the ATHENA International Olive Oil Competition | Chania 8 - 10 May Communities at the heart of tourism development Booking.com | No to limiting tourists, yes to infrastructure investments Thessaloniki’s dynamic presence at the World Tourism Summit in Hong Kong easyJet | Summer 2026 sales open Cruise | Turkey doubles its share, new opportunities for Greek ports Aid for the upgrade of the tourist shelter of Astakos and the Marina of Alimos Preparing the settlement of Kionia for the tourist season: An example to follow The action of the region of Crete "Let's go for... Greens" concludes this weekend “Art is our Language”: Campaign for the 70th Anniversary of the Athens Epidaurus Festival Tourism | Nostalgia drives Brits’ travel choices ΕΟΤ China | B2B meetings with Chengdu's t.os - Flights to Athens in June State-of-the-art conference center at Theartemis Palace Hotel in Rethymno Zagori: Collaboration with Impact Hub Athens for sustainable tourism and innovation Cooperation Memorandum between Development Athens and Piraeus University on Tourism Kos: New advertising campaigns with Jet2 and National Geographic Traveller UK Five cruise ships in Souda by Saturday Imbros Trail Run & Hike 2025: A sporting tribute to the History of Sfakia Cultural Days and Sea Routes in Piraeus Religious Tourism | The University of Palermo comes to Panagia Nafpaktiotissa Audio Walk in the Sitia Geopark: A Different Exploration Experience in Crete AEGEAN “takes off” Larnaca with a new direct flight to Rome Nafplio at the epicenter of world yachting with the 10th Mediterranean Yacht Show FedHATTA | Tourism Bridges between Greece and the Chinese province of Guizhou Top distinctions for Greece and Santorini at the American Leisure Lifestyle Awards 2025 Samaria Gorge “War Zone” – “Others Decide, We Pay the Price” TripAdvisor Awards 2025 | Elafonisi Beach World's Best Beach - 9th in Crete, Sani Beach Award HOTREC | Supporting SMEs in European Hospitality Argosaronic Islands: Need for a long-term strategy and modern infrastructure Tourism | Promoting Crete in the Arabian Gulf Competitions with a summer and autumn backdrop: Attica runs at the pace of sports What the Israeli Ambassador discussed at the Chania Chamber Aegean and Emirates expand their partnership North Macedonia: Increase in foreign tourists in 2024 Crete also invests in cycling tourism - 13th Pediadas Tour ATM'25 - Tourism | The fight against food waste at the forefront of sustainable development PM at 1st Greece-Saudi Arabia High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council on Monday What to expect at this year’s ITB Berlin Exhibition from March 4-6 12th BAJAGREECE: Motorsports Competition in Western Macedonia Greece's Permanent Delegation to UNESCO organizing concert on January 16 Athens to host the European Film Awards in 2027 Alonissos tops the list of Greek destinations without mass tourism Delta | Athens is in 5th place in American searches for 2025 German tourism: Advance bookings are the new "last-minute" Athens Municipality Festival 2025 | The city's biggest celebration, with more than 200 events ELSTAT: Hospitality enterprises' turnover grows 28.6% in Greece during Q1 Promotion of Preveza on the metro and tram in Athens that create an ideal setting for freeing your adventurous side Use the city of Drama or one of the nearby villages and from there set of to exploring this unique environment by car All you need to bring is your sense of adventure and the people of Drama will be happy to show you the rest is one of the forts built by Ioannis Metaxas (Prime Minister 1936-1941) to protect the territorial integrity of Greece (known as the Metaxas Line) Lisse was constructed on the site of a World War I fort located near the village Ochyro It consists of ten underground complexes and has a network of underground tunnels that exceed 1,700m Its facilities include officers’ and privates’ quarters and mess rooms linking up with each other via narrow corridors that lead to machine gun and observation posts Here you’ll explore the atmospheric passages and come across exhibits that include revolvers Visits are by appointment only – Kato Nevrokopi (+30) 25233 50112 The Aggitis Cave is another top attraction in the region of Drama Located about 25km northwest of the city on the foothills of Mount Marmaro which is part of the Rhodope mountain range a natural one which is also the exit point of the underground river and one created later when the cave opened to visitors The first thing you see upon entering the cave is a large “spiky” dome and two passageways that pass over the river Aggitis The huge stalagmites that are often submerged in the water together with the sound of the flowing river create a mysterious Here there are some particularly impressive stalactites as well as bats nesting in the folds of the rocks so don’t be shocked to have them flapping overhead There’s another chamber that was known well before the main chamber which is now also open to visitors where there is a 19th century water wheel (8m diameter) that was used to pump water through a pipe out of the cave Archaeological excavations were carried out in tandem with the caves’ restoration in 1992 and brought to light mammal bones and Palaeolithic stone tools dating back between 34,000 to 27,900 years ago As the Aggitis river exits the cave it ebbs through a verdurous valley of towering plane trees For food head to the tavernas on the river’s banks amongst the trees It was declared a Nature Monument as early as 1980 and is considered the wildest forest in the country The virgin part originally consisted of 550 hectares since 2009 it has been extended to 1,715 hectares It is one of the few unspoiled forest ecosystems in Europe and the only one not affected by the glaciers of the Tertiary period It has remained unaffected by human activity as it is far away from villages and because its inhospitable terrain with steep slopes is unsuitable for livestock grazing some mighty fir trees reach 60 meters in height and some enduring beech trees up to 45 metres tall are over 450 years old Cascading waterfalls thunder over scarred rock faces in this untamed landscape you’ll walk through perhaps the most beautiful mixed forest in the country; black pines The forest is home to equally notable fauna common buzzards and woodpeckers to tortoises while in the abundant waters of the forest take a detour to the waterfall of Agia Varvara just a short hike away and you can also make a stop at Thermia full of makeshift shacks in the dense greenery enclosing small thermal “pools” that of Elatia on the Central Rhodope Mountains is made up of European spruce firs usually only found in Scandinavian countries This is the only area in Greece where this species can be found These spruces can reach a height of up to 60 meters and many of them are up to 300 years old Companions of these magnificent trees are black pines The countryside of Drama also lends itself wonderfully to hiking with a plethora of trails of varying distances The imposing mountain Falakro has some trails which begin from either the ski centre or the village of Pyrgi from where you can reach the peak of Profitis Ilias (2.232m) you can climb up to the peak of Agios Pavlos at (1.769m) Other routes like those on mount Menikio wind through a stunning chestnut forest Many trails start at the village Paranesti making it a great place to stay for avid hikers One highly recommended route starts from the Forest of Frakto worksite and leads to the Tzaki ravine waterfall full of spruces are favoured by many hikers while rambling down the Aggitis Gorge near the Alistrati Cave is rewarding From April through to October people can glide off the 500m high summit (there is a cafe here for those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground) Korilovo is a great place to have some lessons or make a few ‘glides’ if you’re rusty The pros head to the paragliding track on Falakro There are two rivers in Drama where you can go rafting For rafting on the river Nestos head to the village of Paranesti from where you start the descent without many difficult sections and you’ll slosh and paddle past planes you can do the ‘flying fox’ (horizontal ziplining) that will have you whizzing headlong over the river Those after a more adrenalin pumping experience chose the descent on the river Aggitis which has some quite demanding segments The watery journey begins at the village of Simvoli next to the wild and craggy gorge of Aggitis The resort is located at an altitude of 1,720m on Mount Falakro (2,232m) and has plenty of good quality snow for 4-5 months a year as well as some lovely long-distance off-piste skiing A chalet and a shelter offer accommodation for those who wish to stay overnight A small village in Drama, Greece with great paths Kerkini: Serene Serres lake, home to Greece’s largest water buffalo population The Old Town of Kavala, Greece -Colours, stone and history the industrial heart of Agia Varvara in Paphos District is poised to witness the commencement of construction for Cyprus's inaugural crematorium within the first half of 2024 the driving force behind this private initiative The Environment Department has granted approval for the crematorium emphasizing strict terms and conditions to safeguard the environment the facility is set to occupy 11,000 square meters with an estimated project cost of €2.2 million constructed with standard reinforced concrete and brick will feature a ground floor housing the main entrance The basement will accommodate crucial support spaces including an incinerator and storage areas with minor delays attributed to intricate details he highlighted the need for a prior solemn declaration on a special form and subsequent approval from the Interior Ministry Christodoulides revealed that the cremation preference stands at 70-80% with plans to explore changes in the law for cases where no prior application exists The cost of cremation in Cyprus is estimated to range between 800-900 euros Christodoulides mentioned the forthcoming creation of an informative website dedicated to the cremation process This transformative project marks a significant milestone in Cyprus's approach to end-of-life rituals [With information sourced from Alpha News] If your mouth starts to water at the mention of chestnuts and your heart beats a bit faster just at the thought of Greek feasts with tsipouro and dancing then October in the Greek domain is a month not to be missed.  Chestnut is one of the main protagonists of autumn growing all over Greece all the way down to the Cretan mountains in the south With the chestnut harvest come chestnut festivals celebrated in many small towns and villages Meet the locals in feasts across the land and savor this delicious nut accompanied by tsipouro or wine which takes place in this charming village and should not be missed The smell of the grilled chestnuts (over charcoal) is a key ingredient for autumn The folkloric festival begins shortly after wine and tsipouro prepared to warm every palate The event is held in the chestnut forest of Paleochori on the last Sunday of October or the first Sunday of November.  In the scenic mountain villages of Nafpaktia the roasting of chestnuts begins accompanied by music denoting the inauguration of the Chestnut Festival.  Visitors are welcome to watch the traditional folk feast of the region savor the abundant roasted and boiled chestnuts and well protected by the slopes on the eastern mountainside of Mt Parnonas you will experience a multi-sensory event which comprises of traditional music A 3-day festival is also held in the nearby Arna featuring artistic events and a charming flea market next to the roasted or boiled chestnuts and the locally made tsipouro Another chestnut festival takes place in Ampeliona village The neighboring Trani Vrysi is an imposing stone fountain in the village square you can take a walk in the neighboring chestnut tree forest Festival of the patron saint of wines Agios Averkios Patron of wine is celebrated in most villages in Santorini the wine makers would go to the canaves to bless and taste the new wines forget the woes and sufferings to resume the work in the vineyard the winding until the new harvest comes again.  Agia Varvara is a small cabbage town in the prefecture of Heraklion with appr 2.000 inhabitants whose main occupation is olive-growing and viticulture The cabbage produced in this area has a special reputation and is praised every October with the respective festival and a Cretan feast the town of Agia Varvara is the “navel of Crete” and the longest village on the island.  October is the month of “raki” or “tsipouro” production the community of Messimeri in Edessa organizes the well-known “Festival Tsipouro” Visitors and locals renew their annual rendezvous every October to eat sing and dance in a feast celebrating the traditional distillation of tsipouro Theodoraki is a seemingly ordinary little village nestled at the foot of Μt Paiko at an altitude of 420 m Most of its 520 permanent residents are occupied with stock farming and agriculture (vines is the variety of different types of cheese produced here and their high quality The 2-day-cheese festival held annually in October celebrates this incredible produce with traditional dishes and folklore exhibitions wrapping up the event.  Lush village in Greece’s Arcadia region ideal for escape to nature Nafplio, Greece: The app changing the travel experience Veria, Greece: an autumn destination with an intense spiritual atmosphere Grivel’s remarkable journey is brought to the screen in “Sculpted Souls,” a documentary by acclaimed Greek filmmaker Stavros Psillakis which premiered at the 27th Thessaloniki International Film Festival For decades, Grivel treated patients, many of whom had come from Spinalonga, the infamous leper colony in Crete. Over the years teaching him everything about the disease and deepening his ties with the island the filmmaker set out to retrace his journey capturing his work in hospitals and his deep connection with Crete and resilience—a tribute to a man who chose compassion over comfort The documentary’s emotional premiere took place at the packed Olympion Cinema in Thessaloniki with both Psillakis and Grivel himself in attendance captivated the audience with his heartfelt speech—delivered in fluent Greek—earning a standing ovation Two years after receiving the Honorary Golden Alexander once again winning over audiences with a film that reaffirms what art is truly about—the human experience Why would a Swiss dentist leave behind a comfortable life to work under such extreme conditions treating leprosy patients without even wearing a mask—at a time when protective measures barely existed “Because he encountered the world of ‘difference,’” Psillakis explains “He could have stayed in Switzerland working with these patients was a lesson in courage—because they faced death every day.” the documentary exudes optimism and humanity Grivel shares how his friendship with patients like Manolis Foundoulakis and Epameinondas Remoundakis Grivel’s journals became the foundation for his book chronicling his work with Spinalonga’s survivors—most of whom were later relocated to Agia Varvara hospital in Athens These outcasts of society taught him about stigma turning his medical service into a lifelong mission known as “Barba-Manolis,” is at the heart of the film but also the strength and wisdom he gained through suffering Psillakis intertwines history with humanity Grivel embraced Greece in every way—learning the language even the philosophy that shaped its identity but its light is inexhaustible,” he writes in his book It’s no surprise that the local community welcomed him as one of their own Grivel’s humanitarian work was recognized by the Academy of Athens “Giving enriches the giver,” he said in his acceptance speech a precious gift that does not belong to us treating the teeth of leprosy patients for free was never an act of charity—it was an act of mutual respect “Some experiences cannot be measured in money “Sculpted Souls” is a film about transformation—both of the patients and of Grivel himself Awarded the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Greek Feature Documentary the film resonated deeply with audiences—especially young viewers often the toughest and most honest critics As Psillakis puts it:“This film follows the sculpting of a man’s soul—shaped by his journey And that is the true legacy of a dentist who chose compassion over comfort—and found his own Ithaca along the way Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr mother of Roman Emperor Constantine the Great will be displayed for the first time in Greece the relics will be exhibited for pilgrimage in the Church of Agia Varvara (St Barbara) in Egaleo suburb of western Athens/Piraeus until June 15th 2017 Pilgrimage will be possible from the morning until 11 p.m An official Greek entourage took part in the procession of the transportation of the relics from the St while hundreds of tourists had the chance to see the relics for the first time general director of the Apostolic Ministry Agathangelos told Proto Thema that the coming of the Holy relics to Athens was “resistance to decay”      Ieronymos will perform a liturgy on the feast of St