An 18-year-old man was seriously injured late Thursday night after being struck by a passing car while attempting to cross the service road outside the Argyroupoli metro station in southern Athens The vehicle was driven by a 19-year-old man The victim was initially transported by ambulance to Asklipieio Hospital in Voula he was later transferred to Gennimatas General Hospital for further treatment The 19-year-old driver remained at the scene and is currently being questioned by police Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox An arson attack by four armed individuals took place early Sunday morning at a gas station in Argyroupoli prompting the evacuation of the apartments above four unidentified individuals arrived at the gas station on two motorcycles The station was located on the ground floor of a three-story building After holding the station employee at gunpoint one of the attackers poured a canister of flammable liquid inside and set it on fire while the employee alerted the fire department Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze shortly after Residents of the apartments above were safely evacuated Police are actively investigating the incident including the possibility of extortion against the station owner The Patriarch was accompanied by the Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and Bishop Ambrose of Argyroupoli with whom he visited the ruined Metropolitan Church of St which is being restored by decision of the local authorities Photos: Nikos Papachristou / Ecumenical Patriarchate 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 On Thursday, April 5th Travel Massive Crete and the Cultural Association of Argyroupoli, in collaboration with the Parish of Argyroupoli, the Cretan Gastronomy Center, and the Municipality of Rethymno will host a unique summit "Traditions: Powerful Tools for Rural Tourism Development." Designed to encourage cultural tourism development for the rural areas of Crete the event is scheduled to coincide with the Orthodox Good Friday procession in the historic village The initiative serves to better frame an overall move in Greece for developing alternative tourism value while at the same time providing a template for growing the local Crete economy The news comes at a timely juncture when cultural tourism is recognized worldwide as the fastest growing market segment Greece seems to be lagging behind the trend: according to a recent study by the Athens-based Center of Planning and Economic Research (KEPE) the number of visitors to Greek cultural sites and museums at key tourism attractions is way below the figures for other countries the situation for rural tourist destinations and routes lags even farther behind competing destinations Greece has been one of the world's most popular tourist destinations since human beings first began traveling for pleasure more and more people visit Athens and other mainland wonders not to mention the thousands of Greek island paradises some experts think that the Greek tourism market is saturated Greece has a wealth of experiences to offer experiences that are there for discovery or rediscovery and nowhere is this more prevalent than on the island of Crete This brings us to the timely meetup of some key stakeholders on Crete A Travel Massive Crete chapter mini-summit will take place at the site of ancient Lappa (Argyroupoli) - the perfect opportunity for revising centuries of heritage and for examining the best ways to grow this type of travel opportunity To get a window seat into what this trend means for villages like Argyroupoli I asked one of the organizers of these events who's the Founder and Director of Crete Urban Adventures why promoting rural cultural tourism on Crete is essential "The importance of such developments for the region and individual communities/attractions applies to both the destination and the traveler a local rural area will see the boosting of travel-oriented businesses and businesses whose focus is not directly related to tourism (eg especially those arriving from faster-paced urban lifestyles will be able to appreciate a healthier way of living better and they will discover authentic local experiences." stakeholders like the local Cultural Association of Argyroupoli alongside hospitality businesses like Arcus Suites provide the momentum for optimized and sustainable tourism growth the Municipality of Rethymno is the kind of engagement every region and community on Crete should emulate I talked briefly with a stakeholder from Thronos which is another magical rural destination that would benefit from a more cohesive effort - Maria Papoutsaki the Operations Director at Aravanes Traditional Tavern & Rooms this tiny village appropriately named for its position overlooking the Amari valley does remind one of mighty Zeus commanding his childhood playground Aravanes being a commercial enterprise tied inextricably with the site and the local traditions I asked Maria about elements of culture that are most attractive to visitors she related a tradition that permeates Eastern Europe: celebrating the dearly departed on a special day the anniversary of Maria's mother passing came up the other day she appropriately related the story of making "koliva" - which is boiled wheat mixed with nuts and sugar - is said to be food that is good for the souls of the dead I asked Maria about how villages like Thronos can play a role in preserving and sharing Cretan culture "I think it is vital for the people who grew up and who still live in these rural areas to take the initiative in promoting and preserving these traditions in their purest form It is also imperative that vested parties collaborate in creating a moral path for promoting small village customs we can continue to provide a genuine local experience while ensuring our local heritage is preserved." This "koliva" tradition and many similar traditions on Crete create the unique tapestry of alternative touristic value outside beach and resort travel This is where ongoing concerns like the Cretan Gastronomy Center in Argyroupoli present a "best case" for culinary promotion as one facet of culture A paper (PDF) from 2015 entitled; "Gastronomy as a Form Of Cultural Tourism," expresses perfectly the catalytic nature of the trend we are seeing develop According to the experts from the Technological Education Institute of Piraeus and the Ministry of Tourism today's experienced travelers are seeking quality and a more in-depth knowledge of the culture and lifestyle of the inhabitants of a place their work suggests that gastronomy and the ritual nature of food play a vital role in attracting tourists to any cultural destination the study indicates the need to market individual regions as unique gastronomic destinations This notion that led me to consult a local expert in food traditions in another part of the Rethymno Prefecture The unique nature of "place" has a pivotal role for Greece and Crete As a "for instance" - a custom that began several years ago when Argyroupoli did not have electricity and public lighting accentuates an already rich cultural hub The locals honor the death of Jesus and enlighten the path followed by the shepherd's litany with "candles" (torches of reeds & starvils) which they light and carry on their shoulders interlaced over the top of this village's ages-old traditions teaches us a valuable lesson if we pay attention is a place of legend and lore like so many Cretan villages But even myths from antiquity may die sooner or later unless preserved organically and commercially While steadfast preservation of cultural events should be carried out it's necessary for stakeholders to exhibit some flexibility if younger generations are to adapt tradition This brings me to a last point of sustainability to which the Crete Travel Massive and these other organizers have invited noted researcher Dr Stavros Hatzimarinakis of the University of Patras to "Traditions: Powerful Tools for Rural Tourism Development." to present the discussion "Linking Tourism Consumption to Domestic Products." Dr Hatzimarinakis is a leading expert in best practices for sustainable tourism as it applies to specific touristic ecosystems his work asks the all-important question; "What is the correct balance of visitors and the consumption at the end of the touristic product chain?" Also speaking on the sustainability aspect at this Argyroupoli are Anastasia Chatziioannou Project Manager at EyeWide Digital Marketing Agency; Anula Galewska Business Manager at Urban Adventures and a Co-Founder of Travindy; and Mihaela Lica Butler award-winning travel journalist and a reporter for HospitalityNet Traditions and culture as a touristic product sustainability and viability in a sensitive natural ecosystem and flexibility to meet the demands of the new age of travel these and other issues will be covered in the upcoming conference this is only a good start toward optimizing the positive potential of the island of Crete where my family and I now live permanently Our reasoning for being a part of this mini-summit and other initiatives is not merely to help create and market an economic win for businesses on Crete For short-term economic wins cannot help Crete or Greece's navigate the current financial tempest and traditions a "complete" solution is needed And any total solution must include the stakeholders in the countryside at the heart of what Crete was and is in the first place Phil ButlerSenior Partner Pamil Visions PR The clergy and people of Munich welcomed Bishop Ambrose of Argyroupolis the new Assistant Bishop of the Metropolis of Germany during his first pastoral visit to Bavaria The Bishop presided over the Vespers service on the forefeast of the historic Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior in Munich (Salvatorkirche) he presided over the Divine Liturgy by ordaining a reader accompanied by Archimandrite Peter Klitsch Hierarchical Vicar of Bavaria and Head of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior Head of the Church of All Saints in Munich Head of the Church of Saint Stefanos in Dachau Presbyter Alexandros Katerinopoulos and Deacon Nikolaos Tzortzi he presided over the Divine Liturgy in the Church of All Saints in Munich and Archimandrite George Siomos handed over the keys of his new office A priests’ meeting followed with the clergy of Munich he visited the professor and Archon Ypomimniskon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate he went to the Roman Catholic Niederaltaich Abbey as a representative of Metropolitan Augustine of Germany to attend the ceremony of awarding the 2021 Abt-Emmanuel-Heufelder Prize to Dr Metropolitan of Germany of the Patriarchate of Romania stated that a group of volunteers would transfer the Holy Fire to the city on Saturday “The cohesion of our society is being tested as never before with the common denominator being the Resurrection of Jesus Christ with His Resurrection won a victory over the forces of darkness,” the mayor said He added that this action aimed to strengthen our struggle by staying at home in order to end the pandemic spiral “in order to avoid mass gathering outside the churches the way in which the Holy Fire will reach every home in our city will be announced.” In his communication with ethnos.gr Konstantatos clarified that the plan was ready and if the Holy Fire reached the municipal authority The mayor of Elliniko–Argyroupoli told ethnos.gr that an agreement was reached with the Metropolitans of Nea Smyrni and of Glyfada while the local priests greeted the project with enthusiasm which had already been greeted with enthusiasm by the citizens The turbulent five-year period of successive interim administrations and legal disputes came to an end in the Hellenic American Union (HAU) with the election on Thursday of a new administration through a regular election process This is the governing board to lead the Union to celebrate the 70th anniversary of its founding in 2027 until recently vice president of the Hellenic American Union The new board of directors was formed on the same day and will assume the management of the organization preparing the ground for its dynamic course in the coming period the Union will celebrate 70 years of existence and contribution to Greek society as it was founded in 1957 on the initiative of 25 personalities Nikos Hadjikyriakos Ghikas and Xenophon Zolotas “My election to the presidency of the Hellenic American Union is for me the highest honor and responsibility With the members of the new administration we aim for a dynamic renewal of the organization We are committed that the Hellenic American Union will continue – with transparency – to be a pillar of development in education training and culture for future generations With respect for the past and a vision for tomorrow we plan to reposition it in the modern era,” Tzonis said HAU is distinguished for its activity in the field of language certification lifelong learning and professional training while at the same time it has demonstrated significant contributions in the field of culture the church is one of the few that remain intact to this day in the once historic Greek town when about 3,500 Pontians lived at the beginning of the 20th century in Imera and the surrounding villages Argyroupoli Governor Kamuran Taşbilek stressed that the church will soon be accessible to the public as the roof and some interior columns were repaired and missing architectural elements were added which was already being sought by Greeks looking for the traces of their ancestors whom he described as “immigrants” from Imera Hamdi Nas hoped that the church would be fully restored so that the Greek Orthodox monastery would become an important tourist attraction A tender will be launched by January for the design and construction of a path for pedestrians and cyclists on the southern coast of the Greek capital from the district of Kallithea to Vouliagmeni which will be built using resources from the Recovery and Resilience Facility will be located parallel to Poseidonos Avenue and based on a study by the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (TAIPED) named “Urban Walk,” concerns the section of the coastline of the Athenian Riviera starting from Kallithea and ending at the town hall of Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni after crossing four municipalities (Palaio Faliro The length of the path for pedestrians and cyclists is 22 kilometers of which 13.5 kilometers will be constructed by this project The contracting party for the project is the Regional Authority of Attica while the project is being implemented by TAIPED Α new tourist attraction was created at the site of the former airport at Elliniko where an old Boeing B727/284 Mount Olympus aircraft has been given a new lease of life as an exhibit once part of the fleet of the Olympic Airways commercial airline founded by shipping tycoon Aristotelis Onassis was one of six bought by Onassis at the end of the 1960s will showcase our country’s air travel heritage and be a landmark for the municipality Because it is not just an exhibit but a living monument of the history of Greek air navigation,” Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Staikouras said at the opening on Thursday The minister noted the historical importance of the airline and air travel for the growth of the Greek economy and its tourism industry noting that it was one of the first sectors to attract foreign investment after WWII Staikouras said the initiative will enhance the local tourism product and help the growth of the local economy while also preserving Greece’s cultural heritage The exhibit is organized by Zela Aviation and the municipality of Elliniko-Argyroupoli The Cultural Association of Argyroupoli in Rethymno the Municipality of Rethymno and Travel Massive – Chapter Crete invite the public to participate in a brainstorming event on Thursday titled “Traditions as a Tool for Urban Economic Development.” Guests are invited to join in the discussion while they will also have the chance to sample regional products and learn about the area’s traditions and customs there will be a display of traditional Easter customs This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The average asking price of houses in the districts of Athens with the best evaluation ranges from 2,759 to 5,645 euros per square meter based on a series of criteria that affect accommodation According to a nationwide survey by Spitogatos Insights access to shopping and entertainment options as well as pedestrian and pet friendliness the best areas of Athens to live in are the following: Kato Glyfada the areas of Thessaloniki with the highest evaluations based on all the research criteria are Nea Paralia the historical center of Thessaloniki and Botsari the 10 areas with the highest user ratings are the center of Komotini The sense of security is an important criterion for choosing an area to buy or rent a home the areas of Athens that offer the greatest sense of safety are the center of Pangrati in Thessaloniki the areas with the highest ratings in relation to the feeling of safety are the following: Martiou users looking for housing report that they rate the following areas as safe: The center of Katerini the center of Alexandroupoli and Corfu Town opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox.