Chios is a picturesque Greek island in the Aegean Sea attractive beaches and rich Byzantine heritage The local authorities have taken a decisive step towards increased water sustainability To help drastically reduce non-billable water leakage and ensure both the supply and quality in their potable water distribution network The Chios Municipal Water and Wastewater Company of the Island awarded ABB a contract to deliver an advanced telemetry system The comprehensive agreement includes designing supplying and installing the complete water management system from advanced leak detection technology to high-efficiency pumps ABB will deliver an integrated solution tailored to the island's specific needs The contract also includes the development of a containerized power station that transforms and distributes electricity to power the entire water management infrastructure The telemetry system ABB will provide allows integrated remote-control of the water distribution system based upon ABB’s electromagnetic flowmeters and water analysis systems The upgraded network will be overseen by the ABB Ability™ System 800xA® SCADA that will monitor 99 local control stations across the island “We are proud to collaborate with The Chios Municipal Water and Wastewater Company to support the transformation of their infrastructure into a more resilient system with minimal water loss delivering maximum value through cost-effective solutions,” said Michalis Kanellopoulos Sales Manager at ABB Energy Industries in Greece “ABB’s products and solutions will contribute to accurately track and measure the water supply ensuring an optimized network and more sustainable water management for years to come” General Manager at The Chios Municipal Water and Wastewater Company highlights the project’s significant benefits to the community “This project will help us reduce the risk of water shortages in our local community by increasing water production reliability and decreasing leaks It will also minimize threats posed by flooding we anticipate significant cost and energy savings through the implementation of ABB's automation and digitalization technologies This allows us to simultaneously ensure the highest water quality standards while reducing our energy footprint These improvements represent a landmark advancement in more sustainable water management for Chios preserving our precious resources while preparing our island for future challenges." The contract between ABB and The Chios Municipal Water and Wastewater Company The project is currently underway and scheduled for completion in 2027 ABB's website uses cookies. By staying here you are agreeing to our use of cookies. I agree refugees and advocates say the crisis never ended — it only disappeared from public attention home to around 1,100 people and located on the Greek island of Chios stone homes surrounded by rolling orchards tractors clatter up and down the right roads and farmers tend to their crops: citrus fruits past the shopkeepers sitting in front of their aging storefronts and the kafeneios where locals gather for coffee you eventually spot the groups of refugees and migrants plodding along the roadside Continue further still and you end up at the entrance of Vial an old recycling plant that is also home to the island’s only official refugee camp hundreds of asylum seekers reside in containers having already risked crossing the Aegean Sea thanks to a Greek and European crackdown on refugee movement I drove to Chalkios and parked down the road from Vial where some 1,200 people resided in a space that was meant to accommodate no more than 1,014 It was my fourth trip to the camp since 2016 the year after the so-called refugee crisis erupted media reports and rights groups have described Vial as a symbol of “shame,” a “prison,” a place that “makes prison look like a five-star hotel,” “a vision of hell,” and “a living hell.” The number of asylum seekers in Vial peaked in 2020 when nearly 5,000 were registered at the camp thousands of people had taken up in shoddy tents in the fields around Vial but camp residents say they live in densely packed containers while they wait for Greek authorities to process their asylum claims I found Hassan and Mahmoud* not far from Vial’s entrance The two Afghan teenagers had already been in the camp for more than three months they had joined groups of people on overpacked boats that set off from Turkish shores They hadn’t known each other before they got to Vial bug-infested confines of the containers they lived in Neither had wanted to leave Afghanistan in the first place but they both felt they had no other option Neither had an easy time stomaching what they described as often undercooked or expired food rations or navigating the frequent water shortages in the camp Both had long since run out of money to purchase food or clean water elsewhere and both were battling stubborn colds as winter brought plummeting temperatures Both had already spent much of their lives as refugees — Hassan in Iran and Turkey and I asked him whether he had thoughts on turning 18 in a refugee camp He coughed lightly now and then as he spoke he had become the only male in his immediate family and he made the trip to Europe first with the hopes of helping his mother and sisters also make it out of Turkey rights groups insist remains unsafe for refugees and migrants The day Hassan left for Greece was the first time he had ever stepped on a boat and the smuggler in charge of the trip packed some 50 people aboard The journey from Turkey to Chios is only a few miles “The children and women were very scared,” Hassan said He’d spent a period working in a factory in Turkey before he set out for Europe whose group made it to Greece on the first try Mahmoud didn’t reach the island until the third attempt had stopped and pushed back the boats he was on the first two times forcing the passengers to return to Turkish territorial waters Such extrajudicial expulsions are known as pushbacks “One of my friends … they broke his hand,” Mahmoud said of Greek authorities a group of young men from the camp punted a soccer ball around on a small field behind them Guards mulled around in front of the barbed-wire fence smoking cigarettes and staring at their telephones and the officers inside peered out through the cracked windows and the last of it glinted off the tight curls of concertina wire that adorn the fence enclosing the camp I traveled to the Greek island of Lesbos for the first time and journalists crowded beneath the myrtle trees on the shore and peered out at the waves Greeks and internationals alike helped people — Syrians among others — off the dinghies they had taken across the Aegean and poverty drove nearly a million people from the Middle East Most people continued onward to Western Europe The solidarity stood out to me at the time as did the hope on the faces of many people who despite the difficult journey that still awaited them even in those early months of what became known as the refugee crisis there were signs of how ugly the future was poised to become the Republic of Macedonia sealed its border with northern Greece to many nationalities the number of people drowning or disappearing at sea was swelling by the day thousands of people found themselves bottlenecked in a temporary camp sometimes facing Macedonian border guards who shoved them back as they queued at the boundary and at times fired tear gas Making it out of Greece didn’t put an end to the misery Across the so-called Balkan route to Western Europe refugees told me of rampant exploitation at the hands of smugglers of camping out amid worsening winter weather of beatings they endured by police in countries like Bulgaria long-held dreams of finding safety were dashed in March 2016 when the European Union and Turkey struck a deal to reduce the number of boats leaving the Turkish coast Countries across the Balkan route closed their borders ordered asylum seekers who crossed the sea to remain on a handful of islands until their applications reached a certain stage in the process the EU-Turkey deal had been in place for three months and thousands of refugees were spread out across Vial and a pair of makeshift camps in the island’s eponymous main town But a history of violent oppression, enforced exile, and mass displacement doesn’t necessarily immunize a place from nativism. When I first visited the island eight years ago, at makeshift camps called Dipethe and Souda, refugees and migrants, along with the humanitarians who supported them, told me they were enduring near-daily harassment at the hands of far-right locals the attackers shot fireworks at their tents or hurled stones at them and their children and threats of even more severe violence became routine who had spent much of the previous summer using a jet ski to save refugees at sea explained that someone had passed on the ominous threat that he was “on the list,” words he took to mean that his life might be in danger Throughout the years that followed, resentment mushroomed across Greece as the boats continued setting sail from Turkey and the number of refugees and migrants stuck on the islands continued to soar. Public opinion began to turn against the asylum seekers, solidarity withered voters replaced the left-wing government with one headed by the right-wing New Democracy party on promises to escalate deportations and drastically reduce the number of refugees reaching the country mayors on some islands led mobs of locals who blocked asylum seekers from disembarking on their islands and humanitarians rattled communities from the islands to the mainland the number of asylum seekers on five Aegean islands reached 42,000 a total that was more than seven times more than the combined capacity of their camps and Vial was home to around 4,700 asylum seekers and others strung tarps to olive trees and slapped together pieces of sheet metal and scrap wood for tents in the fields around the camp many told me they were growing sicker by the day and the constant sound of coughing echoed between the tents. facilities residents could leave during the daytime but would be required to stay overnight in Rights groups warned such closed facilities would be prison-like The plan also prompted pushback on many islands some rooted in concerns over human rights violations but much of it driven by nativist fears of a permanent refugee presence in the communities and riot police clashed with locals in the streets Some far-right hardliners from around Europe even showed up in Greece to rally against refugees traveled to Lesbos around that time to cover the growing unrest on the island he was struck by the feeling that the discontent was “piling up and piling up,” that each passing day was tenser than the last “The word paranoia describes it quite well,” he told me. Trammer rushed to the Thermos Port to cover the arrival of a boat carrying asylum seekers a group of locals shouted racist slurs at the passengers and some even tried to use a stick to push the dinghy back away from the pier he had to go to the hospital and receive stitches a journey that took longer than it should have thanks to the roadblocks vigilantes had erected along the way Because authorities had effectively withdrawn from the community “I’m asking myself how much of it was calculated how much of it was part of the strategy of deterrence.” The day after I met Hassan and Mahmoud at the camp a long line of people gathered on a dirt road slicing through an olive tree orchard located a five-minute walk from Vial they joined the queue and waited for humanitarian assistance: basic food supplies and winter clothes they submitted a ticket the volunteers had already passed out for them to keep track of who received distribution a volunteer logged their information into a laptop and sent them down the line to another volunteer who would give them a couple bags of goods from the back of a van and wish them a nice day The volunteers included young people from elsewhere in Europe and camp residents themselves they tried to ensure that the queue remained tight and orderly and that no one ventured off into the olive tree fields on either side of the road Always aware of the way tensions could spike on a dime they wanted to avoid upsetting the orchards’ owners villagers drove down the path; some waved and smiled while others just stared straight ahead and gassed it past the distribution site Akhtar has continued to visit and work on Chios for the last seven years. Akhtar and her organization have received a growing number of reports of people who go missing along the way to Europe More and more single women and unaccompanied children turned up on the island as have more people who endured pushbacks or are in need of psychological support Many of those who showed up at the aid group’s distribution have serious injuries or illnesses — scabies people were more fearful of speaking out about the violence and hardships they faced on the borders “I just don’t know how people are surviving,” she told me. Akhtar has kept the project alive despite funding challenges and risks to her own personal safety. In fact, although the police had not charged her with any crimes, they did name her in a criminal investigation opened some three years ago. To her knowledge, that probe — part of a broader crackdown on humanitarians working with refugees and migrants — remains open Such animosity toward humanitarian groups has taken a toll I wonder if there’s something going on with me.” Investigation or not, Akhtar intended to continue her work so long as war and conflict are displacing people to European shores and so long as that displacement continues to put people at risk of injury or death The less visible the plight of refugees becomes the more important humanitarian support is “It’s really our duty to help others,” she said anti-immigrant parties also gained enough votes to make it into the Hellenic Parliament The Greek Ministry of Migration did not respond to a request for comment, but such claims ring hollow to critics and watchdogs. On land and at sea, Greek authorities have ramped up border patrols, made use of drones and other surveillance technology, and relied on brute force. In November 2023, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) released a report that detailed widespread pushbacks and violence on Greece’s borders refugees and migrants told the humanitarian agency that Greek authorities had beaten and punched them before expelling them from Greek territory came intimidation: border guards shot their firearms into the air confiscated or destroyed people’s personal belongings and subjected many to invasive strip searches The Greek government has often denied that it carries out pushbacks at all It has also increasingly charged people with smuggling though rights groups often say the authorities wantonly charge asylum seekers who take the wheel of a boat whenever the smuggler flees. Although arrivals have never returned to the historic heights of 2015 Greece’s deterrence strategy might never completely succeed in discouraging people from crossing the Aegean The number of people reaching the country has consistently risen over the last three years more than 48,000 refugees and migrants arrived in Greece This year has already topped 2023: as of Dec there were more than 58,226 new arrivals to the country During a recent parliamentary debate, Migration Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos said that war are “forcing many to abandon their homes simply to survive” and have fueled “a significant increase in migration and refugee flows since late 2023.” watchdogs and critics warn that increased border patrols and growing risks of the Aegean crossing have made refugees and migrants more dependent on smuggling networks and pushed them to take more dangerous routes to the continent Asylum seekers now land on harder-to-reach islands more often than they once did and shootouts are making headlines with alarming frequency a smuggler on a speedboat carrying refugees and migrants allegedly shot at a Greek coast guard vessel near Chios before turning back and escaping to Turkish waters the Greek coast guard opened fire during a boat chase near the island of Symi washed ashore on an uninhabited islet near the island of Agathonisi. a European Commission spokesperson said that the bloc’s “position has always been clear: saving lives at sea is a moral duty as well as a legal obligation” for EU member countries as well as a requirement “under international law.” The spokesperson said the European Commission “intends to continue engaging with [Turkey] on all relevant matters in cooperation on migration namely border management and fight against migrant smuggling.” the Commission will enhance the cooperation with partner countries through a new approach,” the spokesperson added “which embeds migration in international partnerships in order to prevent irregular departures head of the country’s left-wing MeRA25 party and a former parliamentarian who also briefly served as finance minister during the Syriza-led government doubted that the prime minister cares as much about reducing the number of arrivals as he does about maintaining a coalition between the center-right and the hardline far right “To keep the xenophobes and the fascists and racists happy among the population,” he argued Mitsotakis has effectively adopted the view “that unless people die in the Aegean the flows won’t stop.” The way Varoufakis saw it the government “doesn’t care so much about shutting the border but it’s prepared to let the coast guard kill people to maintain this tacit agreement between the radical center and the neo-fascists.” On a pale morning during my recent visit to Chios I drove out to a local cemetery that sits on a mountain perch overlooking the Aegean the cemetery offers a clear view of the coastline in Çeşme Row after row of white gravestones with Greek names were neatly kept and freshly cleaned Bouquets of flowers were propped up against the headstones I found the part of the cemetery reserved for refugees and migrants around 40 plots dotted the weed-ridden patch of land The wind had strewn garbage here and there and cigarette butts pocked the grave plots Volunteers had acquired proper headstones for some of the graves it appeared as if someone had used a stick to write the deceased’s name and date of death on the concrete while it was still drying Another had no headstone at all — it consisted only of stones arranged on the earth in a rectangle roughly the length and width of a human body One was the final resting place for a two-month-old and yet another had only one date written on it: buried there was a stillborn baby I went back to the distribution site near the refugee camp and knife-like gusts of wind cut across the fields I met a 26-year-old Kurdish volunteer as he walked up and down the line chatting with camp residents waiting for aid and smiled often as he glided back and forth between Arabic but growing up in Syria’s Rojava region and spending a decade as a refugee in Turkey had left a lasting mark He said he hadn’t yet shaken the fear of speaking out publicly and his response was simple: the Turkish military was “bombing our cities.” In Turkey but it eventually became impossible to renew those documents “They treat us very badly,” he said of the Turkish government or if we want to [fly] our flag … they can take you to jail.” he had felt the urgency of the only two options in front of him: to either return to Syria where 13 years of civil war had ravaged the country he joined nearly 20 people on a Greece-bound speedboat “They were absolutely scared,” he said of his fellow passengers their boat reached Greek shores on the first try he heard “terrible” stories of other asylum seekers who “tried many times” to reach Greece but the coast guard “pushed them back and beat them.” he faced the same deteriorating living conditions everyone else did in Vial camp authorities expelled certain residents before they obtained their asylum decisions and because there was a shortage of translators doctors at times screamed at patients who couldn’t communicate in either English or Greek “They just get furious with the people without any reason,” he said and the camp staff rarely cleaned the facilities and they don’t clean it at all,” he went on all the time it’s — sorry to say it — full of shit.” The food which he felt like was fit “for animals,” sometimes came undercooked fights often broke out between people of different nationalities: Palestinians and Somalis anxiety over the limited resources inevitably piled up atop the anger and frustration that come with life in a camp hoping to reunite with family elsewhere in Europe tending to the queue and collecting tickets but the sun was now cutting through the clouds people were stepping out of their containers hanging laundry on the outside window sills and the chain-link fence We stood on a rocky perch overlooking the soccer field He told me that authorities had approved Mahmoud’s asylum request and his friend left for the Greek mainland earlier that morning he hadn’t even done his asylum interview yet and had no idea when he might be able to leave Chios That morning, a boat had sunk near the island of Samos, killing eight people; six of them were children. In the coming days, another vessel would capsize near Samos — two women and two children died — and later that week, the Greek coast guard would have to rescue nearly 80 people in two separate incidents near Gavdos He was tired and wanted to go back inside the camp to phone his family I asked him whether the dangerous crossing and the dismal conditions in the camp had left him with any regrets about coming to Europe “Everyone wants to stay in their own country with their own language First top photo: A humanitarian volunteer on the shore of Lesbos island as a refugee boat approaches in late 2015 Second top photo: A corner of a local cemetery on the island of Chios is reserved for refugees and migrants Patrick Strickland is the Managing Editor of Inkstick Media His reportage has appeared in the New York Review of Books Inkstick is changing the face of foreign policy If our content is something that you’ve come to rely on please make a tax-deductible donation today Even $5 or $10 a month makes a huge difference we can tell the stories that need to be told Inkstick Media is a registered 501(c)(3). 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We are grateful to the foundations and people who make our work possible: Carnegie Corporation of New York, Colombe Peace Foundation, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, MacArthur Foundation, N Square, Ploughshares Fund, Jubitz Family Foundation, Prospect Hill Foundation, and supporters like you You can read the Terms & Conditions of this site here By continuing to use this site you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions This website uses cookies to enhance your experience This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences Metrics details has Europe’s second highest population growth Halloumi cheese’s Protected Designation of Origin status boosted goat and sheep milk demand Optimizing primary sector production is key to balancing food production and environmental sustainability The present study aims to explore the genetic diversity and population structure of Cyprus Chios sheep as well as the impact of existing breeding nuclei on the breed’s gene pool Two breeding nuclei aiming to preserve genetic diversity and boost local milk production and four private farms were sampled Genome-wide data using Illumina 50 K arrays were generated analyzing over 1000 animals from six farms At least three distinct genetic groups were identified two of which are represented by the nuclei’s distinct genetic profiles and a third was found in private farms Calculated metrics indicate a negative correlation of gene flow with geographic distance in case of the Eastern nucleus though limited inbreeding (mean FROH=0.046) Estimated effective population size reveals a stabilizing trend to a relatively high number (Ne ~ 200) which indicates relatively high diversity that allows further genetic improvement Revealed genomic diversity highlights the necessity of such exploration before effectively implementing genomic evaluation programs The constant presence of sheep on the island over the last 10 millennia highlights the importance of the species to the local communities for dairy and meat products a fact that is mainly attributed to the registration of the locally produced Halloumi cheese as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) product The constant local human population growth along with the increasing reputation of halloumi cheese abroad and subsequent increasing milk demands have led to repetitive imports of a few thousand individuals belonging to exotic commercial genetically improved sheep breeds aiming to boost the local population’s productivity Considering all the aforementioned advantages the Chios Sheep is rendered as the most appropriate breed for semi-intensive sheep production systems in Cyprus The Cyprus government maintains two experimental Cyprus Chios breeding nuclei in the central and western parts of the island (Athalassa and Acheleia areas These farms were established ~ 60 years ago and currently enumerate ~ 400 individuals each beyond conserving the genetic diversity of the breed on the island is also the implementation of a genetic improvement program aiming to increase total milk yield preserving at the same time the high nutritional value of the produced milk (fat and protein content) These nuclei successively faced challenges in the past with Scrapie disease prevention being the most critical one actively selecting resistant individuals and transferring at the same time knowledge and good practices to local farmers one of the most important roles of these nuclei is the enrichment of the local population of the Cyprus Chios sheep breed with improved male and female animals carrying desired alleles correlated with milk quality and quantity traits It is worth noticing that there has been no introduction of new individuals in either nucleus since their foundation apart from very scarce and limited transportation of individuals from the eastern to the western nucleus during the national scrapie disease crisis Since the breeding nuclei were established using founder individuals based on the typical phenotypic characteristics of the breed and maintain a small number of breeding animals we hypothesize that they are not genetically identical to each other and probably do not adequately represent the entire genetic diversity of the local breed Taking into account the long isolation of both breeding nuclei and the unidirectional gene flow from nuclei to private farms we assume that the present patterns of genetic diversity could also be influenced by secondary diversification after their foundation including random genetic drift and inbreeding Regarding the four private farms included in this study these are members of the Cyprus Chios sheep breed society and therefore maintain purebred Cyprus Chios sheep were established over 30 years ago independently from the breeding nuclei The OUF farm was set up about 15 years ago mainly with male genetic stock from the ENU nucleus and therefore could be characterized as a pseudo-nucleus All four private farms periodically bought genetically improved Cyprus Chios lambs We found no evidence of animals from other farms being introduced although these farms do exchange animals with breeder society members All adult breeding males and selected productive only one farm (TAN) follows a genetic improvement program aiming to increase milk yield while keeping inbreeding to a minimum Given the increasing demands for locally produced sheep milk and the lack of knowledge regarding the genetic diversity of the dominant sheep breed on the island the present study aims to assess the genetic variation and explore the genetic structure of the Chios sheep breed within the island the contribution of breeding nuclei to the genetic pool of private farms as well as the representation of total genetic divergence by the nuclei are investigated Generated knowledge is anticipated to inform and advance ongoing genetic improvement programs Mating strategies for genetic improvement could be redesigned based on the genetic background homogeneity and inbreeding levels of the local Chios sheep breed considering at the same time the preservation of genetic diversity Cyprus Chios sheep farms from where samples were collected DAPC scatterplot of all individuals included in this study Colored circles on the map correspond to DAPC groups Nested colored circles indicate the assignment of a limited number of individuals to the respective Phylogenetic tree inferred by implementing Maximum Likelihood Network Orientation (OrientAgraph) within TreeMix software with migration events Population structure inferred using STRUCTURE software based on genome-wide SNPs for K = 3 and K = 6 Vertical lines represent different individuals while different colors correspond to the assignment probabilities of individuals to putative population clusters according to estimated Q values (A) Distribution of ROH fragment sizes frequency for all individuals included in our analysis, (B) Mean sum of ROH per animal within each ROH length category per farm, (C) Kernel density (violin) plots showing the distribution of ROH lengths in total and each group. From left to right, with black color the FROH for all specimens included in our analysis followed by each farm’s results. Boxplot of the inbreeding coefficient (FROH) estimated from runs of homozygosity for each chromosome across all sampled individuals. Estimated effective population size (Ne) trajectory for Cyprus Chios Sheep inferred using SNeP strengthen the hypothesis that genetic drift played an important role on differentiation A third genetic group is represented by individuals from OUM genetic profile with polymorphisms that are not present in breeding nuclei The strong genetic influence of ENU on OUF is confirmed by all presented analyses and metrics. In agreement with available ENU animal transfer records the gene flow towards OUM and TAN private farms and the WNU nucleus, as migration route, is confirmed by Treemix analysis (Fig. 3) The latter is corroborated by the low FST values between ENU - OUM and TAN – OUM These findings highlight the consistent effort of OUM to increase the farm’s livestock genetic value by enriching the gene pool mainly with males from the three groups actively selecting individuals favoring a specific trait (milk yield) which is geographically located close to the ENU suggests an admixed genetic profile derived from a unidirectional transfer of animals from the eastern nucleus This is also supported both by the presented tree topology relatively low genetic distances and estimated FST which represents a subset of the ENU genetic diversity that probably further diverged after the separation from the original founding population fifteen years ago Among the farms included in the present study the genetic contribution of WNU nucleus appears to be more important for the TAN and OUM farms the relatively constant Ne values over the last generations (Ne ~ 200) indicate diversity preservation and implies that there is room for genetic improvement Findings on estimated FROHs and FSTs could be used to minimize future inbreeding by promoting an advanced mating strategy through unrelated male exchange between farms able to improve the desired phenotypic traits conserving the genetic diversity of the Cyprus Chios sheep breed to the maximum feasible degree the genetic investment in the focal breed seems to be the most parsimonious way to achieve higher local milk productivity and selection effects on commercial breeding nuclei genetic diversity for all small ruminant breeds following a nucleus breeding structure in Mediterranean countries and elsewhere Further studies are needed to explore possible correlations between population structure and milk quantity and quality traits (e.g. In the case of a positive correlation between specific traits of interest and genetic background these should be taken into account in the national genetic improvement strategy Accumulated data and knowledge are anticipated to allow researchers and farmers to focus on specific goals and traits following a more efficient and direct route leading to the genetic improvement of the country’s small ruminant population data generated within the framework of this study could be utilized for future sheep crossbred population studies Total genomic DNA was extracted from available specimens using the MagNA Pure 96 DNA and Viral NA Large Volume Kit on the MagNA Pure 96 System DNA quantity and purity were assessed with NanoDrop 2000/200c (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. DNA samples were forwarded to Weatherbys facilities in Ireland for genotyping Genome-wide SNPs were retrieved using the illumina OvineSNP50v3_XT bead chip while quality control and raw data files were generated with Illumina GenomeStudio Software v2.0.5 The optimal number of clusters was determined by applying the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) to K-means clustering solutions Finally aiming to evaluate how recent the observe inbreeding is the distribution on ROH sizes against frequency were plotted using the same package which employs the linkage disequilibrium (LD) method The average r² for markers separated by various genomic distances was calculated for this purpose The datasets generated and analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to restrictions of the funding scheme before the official end of the project in 2026 but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request Abell, J. T. et al. 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Genet. 6, 109. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2015.00109 (2015) Download references Authors would like to express their gratitude to farmers for their collaboration and assistance during blood collection as well as Agriculture Research Institute technicians for their efforts during sampling George Tsouloupas for providing us access to the HPC systems of the University of Cyprus and Cyprus Institute Alexandros Phokas for reviewing the final version of the MS the authors would like to express their gratitude to the two anonymous external reviewers whose comments substantially improved the quality of the manuscript Giannis Maimaris & Georgia Hadjipavlou Project administration; All authors contributed to writing The authors declare no competing interests All participating farm owners’ consent to sample animals for experimentation purpose All experimental protocols were approved by Agriculture Research Institute of Cyprus which is part of the Ministry of Agriculture All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations All methods are reported in accordance with ARRIVE guidelines Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81678-3 Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science Dozens of people lost their lives in the 1950s due to the company’s greed and lack of protective measures isn’t it natural for fear and distrust to exist?” Sotiris Paradisis is the principal of the Volissos middle and high school in northern Chios in the eastern Aegean memories of the antimony mines – a rare mineral crucial to the defense industry – are still vivid A cenotaph erected in 2004 by local associations and bearing the names of 24 miners who perished in Keramos stands as undeniable proof The remnants of the mining tunnels and the ruins of the company’s administrative headquarters still mark the landscape Lardato and Kamini were once thriving mining villages but they became deserted when the mines closed Keramos has barely five permanent residents,” say Konstantina Madianou and Sofia Kapiri we’ll have to leave too – to protect our health.” The concerns voiced by these Volissos residents reflect the broader sentiment on the Aegean island The planned reopening of the antimony mine has met with widespread opposition A total of 117 local associations have signed a protest letter and two appeals against the Ministry of Environment’s tender have been submitted to the Council of State the issue of Chios’ antimony reserves dates back about a decade “During Yannis Maniatis’ tenure as minister the Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME) mapped the country’s mineral wealth,” explains Alexandra Sdoukou former deputy minister of environment and energy The survey resulted in a map with 114 pins “HSGME then selected 20 locations based on economic value when the government decided to initiate projects in select areas This triggered an internal consultation process Once positive recommendations were received we could have proceeded directly with the tender but given past opposition in other regions we chose to engage with the local community first.” with Sdoukou and other government officials in attendance but also individuals intent on stirring unrest I believe two thirds of the attendees listened with an open mind,” Sdoukou estimates we didn’t immediately proceed with the tender we put it to public consultation in September including professors from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) we assumed concerns had been adequately addressed we announced the first phase of the tender – the call for expressions of interest – and suddenly Protests erupted and opposition intensified I believe we answered all the questions properly We even announced in Parliament the formation of a second independent scientific committee (excluding the Ministry of Environment and Energy) to assess environmental safety and public health risks It’s frustrating that we have such significant mineral wealth but hesitate to exploit it because of opposition Let’s at least wait for the studies from the potential contractors before rejecting the project outright.” is still deeply skeptical of the ministry’s approach “Ms Sdoukou came to Chios with government officials and a mining company representative They promised to return as many times as needed to address the community’s justified concerns They assured us that if the local population did not consent “They showed us photos of other antimony mines claiming that everything would be done underground We saw a project proposal that was vastly different in terms of scale and character from what was initially presented Despite unanimous opposition from local organizations the ministry broke its promises and is pushing forward with the process.” “Open-pit mining is the worst thing that could happen to us – and despite the initial promises this now appears to be the plan,” warns Maria Fragaki “We’ve seen this happen in other countries where antimony is mined It starts with deforestation and land clearing followed by the excavation of large conical pits that drain the entire area Then come the mining and processing stages Many argue that technology will mitigate the impact but technology primarily enhances production automation – it does not change mining methods or reduce environmental damage China and Russia handled the ‘dirty work.’ Now One of the island’s associations that took a public stance on the issue was the Chios Medical Association “This concerns us because it directly affects public health and environmental protection,” says Giannis Georgiadis “We didn’t want to speak without proper knowledge antimony mining has negative effects on both public health and the environment we stressed that these risks must be carefully considered.” Even associations that are not entirely opposed to the mining project seem to distrust the enforcement of strict regulations and government oversight “The island is in turmoil,” says Giorgos Toumpos president of the Chios Masticha Growers Association the largest production association on the island creating a cloud of uncertainty and toxicity in the community It is crucial for the municipality or regional authority to fund an independent expert – someone with credibility – to closely monitor the situation and advise us on the best course of action weighing both the benefits and the risks.” “The antimony issue has overshadowed everything else on the island,” says Georgios Kakaris our efforts to have Chios recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark have been pushed aside one based on nature and culture – both of which align with the island’s identity.” Mayor Ioannis Malafis is attempting to remain neutral amid the growing controversy “We invited the Ministry of Environment and Energy to come and address the community We set clear red lines regarding environmental protection We requested answers to all questions raised by citizens and the municipal council – some remain unanswered we stated that we do not consent to the mining project because not all concerns have been addressed the tender was announced prematurely; the conditions are not yet suitable.” Malafis avoids giving a definitive “yes” or “no” on the municipality’s stance “I believe Chios has suffered in the past from outright rejection The first phase of the tender involves a five-year research period with minimal interventions to determine whether the deposit is commercially viable For both the research phase and any potential mining operations environmental impact studies will need to be submitted while the municipality will be compensated Around 100-120 people will move to the area just for the research phase of the project These are not insignificant factors – they must be carefully considered Regardless of whether the project proceeds our priority should be to prevent division within Chios’ society and to engage in a serious fact-based dialogue rather than outright rejections.” the first-phase tender envelopes were opened revealing four companies that had expressed interest “Antimony mining on Chios is not economically viable it is being pushed forward because of its importance to the defense industry,” explains Ioannis Stevis It’s no coincidence that no organization has fully endorsed the project I believe both the government and local authorities find themselves in a difficult position No one expected the February 19 protest against the mining project They must take the fact that the community is against them seriously.” Antimony (Latin: stibium) is a silvery white metalloid found in the Earth’s crust Antimony possesses unique physical and chemical properties that make it essential for various technological applications It is primarily used in military equipment it plays a key role in the production of solar panels China’s export restrictions on antimony have driven up its price significantly it is estimated to cost between $25,000 and $30,000 per ton Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox With increased foot patrols in the center of Chios as part of the operational planning of the General Regional Police Directorate of the North Aegean for the Easter holiday period The patrols will be intensified during the opening hours of commercial stores and are part of a wider network of police actions The aim is to immediately manage incidents of minor delinquency prevent illegal actions through targeted checks as well as supervise the implementation of legislation in critical areas such as road safety These actions are expected to be extended to all the islands of the Northeast Aegean throughout the festive season with the aim of enhancing citizens' sense of security and preventing delinquency 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 TripAdvisor Awards 2025 | Elafonisi Beach World's Best Beach - 9th in Crete, Sani Beach Award What the Israeli Ambassador discussed at the Chania Chamber Samaria Gorge “War Zone” – “Others Decide, We Pay the Price” Top distinctions for Greece and Santorini at the American Leisure Lifestyle Awards 2025 FedHATTA | Tourism Bridges between Greece and the Chinese province of Guizhou HOTREC | Supporting SMEs in European Hospitality North Macedonia: Increase in foreign tourists in 2024 ATM'25 - Tourism | The fight against food waste at the forefront of sustainable development Greece's Permanent Delegation to UNESCO organizing concert on January 16 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 Athens to host the European Film Awards in 2027 German tourism: Advance bookings are the new "last-minute" Argosaronic Islands: Need for a long-term strategy and modern infrastructure ELSTAT: Hospitality enterprises' turnover grows 28.6% in Greece during Q1 Tourism | Promoting Crete in the Arabian Gulf Alonissos tops the list of Greek destinations without mass tourism Athens Municipality Festival 2025 | The city's biggest celebration, with more than 200 events Tri-city winter luncheon unites upstate New York Philoptochos chapters Delta | Athens is in 5th place in American searches for 2025 Greek tourism sets new records in 2024: 36 million visitors and €22 billion revenue The 20 "loudest" luxury hotel arrivals in Greece in 2025 Aegean and Emirates expand their partnership Direct connection of Chania airport to Israel to be strengthened Executive Circle Awards Chios has joined the firm as Of Counsel in the White Collar Crime & Investigations Practice Group and Health Law Department Chios contributes over 30 years of public service experience with the majority of his career dedicated to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) community notes and leaders in your organization to the Long Island Business News audience Click here to make a Movers & Shakers submission and to find out more. Sign up for your daily digest of Long Island Business News Listen to this article Long Island Business News has announced that it has chosen this year’s winn[...] The financial landscape of Long Island continues to evolve through the leadership of the remarkable [...] Long Island’s business landscape contains a remarkable tapestry of organizations that have stood t[...] Celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month by showcasing the extraordinary wo[...] Listen to this article Lorraine Gregory Communications will be holding a blood drive at its Edgewood[...] Long Island lost 3,100 construction jobs year-over-year in March ending a 12-month streak of gains,[...] Kids Empire and My Gym are opening at Mayfair Shopping Center in Commack Chick-fil-A opens its 12th Long Island location in East Meadow creating 80 jobs and supporting loca[...] Realty Three plans $120M South Village at Station Crossings with 273 rentals Amazon plans to purchase 26.7 acres of Massapequa’s Sunrise Mall site to build a new South Shore d[...] Our mission at Long Island Business News is to be the vital business news and advertising source to Long Island’s most influential readers Get our free LIBN e-alerts & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions The Greek-owned crude oil tanker Chios Lion (107,525 dwt) reversed course in the Red Sea to leave the danger zone with reports the vessel was possibly leaking oil after a Houthi attack the Houthis also released a video of the attack saying the tanker which was southbound from the Suez Canal was targeted because its operators were calling in Israeli ports Central Command confirmed the attack by a drone boat but said the Chios Loin was not requesting assistance The master told the authorities that the ship was “lightly damaged,” and that the crew was safe after the attack at midday on Monday is now reported to have reversed course away from Yemen Its AIS signal remains off with the last transmission showing a message of “Sec team on board.” The attack took place approximately 97 nautical miles northwest of Hodeidah Footage of the Yemeni Armed Forces targeting the "CHIOS Lion" oil tanker with a USV yesterday. pic.twitter.com/3eCmhbO82o following the attack the vessel turned around and back north out of the threat area to further assess damage and investigate a potential oil spillage,” the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) said on Tuesday UK-based digital solutions provider Vanguard reports that the same management company had been previously targeted by the Houthis at the end of June The vessel Transworld Navigator was targeted four times between June 21 and 23 Vanguard said in its analysis of the situation The 177,900 dwt bulker however arrived in Turkey on July 12 reporting it had not been damaged The attack on the Chios Lion was one of three incidents reported by UKMTO on Monday which included a bomb boat that failed to explode and three missile attacks all on a single Israeli-owned tanker The Bentley I is carrying vegetable oil from Russia to China and was not damaged despite the repeated attacks The Houthi spokesperson also claimed an attack on a tanker in the Mediterranean but both the vessel’s owner and the Cypriot authorities denied any such attack to Reuters Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrived yesterday afternoon at the port of Chios to attend and speak at a conference dedicated to climate change organized by the Region of North Aegean as part of the 3rd Chios Festival The Patriarch was warmly welcomed by Konstantinos Moutzouris along with representatives from the political and military authorities Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expressed his gratitude to the Archbishop of Athens an Archon of the Patriarchate of Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew greeted the attending authorities and the Holy Clergy of Chios before proceeding with the rest of his schedule the Ecumenical Patriarch will visit the Regional Unit of Chios headquarters where he will receive a commemorative gift from the Regional Governor during a special meeting of the Regional Council Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will attend and deliver the keynote address at a Conference on the Environment at the invitation of the Region of the North Aegean he is set to inaugurate the new facilities of the Hellenic Navy Academy and the Naval High School of “Tsakos Maritime Education,” established through the initiative of Captain Panagiotis Tsakos from Chios the Ecumenical Patriarch will preside over the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Kallimasia he will conduct a memorial for his predecessors from Chios he will perform a Trisagion service at the tomb of the late Patriarch Ioakeim IV he will also go to the Cemetery in Vasileoniko to conduct a Trisagion service for the repose of the late Metropolitan Panteleimon of Belgium The Patriarch’s entourage includes Metropolitan Bartholomew of Smyrna Director of the Private Patriarchal Office; Patriarchal Deacon Evlogios Tsatsas; Konstantinos Delikostantis Principal Teacher of the Greek Nation; Georgios Zeitounlou Patriarchal Officer; and Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkoi who has been appointed Commissioner during the Patriarch’s absence 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 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 In a lively event with intense symbolism and a strong message of peace and cooperation the friendly football match between the mixed team of Chios and the mixed team of Cesme – Alatsata – Ilitsa took place yesterday at the Municipal Stadium of Chios Apartments and Furnished Tourist Residences of Chios "OMIROS" in collaboration with the North Aegean Region the Association of Football Clubs of Chios the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Mastic Museum was held in the presence of the Mayor of Chios Mr Lal Denizli and the Deputy Regional Governor of Chios Mr with the President of the "OMIROS" Association Yesterday's match was the continuation of the first similar action that had taken place in March in Cesme As stated by the President of the "OMIROS" Association so that there would be a continuation and repetition of the Greek-Turkish sports exchanges strengthening the climate of friendship and cultural approach He also recalled last year's women's volleyball matches organized by the Association with the participation of teams from Chios and Izmir which read in Greek: "Football unites our peoples" The message was also captured in the image of the two teams embracing at the end of the event in the center of the field a mountain running race was also held in Chios with the participation of over 300 athletes contributed to the strengthening of tourist traffic over the weekend as an increased number of visitors from Turkey was recorded are a powerful tool for the island's tourism development A fire that broke out on the island of Chios on Monday evening has no active large fronts local authorities said on Tuesday afternoon prompted an emergency evacuation alert at 3 a.m Firefighting efforts were largely successful with most units withdrawing shortly before 5 p.m a helicopter remains on standby for potential flare-ups Ground forces continue to monitor the situation in the areas of Limni and Elinta Authorities are investigating a 63-year-old man for possible negligence related to the fire which has burned approximately 3,000 acres of forest Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract with Capital Group to deliver advanced K-Sim Engine Room and Cargo simulators for their training centre on the Greek island of Chios The investment underscores Capital Group’s commitment to high-quality training for its crew enhancing both general STCW training and product familiarization with onboard automation systems scheduled for completion by the end of June 2025 includes K-Sim Engine Room and Cargo Handling Simulators The simulators feature K-Chief automation systems installed onboard the Capital Group’s tankers and LNG gas carriers and will ensure the crew gains hands-on familiarization with the automation systems found onboard the fleet “Our mission is to support the maritime industry’s transition toward smarter and more efficient operations,” said Are Føllesdal Tjønn Managing Director of Maritime Simulation in Kongsberg Maritime “The fact that we can deliver both proven automation system technology in addition to immersive simulation of the systems puts us in a unique situation in supporting shipowners maximising operational efficiency and safety Captain Ioannis Tsirigos from Capital Ship Management (Chios Branch) highlighted the importance of this investment: “Simulation training is a critical component of our crew development strategy The ability to train on familiar automation systems ensures that our personnel gain hands-on experience Kongsberg Maritime was awarded the simulator contract due to Capital Group’s extensive use of the company’s K-Chief 600 and K-Chief 700 automation systems across its fleet This direct link between onboard automation and simulation technology ensures seamless training and operational readiness The contract reinforces the synergy between Kongsberg Maritime’s onboard systems and its simulation technology which were merged into Kongsberg Maritime on April 1st Top News,Events CSN is excited to announce the launch of a new high-level event that will be happening yearly ‘The 1st CSN Greece Shipping Debate’ Top News,Cyprus C.M.C.L Cyprus Marine Club Limited (CMC) hosted Members Get Together with a presentation from Mr Top News,Greece In the face of unpredictable provisioning costs and longer lead times MCTC has reinforced its commitment to supporting vessel… World,Word newsletter The British International Freight Association has launched a cargo community advisory body which will undertake a lot of the activity previously… Design & Development by P.KAN.DESIGNER Design & Development by P.KAN.DESIGNER then collide with the left side of the ship BBC Verify has confirmed that the tanker seen in the video is the CHIOS Lion by comparing the video to known images of the vessel Ship-tracking data shows that the CHIOS Lion set off from the Russian port of Tuapse on 2 July and entered the Red Sea on 11 July There is no tracking data available of its journey through the Red Sea but the timing and location of the strike on 15 July as reported by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) is consistent with the speed and direction in which the tanker was travelling Houthi rebels have launched dozens of attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November - shortly after the Israel-Gaza war began and initially said they were attacking ships connected with Israel many of the vessels have had no connection with Israel the Houthis have targeted ships tied to owners or operators in the UK or US after those nations launched strikes on Houthi positions Major shipping companies have stopped using the Red Sea - through which almost 15% of global seaborne trade usually passes - and are using a much longer route around southern Africa instead ShareSaveWhat Canada's Mark Carney can expect when he meets TrumpThe BBC's Anthony Zurcher looks 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Wild beaver swims in Welsh river in 'phenomenal' momentBeavers disappeared from Britain about 400 years ago after being hunted to extinction. Experience the VE Day flypast from inside a Red Arrows cockpit in 360 videoExperience flying over London with a Red Arrows pilot in our special immersive video from the cockpit. Watch: Prince Louis steals the show as royals mark VE DayRoyal Family members are at the heart of commemorations to mark 80 years since World War Two ended in Europe. Viral hedgelayer lands book dealPaul Lamb, from Somerset, has been hedgelaying for nearly 30 years, taking up the skill aged 21. What did people do to fight the flu in the '50s?From goose grease to boiled onions, BBC footage shows how people treated flu before modern medicine. Watch: How Lady Gaga's record-breaking concert almost ended in disaster A large-scale bomb attack was thwarted by police before Gaga's first concert in Brazil since 2012. McFly superfan meets band after chance encounterJoel Oates could not believe his luck when his mum told him she had met McFly at a service station. One-minute World NewsWatch the latest news summary from BBC World News. International news updated 24 hours a day. Huge crowds as hundreds join drum and bass bike ridePeople follow Dom Whiting while he DJs drum and bass music on his own bike. 'Nigel Farage will campaign on the streets in Scotland'Reform UK's Thomas Kerr says the Reform leader is excited by the opportunity for his party in Scotland. Crooner, 14, prefers Frank Sinatra to rap musicGeorge Robinson's performances have had millions of views on social media. 'Magic' rare otter sighting in garden pondIt was spotted by wildlife-lover Kerry Irwin-Hall who is no stranger to seeing animals in her garden. Watch: Cathedral's first 2025 peregrine hatchedAdults bring meat for the fluffy chick after it hatches next to a live cam overlooking a city. 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Serving as PM 'the greatest honour of my life', says AlbaneseServing as PM 'the greatest honour of my life', says Albanese The information on this page is intended for journalists If you click NO you will come back to Mynewsdesk.com 2025 – Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract with Capital Group Anne VoithGlobal Head of Marketing and Communications, Maritime Simulation, Kongsberg MaritimePhone: +47 67 80 48 00Email: anne.voith@kongsbergdigital.comWebsite: https://www.kongsbergdigital.com/marsim Kongsberg Maritime is a global marine technology company providing innovative and reliable technology solutions for all marine industry sectors Kongsberg Maritime solutions cover all aspects of marine automation and dynamic positioning as well as energy management is a distinguished oceangoing vessel operator offering comprehensive services in every aspect of ship management currently operating a fleet of 28 tankers (11 VLCCs 4 Aframaxes and 7 MR/Handy product tankers) with a total dwt of 5.12 million tons approx Kongsberg Maritime is a pioneering technology company dedicated to empowering the maritime industry with sustainable solutions Our advanced technologies and innovative solutions enable safe and efficient operations while meeting environmental regulations With a strong commitment to collaboration and continuous innovation we strive to shape the future of the maritime industry and minimize risks at sea When you choose to create a user account and follow a newsroom your personal data will be used by us and the owner of the newsroom for you to receive news and updates according to your subscription settings To learn more about this, please read our Privacy Policy, which applies to our use of your personal data, and our Privacy Policy for Contacts which applies to the use of your personal data by the owner of the newsroom you follow Please note that our Terms of Use apply to all use of our services You can withdraw your consent at any time by unsubscribing or deleting your account The Cultural and Social Ministry Foundation of Kallimasia on the Greek island of Chios will host commemorative events on Sunday to honor the late Ecumenical Patriarchs Ioakeim II and Ioakeim IV These events will take place in Kallimasia at the Holy Parish Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary The day’s activities will commence with Orthros and the Divine Liturgy presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew a Patriarchal Memorial service will be held to honor the memory of the late Patriarchs The commemorations will conclude with a Patriarchal Trisagion at the burial site of Ecumenical Patriarch Ioakeim IV These events are a significant tribute to the two prominent figures of Orthodoxy and provide an opportunity for the local community to express its respect and gratitude for their contributions to the Church and society First joint event between Levantine Heritage Foundation and the Centre for Hellenic Studies with guest speaker Richard Calvocoressi the historian and publisher Peter Calvocoressi presented a paper to an Anglo-Greek symposium held jointly by King’s College London and the Institute of Balkan Studies entitled ‘From Byzantium to Eton: A Memoir of a Millennium’ was published in 1984 by the Centre of Contemporary Greek Studies at King’s College more information has come to light about the slaughter enslavement or flight of approximately threequarters of the population of Chios in 1822 dictated a first-hand account to his grandson which has only recently been transcribed and translated into English Eye-witness accounts of the tragic events on Chios are rare Richard Calvocoressi is an art historian who has spent nearly fifty years in the art world: first as a curator in national collections of modern art (Tate Edinburgh); then as director of an artist-endowed philanthropic charity (Henry Moore Foundation); and latterly as a senior curator in aprivate He has published widely on modern and contemporary art and has served on the boards of various charities and public bodies Chios will open this year's tourist season as excursions from Turkey to the Greek island begin which aspires to extend its season in time the MSL Global Turizm agency from Ankara has already covered its excursion program for Chios with prices from €299 and accommodation in a 5-star* Hotel This development is the result of consultations between the Deputy Mayor of Tourism of the Municipality of Chios and now Chios is on the map of destinations that are expanding their tourist season The first tourist packages include four-day excursions from March to June while the next day includes excursions with more overnight stays It is recalled that Chios is a destination that is distinguished for its alternative proposals with the mastic villages being a pole of attraction for foreign visitors the messages about an increase in tourist flows during the Easter period are very encouraging which pleases those involved in tourism on the island 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, a SQL command or malformed data. 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 Independent's journalism is supported by our readers When you purchase through links on our site ’Everyone is anxious’ said British holidaymaker after fires broke out in Chios and Kos I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Tourists have been evacuated from hotels in Greece as wildfires break out across the country Firefighters battled blazes on the eastern Aegean islands of Chios and Kos on Monday and injured five people, as Greece’s prime minister warned of a dangerous summer ahead and said the public’s help was essential in limiting the impact of wildfires Last year 20 people were killed in wildfires during the summer months Wildfires are common in the Mediterranean country drier and windier weather that scientists link to the effects of climate change has increased their frequency and intensity Emergency services issued evacuation orders for those in the Metohi area of western Chios on Monday morning along with eight teams of firefighters specializing in wildfires seven water-dropping planes and three helicopters were fighting the blaze Fire department spokesman Vasilis Vathrakoyiannis said two firefighters had been lightly injured while dozens more firefighters were heading to the island by boat from the nearby island of Lesbos and from Athens State-run ERT television later reported that another two firefighters and a volunteer had suffered non life-threatening burns and all Civil Protection forces will make great efforts to limit it,” Vathrakoyiannis said during an evening briefing Another fire broke out further to the south in the Aegean and by late Monday had forced the evacuation of several people That blaze was being tackled by more than 100 firefighters as well as six water-dropping planes and two helicopters “It’s really windy here, it will be like a tinderbox,” she said. “The sky is covered in smoke. You feel like you’re in the apocalypse, or some sort of war film.” In total, Greece saw 52 wildfires breaking out in the previous 24-hour period, 44 of which were tackled in the early stages, Vathrakoyiannis said. Authorities were still battling a total of eight fires by Monday evening. The blazes come a day after the fire department managed to tame two large forest fires near Athens that had been fanned by strong winds. “We have had an exceptionally difficult June regarding weather conditions, with high levels of drought and unusually strong winds for this season,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Monday during a Cabinet meeting. This year’s summer, he said, “is predicted to be particularly dangerous” for wildfires. Mitsotakis said the use of drones as part of an early warning system for wildfires had been particularly useful this year and credited better coordination between authorities and volunteer firefighters for limiting the extent of fire damage so far. “We are entering the tough core of the anti-fire period, and this will certainly not be won without the help of the public as well, particularly in the field of prevention,” Mitsotakis said. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies A pine tree on fire in Keratea area, southeast of Athens, Greece MENA Robert TollastJuly 17 The qualitative upgrading of maritime education is of primary importance Cyprus’ Deputy Minister of Shipping Marina Hatzimanolis said recently in Greece at the opening ceremony of the Merchant Marine Academy of Chios held under the auspices of the Tsakos Group and the Maria Tsakos Foundation “The Deputy Ministry of Shipping and the government of the president of the Republic of Cyprus consider the qualitative upgrading of maritime education to be of primary importance,” she said pointing out the support of the government for maritime professions through actions and through encouraging young people to love the sea She noted that the recent developments in shipping in recent years created the need for even more competent and specially trained executives of shipping companies on land and at sea The deputy minister added that with the support of the Republic of Cyprus and the understanding of technological developments and modern requirements the Deputy Ministry of Shipping has approved in 2016 three maritime academies in Cyprus with a branch in Greece A fire that began Monday morning in Metochi Sidirountas on the island of Chios continues to cause extensive damage and has injured five individuals battling the blaze Four firefighters and a retired firefighter volunteer suffered minor burns and were transported to Chios Hospital for first aid treatment Efforts to contain the fire are focused on aerial support The primary goal is to prevent the fire from reaching the nearby pine forest in Apsiles and the front moving towards the historical Elinta Beach New York Almanack May 25, 2024 by Jaap Harskamp 1 Comment The annual Greek Independence Day Parade in Manhattan has been taking place since 1938 and runs along 5th Avenue from 64th to 79th Streets The celebration honors the anniversary of the Greek Declaration of Independence from the Ottoman Empire in March 1821 That revolt occurred against the background of social unrest and repression in post-Napoleonic Europe. The narrative of the American Revolution played a central role in the agitation of the era The year 1824 became a focus of developments During the 1770s reports on the American Revolution electrified European politics. By 1775, translations of Benjamin Franklin’s work were circulating and the “Sage of Philadelphia” was widely praised America projected a powerful vision of freedom and liberty An emerging notion of transatlantic solidarity made authoritarian regimes feel nervous The Declaration of Independence (1776) and the Constitution (1787) influenced Greek political thought American democracy fired those liberals who argued in favor of a Republic (and against the prevailing European institution of Monarchy) After almost four centuries of Ottoman rule Greek rebels were seeking recognition in Europe and the United States The United States was a point of reference in political discourse The Revolutionary War and the creation of a democratic system had been sparked by ancient Greeks Modern Greeks presented themselves as their heirs It created a symbolic triangle indicating that the two peoples shared similar principles and values On January 1, 1822, representatives approved the Constitution of Epidaurus the “Greek Declaration of Independence,” human rights and the legitimacy of resisting an oppressive power were inspired by its American blueprint freedom fighters turned to the United States for assistance American infatuation with antiquity was already apparent in architectural styles and place names (especially in Upstate New York) Greek culture was a major academic discipline Philhellenes (admirers of everything Greek) rallied in aid of the uprising The “Greek cause” was hailed as a Christian revolt against Muslim oppression It played a central role in socio-political discussions at the time At a time when America was marking its corner in world affairs, the Monroe Doctrine (delivered in December 1823) called for caution Having emerged triumphant from their own revolution the administration negotiated a mutual European agreement of non-intervention Trying to boost contacts in non-British domains the US government had been preparing a treaty with the Ottoman Empire to gain access to markets in the Mediterranean and beyond The first draft of the Monroe Doctrine praised the Greek revolt but Secretary of State John Quincy Adams insisted that the passage be dropped The final text indicated American neutrality Rejecting direct intervention in order to safeguard a trade policy alternative routes of support were explored America had to be seen opposing authoritarian regimes Its Mediterranean fleet protected aid sent from America to Greece son of a New York merchant who was American Consul in Altona (near Hamburg) was one of the Philhellenes who traveled to Greece in November 1821 He rose in the ranks to become Adjutant General to Lord Byron at Missolonghi Known as the “American Daredevil,” Colonel Jonathan Peckham Miller fought on the front from 1824 to 1826. On his return he was active in the management of humanitarian aid to Greece. His adopted son, an orphaned Greek boy named Lucas Miltiades Miller became an elected member of Congress Protestant missionaries were amongst the first groups of Americans who arrived in Greece in the early 1820s (during the war they brought a number of orphans to the United States) Preaching the gospel and establishing schools would in their assessment encourage a process of social transformation these incomers attempted to impose Puritan doctrines on a people who in spite of four centuries of Islamic domination had been practicing Orthodox beliefs long before America was explored The island of Chios had for centuries been a center of trade throughout the Black Sea In the thirteenth century the Venetians ruled the territory but it was under the Genoese that the lucrative mastic trade made it the richest island in the Mediterranean Mastic from the early Greek word “mastichon” (to gnash the teeth; masticate) is the natural sweet-smelling resin of lentisk shrub It is harvested in droplets which harden into tear-shaped pellets (hence the popular name “Tears of Chios”) The ancients chewed it as a gum and for medicinal reasons Later mastic was used in perfumes and body oils; it is the base of a liqueur; and functions as an agent in ice creams and an aromatic in baking The Genoese fortified villages and built new settlements (or “mastichochoria”) in places invisible from the sea to protect themselves from pirates and smugglers The Giustiniani dynasty who ruled the island from 1346 to its fall in 1566 “nationalized” its mastic trees Chios boasted a cultured society and an advanced educational system that were left untouched by the conquering Turks The island’s residents were allowed almost complete control over their affairs When the Greek War of Independence broke out Chios found itself caught between conflicting interests The island’s Orthodox leaders and merchants were unwilling to join the rebels fearing the loss of security and prosperity in March 1822 several hundred armed Greeks from the neighboring island of Samos landed in Chios They proclaimed the Revolution and launched attacks against the Turks Turkish Sultan Mahmud II sent out a massive military force to the island The bloodbath began on Easter Sunday 1822 and an orgy of rape and plunder continued for several months Icons were desecrated and churches destroyed but the profitable mastic regions were spared on the Sultan’s orders In June a Turkish flagship anchored in Chios harbor was blown up while its sailors were celebrating the end of Ramadan a second wave of savagery was unleashed in which no one was spared Out of a population of some 100,000 to 120,000 an estimated 30,000 inhabitants died and 45,000 were sold into sexual slavery Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony premiered in Prince Metternich’s Vienna the work was created in an era in which the authorities used every means at their disposal to squelch post-Napoleonic social unrest On the other side of the Atlantic, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania was founded in Philadelphia and became home to the first two drafts of the US Constitution and an original printer’s proof of the Declaration of Independence Eugène Delacroix exhibited a painting entitled “Scène des massacres de Scio.” In the exhibition catalogue the painter added the following note: “Greek families await death or slavery etc.” The chilling “etcetera” was reported in the French press in graphic detail the picture was unlike anything seen before in European art Despite its savagery, Chios became a trope in art and literature. Victor Hugo published Les Orientales in 1829 a collection of poems inspired by the Greek war The Chios massacre was not the first atrocity in the war (on either side) It took time for news of the bloodbath to spread but once details came into the open it caused outrage That anger was intensified by another event that stirred the public imagination. An avid supporter of liberal causes, Lord Byron had joined the Greek war The poet had embraced the struggle for liberty in work and action died at Missolonghi on April 19 his death focused attention on the Chios catastrophe – “Byronic Philhellenism” took hold William Cullen Bryant, a descendant of Puritan immigrants was a poet celebrated for his serene passion for nature He was also an admirer of Classical Greek culture he pointed to Greece as the “cradle of liberty in which the earliest republics were rocked Bryant was a journalist and long-time editor of the liberal New York Evening Post Bryant published “The Massacre at Scio,” a poem that stands apart from other work as a meditation on human suffering whilst celebrating the spirit of resistance against tyranny Bryant did more than any other American poet to give moral support to the cause Humanitarian efforts increased dramatically to alleviate the suffering of the Greek population Survivors of the massacre dispersed throughout Europe Some refugees set about establishing a “second Chios” on the nearby island of Syros where they embarked on re-establishing their shipping and trading enterprises but London and Liverpool were the preferred destinations of refuge London’s Greek community was founded by members of the diaspora Pantia Stephen Ralli had been born in 1793 on Chios into a family of international traders he and his elder brother had established a London branch The firm became the most important Greek merchant house in the capital with a range of international operations The brothers were instrumental in setting up trade lines with America for the supply of raw cotton. As cotton was picked in Egypt where many Greeks had settled, its merchants had expertise with the fiber and its production They supplied large quantities of the “white gold” to European manufacturers and were aware of developments in the American South The upturn of the cotton economy in the 1830s and 1840s brought the first real influx of Greek immigrants to the United States Many of the newcomers were employed by large merchant houses, usually with historical roots in Chios. Relying on a slave plantation system, “King Cotton” reigned supreme during the period before the Civil War. New Orleans was a second home for many Greeks who shared in the massive profits made out of a slave-driven cotton export economy They may have been descendants of ancient cultural pioneers but these modern Greeks were not driven by philosophical principles Greek Revival was the chosen style of Southern merchants They built plantations adorned with a Byzantine dome and fronted by a line of Corinthian columns Born in 1812 on Chios, Nicholas Benachi arrived in America in 1850. Employed by Ralli Brothers, he set himself up in the cotton business and made a fortune as a speculator in real estate. Four years later he was appointed Greek Consul in New Orleans Nicholas was both a slave trader and co-founder in 1864 of the Holy Trinity Eastern Orthodox Church at 1222 North Dorgenois Street the first Orthodox Church in the United States The Civil War disrupted the trade and its huge profits Southern diplomats had speculated that a “Cotton Famine” would precipitate Anglo-French intervention on behalf of an independent Confederacy Still traumatized by experiences in their own past and anticipating fundamental changes in the industry most Greek cotton merchants left New Orleans and moved to Alexandria in Egypt Early representatives of a globalized economy Greek merchant houses financed and expanded cotton production in Egypt to meet the demand from European mills The embargo imposed by the Confederate against Britain and France turned out to be a costly mistake America supplied eighty per cent of the raw material for Britain’s cotton trade This fell to almost zero during the Civil War and Philhellenes march down Fifth Avenue during the Greek Independence Day Parade; George Jarvis American “hero” of the Greek Revolution; dripping mastic or “tears of Chios,” Eugène Delacroix’s “Scène des massacres de Scio,” 1824 (Musée du Louvre Paris); Joseph Denis Odevaere’s “Lord Byron on His Deathbed,” ca 1826 (Web Gallery of Art); Edgar Degas’ “Cotton Exchange in New Orleans,” 1873 (Musée des Beaux-Arts de Pau); and Oak Valley Plantation with Greek colonnades May 23, 2024 at 4:16 PM people in Ithaca were encouraged to donate to the cause of the Greeks Ezekiel Gear of the Episcopal Church and William Linn an agent for Simeon DeWitt who was leasing and selling land in Ithaca The argument was that the Village of Ithaca just as the architecture of Central New York followed a modified Greek temple style In orations to justify aiding the Greek cause the Reverend stated that “we have opportunity let us do good unto all men,” but then nudged the audience to support the Greek Christians “who are of the household of Faith,” pitting Christians over Muslims the belief in the democratic process which Americans happily traced back to classical Athens Gear heightened his rhetoric with an appeal to females in the congregation asking women to remember their Grecian sisters who were subject to the ‘Turbaned Turk’ whom he portrayed as lustful and blind to the “charms of female virtue and deaf to the cries of female sufferings.” Gear’s congregation donated thirty dollars William Linn’s audience contributed $75 The local newspaper also noted that the local barber contributed his entire day’s earnings–contributing more than anyone else but no where in print was it pointed out that the barber was a young Black man most likely striking out against slavery imposed on the Greeks and perhaps the existence of slavery in the United States New York Almanack receives no public funds Please give today (a monthly recurring gift is best) PayPal Venmo Rally.org Patreon Buy Me A Cup of Coffee CashApp Use your bank’s “bill pay” option (or just send a check) Without your support we cannot publish the Almanack (Click the link below to not see this message again) Don't Show Me This Message Again. US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Michael Kratsios a Greek-American with roots from the island of Chios and the northern city of Kastoria as the new director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy In a statement accompanying the appointment and usher in a Golden Age of American Innovation!” who previously served as US Chief Technology Officer under the 2019 Trump administration thanked the president in a social media post on X “To ensure our Nation’s prosperity and security we must unleash scientific breakthroughs and ensure America’s technological dominance Now we have the President who will make it happen A Golden Age of American Innovation lies ahead!” Kratsios is a Princeton University graduate and has held leadership roles in tech and finance He has led initiatives like the American AI Initiative and the Covid-19 High Performance Computing Consortium while also representing the US in international forums Thank you, Mr. President for the honor of serving in your White House again, this time as Assistant to the President for Science & Technology and for the nomination to be Director of OSTP. To ensure our Nation’s prosperity and security, we must unleash scientific breakthroughs… pic.twitter.com/YbPYLHuNk7 — Michael Kratsios (@MichaelKratsios) December 23, 2024 At first glance, the shaded, cobblestoned plateia (central square) in the medieval village of Kalamoti on the Greek island of Chios seems far removed from the bustling streets of Amman The town square of this Aegean island is nestled inside a honeycomb of small where stone houses are connected by arches and passageways Xenophon Moniaros is seated comfortably at the plateia outside Stefanis Kafeneio (cafe), with a small “We make the coffee stronger here,” Moniaros says nodding at the white Loumidis brand coffee cup which is standard fare at old-school cafes across Greece The caffeine is a welcome boost for Moniaros who was up early in the morning to check on his mastic trees the only place in the world where the rare cedar-flavored resin of the same name is cultivated the mastic from Moniaros' trees is shipped across the Mediterranean to port cities like Aqaba One of its final destination points is Bekdash Ice Cream in downtown Amman whose family owns the ice cream chain with eight locations across Jordan's capital The street life outside the brightly lit Bekdash ice cream parlour in Wasat al-Balad is more animated than Kalamoti Biceped men with wooden cudgels rhythmically pound chilled metal bins of booza They roll the elastic white slabs like cigars before dunking them in buckets of crushed pistachios. families jostle for a seat on the curb with paper plates of kanafeh and young people cruise by in cars blaring Arabian pop hits Those with stamina can order a cheesy Palestinian desert from a food stall called Habiba and then go to neighbouring Bekdash to have it topped off with a mound of booza. “It’s where the flavour comes from,” Ababneh says It’s also one of the trickiest parts of the recipe to get right Mastic is mainly sold in hardened crystal form it is liquified by grinding it with sugar at 60-80 Celsius “You can’t add too much mastic,” he tells MEE It costs about 160-200JD (about $255) a kilogram in Jordan Some people think if you overload the mastic Mastic ice cream was first popularised in Damascus when the original Bekdash in Souk al-Hamidiyeh opened its doors in 1895 The ice cream shop has operated throughout Syria’s civil war one of the Middle East’s largest mastic distributors Not a war or sanctions,” Dubai-based Arar added The resin is listed as an ingredient in the medieval Arab cookbook Kitab al-Tabikh an anise alcohol drink similar to Greek ouzo was a craze in the early days of Saddam Hussein’s Iraq “Mastic was the product in Iraq during the 70s and 80s,” Arar said “Chios made a fortune off of Iraqis taste for arak.” In the Levant, mastic is added to sweets like baklava and meat marinades. Libyans import Chios mastic to flavour stuffed intestines, while Saudi Arabians add it to saleeg mastic is a popular coffee flavor. Mastic chewing gum is popular across the Arab world The Greek word "mastic” comes from the ancient Greek word mastichon About 85 percent of Chios mastic is exported abroad with the Middle East and North Africa as the top destinations Despite being the sole place in the world where mastic is cultivated island natives, use the product sparingly Kronos, a local brand, makes its own mastic ice cream One of the most popular mastic products in Greece is a sweet liqueur “The Genoese and later Ottoman powers that controlled Chios wanted as much mastic shipped abroad as possible so it didn’t catch on here as a culinary tradition like in the Arab world,” Moniaros said. So much in fact that Chios' 24 Mastichochoria and their crop were placed directly under the control of the Sultan’s mother the Valide Sultan, John Contoudis writes in Chios: A History (2010) Two-thirds of mastic production went to the Arab East,” Moniaros added. The spread of mastic was aided by Chios’ central location on trade routes between Black Sea ports like Odesa (Ukraine) and the Levant and strategic location between East and West made it a prize in the Mediterranean’s geopolitical chessboard the Genoese took control of Chios from the decaying Byzantine Empire exploiting mastic cultivation through the Maona charter company. When the Ottomans conquered Chios in 1566 the change in power was originally welcomed by locals according to Contoudis's Chios: A History (2010) Because of the lucrative mastic trade and Chiotes' mercantile prowess the island was granted a higher degree of self-rule than other Greek regions of the empire and tax exemptions Mastic growers were even allowed to wear a white scarf around their necks Chios remained under Ottoman rule until 1912 when it joined Greece. barren mountains on the drive north from Kalamoti to Chios port their green leaves unfurling like umbrellas over gnarled branches The trees are easy to spot because of the distinctive white powder growers make small incisions on the trees. The powder provides a clean surface for the mastic resin to fall on Growers let it solidify into chunks called pitas (pies) before collecting it by hand Chios port comes into view from the winding mountain highway Chios' capital is an amalgam of concrete apartments and yellow and cream-coloured neoclassical shops that sprawl out facing a narrow strait of the Aegean Sea dividing the island from Turkey that Chios is visible to the naked eye from Turkey's Cesme glistens above rooftop antennas and rusty water tanks that define so many skylines in ex-Ottoman territory. an elegant settlement of citrus groves and fruit orchards keeping mansions first occupied by wealthy Genoese families “Chios’ wealth comes from two sources: shipping and mastic,” said Ilias Smyrnioudis general manager and head of research and development at the Chios Gum Mastic Growers Association 'The first thing we do is check that the mastic in our ice cream is from Chios' Greece controls about 21 percent of the world’s shipping fleets, and Chios, along with the neighbouring island of Oinnousses is home to some of the country’s most powerful and the demand for it from regions like the Middle East also powers the local economy of this 50,000-strong island Smyrnioudis estimates that the sale of raw mastic and its products generates Growers are mandated to sell their mastic to the association for about $110 per kilogram The union functions as a co-operative to ensure the resin's stable price With the average grower producing between 150-200 kilos of mastic per year mastic is the secondary source of income where they actually make more profit than their primary job,” Smyrnioudis told MEE Smyrnioudis travels often in the Middle East to meet with mastic distributors and customers he was working out the details of a trip to Saudi Arabia One of the challenges to Chios’ mastic trade in the region is the rise of synthetic flavours. You can mix a small amount of genuine mastic oil with chemical compounds and create 100 times the original amount," he said. The most common mastic chewing gums in the Middle East, like Sharawi and Chiclets “You can taste the difference immediately,” Smyrnioudis said. The trade is so lucrative it has also attracted imitators Iran is trying to produce its own resin from indigenous trees of the same family as mastic He pulled a bag of melted crystals from his pocket as evidence It becomes liquid and tastes nothing like real mastic." A small number of mastic trees are also found across the Aegean in Cesme but they don’t produce the same quality resin some have tried to plant mastic trees in the north or centre of the island Southern Chios is the only place in the world that yields viable mastic resin,” Smyrnioudis said Hamzeh Ababneh from Bakdesh Ice Cream says his family uses no other mastic variant in its booza. “The first thing we do is check that the mastic in our ice cream is from Chios but there is no substitute for Chios mastic," he told MEE. Today's mastic trade also reflects the changing fortunes of the Middle East. Once great commercial cities like Aleppo and Damascus that were top buyers of the specialty product have been decimated by war and economic crises Saudi Arabia is the region's largest buyer Distributors like Arar are able to fetch a higher price per kilogram in the oil-rich kingdom despite mastic still being used more widely in Syria the Chios mastic association is working to expand the resin's use beyond traditional Levantine food products Mastic has been prized for its medicinal properties since the ancient Greek era and there is growing demand for it in the pharmaceutical and beauty industries But the Middle East's appetite for Chios mastic is still strong. After the closure of its store in New York City, the mastic association's retail chain, Mastihashop is considering new outposts outside of Greece in Dubai and Beirut. "Demand for mastic in the Middle East is 40 percent higher than supply even taking into account the rise of synthetic flavours Chios can't keep up," Arar told MEE. The resilience of the mastic trade between Chios and the Arab world despite the collapse of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires that once connected the two regions speaks to deeper cultural and economic links. “Culinary traditions and products don’t fall neatly within the 20th-century borders created by nationalist movements,” Cameron Bell a research fellow focused on the Eastern Mediterranean at the Athens Institute of International Relations you can’t flag one food product as clearly belonging to one country," he said. Chios port buzzes in mid-August. Because of its vibrant shipping industry Chios is not reliant on western tourism as the other Greek islands are The main visitors are Greek Americans with roots on the island Chios is just seven kilometres from the Turkish mainland and the island also attracts visitors from its neighbour. Because of Turkey's economic crisis and the lira's collapse Waiters entice the visitors with Greek and Turkish greetings waving menus plastered with photos of grilled fish. Chios is at the centre of a long-running feud between the neighbours Turkish fighter jets buzz the island of Oinousses and Erdogan has frequently demanded Greece de-militarise Chios But the ease with which Turks and Greeks co-exist at cafes and tavernas in the port puts the fiery rhetoric into perspective. families sit at tables cluttered with mezze platers and skinny ouzo glasses moustachioed fishmongers, fruit vendors and icon sellers guard their wares mingles with motorbike exhaust. and looks like, Latakia or Jounieh,” said Arar the mastic distributor and Damascus native referencing the Syrian and Lebanese coastal cities “The people of Chios are strong like people from the Levant smiles when asked if more connects his island on the edge of Europe to the Levant than mastic This article is available in French on Middle East Eye French edition. Copyright © 2014 - 2025. Middle East Eye Only England and Wales jurisdiction apply in all legal matters Middle East Eye ISSN 2634-2456 the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will attend a conference on climate change in Chios The conference will take place as part of the 3rd Chios Festival organized by the North Aegean Region The conference will also be attended by the former President of the Hellenic Republic which will host the next Climate Change Conference under the auspices of the UN and other figures from public life and the scientific community Lesvos and Chios are joining forces to promote pilgrimage tourism creating a unique collaboration that aims to highlight their religious and cultural monuments offering visitors a spiritual and cultural experience as reported to Tornos News by the president of the Lesvos Hoteliers' Association which highlights the common aspiration of the two islands to develop and promote pilgrimage tourism innovative tourism products that will meet the needs of religious travelers who are looking to visit historical and religious sites there is favorable ground for the development of this type of tourism in both regions with their rich religious and cultural heritage such as the Monastery of Panagia Chrysopigi in Lesvos and the Monastery of Agios Minas in Chios which make these areas ideal destinations for pilgrimage trips This collaboration strengthens the tourist identity of the two islands and offers an authentic experience to visitors while at the same time highlighting the importance of religious and cultural heritage as a pole of attraction for tourists from all over the world Lesvos and Chios aspire to become leading destinations for pilgrimage tourism and cultural heritage with the modern needs of tourists Here are some of the most famous pilgrimages on each island: Monastery of Panagia Chrysopigi: The Monastery of Panagia Chrysopigi is one of the most important pilgrimages on Lesvos Panagia Chrysopigi is considered the protector of Lesvos and the monastery is particularly beloved by the faithful for the miraculous properties attributed to her grace.Monastery of Agia Paraskevi: Located in the center of the island it is an important pilgrimage site for the faithful The monastery is dedicated to Agia Paraskevi and is associated with a series of traditions and miracles which make it an important point for pilgrims.Taxiarchis Mantamados Monastery: Taxiarchis Mantamados Monastery is located in a beautiful area near the mountain of Lesvos and is dedicated to the Archangel Michael It is considered one of the most important religious centers on the island.Agia Sophia of Mytilene: The church of Agia Sophia in Mytilene is historic and impressive This church attracts thousands of pilgrims Agios Minas Monastery: Located near the village of Kampos and is dedicated to Agios Minas The monastery is particularly known for its spiritual importance and history in the local community It attracts many believers due to its religious and historical value.Panagia Olympitissa Monastery: The Panagia Olympitissa Monastery is located in the Olympus region and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary The area around the monastery is full of natural beauty and the monastery is important for the religious heritage of Chios.Monastery of Agios Isidoros: The Monastery of Agios Isidoros is located in the area of Kampos and is another well-known pilgrimage site in Chios Believers visit it to worship Saint Isidoros and experience the spiritual tranquility that the place offers.Church of Agios Georgios (Vavili): The church of Agios Georgios is located in Vavili and is a historical pilgrimage site for the people of Chios and visitors to the area Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The dates displayed for an article provide information on when various publication milestones were reached at the journal that has published the article activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. Caroussis family-controlled shipowner and operator Chios Navigation has moved to bolster its tanker fleet with a pair of MR newbuilds in South Korea Brokers report the company has contracted Hyundai Vietnam Shipbuilding for conventionally fueled The newbuilds are delivering in the fourth quarter of 2027 at just above $100m according to the recent stock exchange filing in Korea The Piraeus-based outfit is listed as owning five bulkers and three tankers The company has also been linked to a handysize bulker newbuild at Imabari in Japan Don't have an account? 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Worldwide What wildfires mean for your tripAfter Greece experienced its earliest ever heatwave in June continued extreme temperatures have since caused wildfires near Athens and across Greece Only a couple of weeks after the Paphos wildfires, tourists described ‘apocalyptic’ scenes of smoke after more wildfires broke out on Monday July 1 on the islands of Kos which were then followed with a severe fire near Thessaloniki more severe blazes started near Rethymno Crete, and evacuation orders were issued for the area severe blazes have also broken out near Athens and the Greek PM flew back from his summer holiday to oversee the firefighting effort. Understandably, this is worrying news if you’ve got an upcoming trip to Greece so here is everything you need to know about the wildfires in how they might affect your holiday. After the country’s earliest-ever heatwave in June and several days of extreme heat in July more fire outbreaks have broken out in Greece. A huge wildfire burning on the outskirts of Athens right now has caused authorities to issue widespread evacuation orders, as it has reached the village of Grammatiko, the seaside community of Nea Makri and the outskirts of Athens’s densely populated northern suburbs on Mount Penteli. According to Politico.EU two monasteries a children’s home have all been evacuated. The affected area is around 35km north of Athens but the severity of the fire has worsened due to high winds. The Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis flew back from his holiday in Crete to oversee the firefighting effort which right now comprises more than 30 water-bombing planes and 190 fire engines. Read more about the Athens wildfire here News of wildfires is of course a concern if you have a trip booked to Greece but there is currently no official advice against travelling to the country you should follow local advice on how to stay safe in the heat check if there is a risk of wildfires in the area you’re staying and stay updated on any evacuation calls. The good news is that Greece has amped up its prep for the summer this year. More staff have been hired and trained and the use of drones and early warning systems have proved useful in tracking potential wildfires so far. The prolonged drought and dry weather that Greece has experienced has led to what Sky News previously described as ‘tinderbox-like’ conditions The conditions in July were caused by a ‘hot air balloon’ moving in from Africa conditions have been prime for the outbreak of wildfires The Athens wildfires have been made increasingly worse due to gale-force winds. it’s best to contact your accommodation flight or trip provider directly – a full refund isn’t guaranteed when travelling to Greece has not been officially advised against travellers who have been evacuated can likely seek reasonable compensation for their trip if the holiday company they booked with fails to proactively offer a refund or vouchers. If you are already in Greece and want to return home early it’s possible (depending on your trip provider) that you’ll be able to do so at no extra charge Whether you’ll be refunded for the rest of your holiday all depends on your trip provider and insurance policy The UK Foreign Office has not issued any advice against travelling to any parts of Greece but its section on forest fires and wildfires says: ‘There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable To avoid starting wildfires: leave no litter especially not glass which is known to start fires; make sure cigarettes are properly extinguished; do not light barbecues Causing a wildfire or a forest fire is a criminal offence in Greece – even if unintentional call the emergency services on 112.’ It also encourages you to follow @112Greece for official updates on X (fka Twitter) and to follow guidance issued by the local emergency services. Last summer, Europe experienced extremely hot and dry weather conditions which put plenty of areas at high risk of wildfires However, a senior climate crisis official said the majority of fires were started by ‘human hand’ 163 arrests have been made on fire-related charges. Wildfires recently broke out in Türkiye as the temperature reached between eight and 12C higher than seasonal norms a few weeks ago Following fires in Antalya’s Kumluca in June blazes broke out in the Selçuk and Menderes districts of İzmir Hundreds of hectares of land were destroyed Greece’s extreme temperatures led to Athens closing schools and tourist attractions, including the Acropolis, in June. Paphos in Cyprus also experienced wildfires Elsewhere in Europe, areas of southern Switzerland, northeast France and northern Italy were battered by torrential rain and storms Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! tiktok facebook twitter youtube About us Contact us in a region overflowing with citrus groves where local guest house owner Vangelis Xydas is cooking up a traditional feast This article was adapted from National Geographic Traveller (UK).Our eyes meet momentarily as Simos pauses for a rest by the cast-iron stove but then the sun shines through the citrus trees and dapples his velvety grey face He lets out a disgruntled meow and saunters outside into the shade The family’s sleepy British Shorthair seems done with the day My day, however, is just beginning. It’s 11am in the sleepy village of Kampos, on the island of Chios, and I’m starting to feel hungry. At present, I’m the only guest at Perleas Mansion, a 17th-century property on the wider Perleas Estate that’s been a guest house since 1992 lunch is being prepared in the kitchen of the private quarters which is separate from the main building and looks out onto 17 acres of citrus trees who’s just returned from the supermarket with a promising looking bag of ingredients which instantly fills the room with the joyful plinks of the bouzouki Vangelis’s kitchen is small and traditional in its design — the large stones making up the walls are exposed chairs and tables that Vangelis himself has restored in his workshop in the next room while all around is a haphazard array of copper pans old-fashioned cooking scales and countless bottles and jars of wine which is fish — in this case cod — cooked in the oven plaki-style It’s a dish traditionally eaten on 25 March a national holiday in Greece that marks both the Greek War of Independence and Annunciation of the Virgin Mary seeing as I’ve a flight to catch in the morning we’re celebrating this special day a little early will be joining us for lunch later in the afternoon It requires the fish to be cooked on the stove rather than in the oven an ingredient that traditionally only Chians from the Kampos area throw in Owner Vangelis collects beet leaves for lunch from the estate's garden. Photograph by Philippa LangleyRoula is originally from Athens. In 2006, she and her husband Vassilis quit their IT jobs in the capital and moved to Chios to become mastiha producers The versatile resin is cultivated throughout the south of Chios and has been used for centuries to make everything from sweets and alcohol to cosmetics and furniture Swapping IT for mastiha feels like quite a leap of faith to me but Roula certainly doesn’t seem to regret coming to Chios “You won’t find anywhere like it in all of Greece,”she says Of the 50,000 people who inhabit the island of Chios The land around the village was one of the first places on the island to be cultivated and today it’s a labyrinth of citrus orchards and iron-gated 14th-century mansions built by the wealthy Genoans who occupied the area from the 14th to the 16th century reddish stone walls built to protect the land and its produce from pirates But there’s no sign of pirates these days — in fact the only sign of human life I’d spotted was a heavily moustachioed Chian who whizzed past on his beat-up Vespa clutching fresh bread under one arm and steering with the other a half-smoked cigarette clinging for dear life to his upper lip Vangelis explains that tomorrow also happens to be his name day — a Greek Orthodox tradition whereby nearly every day of the year a different saint is celebrated along with all those who share his or her name although he urges me to call him Uncle Vangelis he slices the potatoes and places them into a baking dish As he reaches for the dried oregano that hangs above the stove Elvis Presley’s Jailhouse Rock comes on the radio Pyrgi is one of 24 mastiha-producing villages in Chios.Photograph by Philippa LangleyI ask him what kind of food he loved to eat growing up while trying to think of the word in English “My father and I would go and collect them after it rained,” he explains “And then my mum would cook them.” Roula chips in: “When you grow up in an area like this you don’t go to the supermarket to buy snails and wild mussels and things like that there are plenty of dishes and ingredients that are distinct to the island — these include mastelo a chewy cow’s-milk cheese that’s perfect for frying; masourakia a thin pastry made with almonds and mastiha; and While Roula and I discuss the importance of mastiha production to the island He’ll add in the sauce and cod a little later it’s time to focus on his mother’s stove-cooked version he fires up the cast-iron stove with planks of wood then throws chopped carrots and onions into a large pan of olive oil emerging a few minutes later with a giant steel bowl full of fresh Under the watchful eye of her mother Roula Marianna helps stir the beet and grated tomato into the pan creating a giant cloud of steam that threatens to engulf her Vangelis leans in to smell the pan and shakes his head in dismay He then transfers everything into a much larger pot with potatoes inside and lets it cook watches on as Vangelis prepares lunch. Photograph by Philippa LangleyThe smell of sizzling onions mixed with fleeting wafts of citrus every time somebody opens the back door Vangelis joins us at the kitchen table for an espresso Conversation drifts from today’s meal to general gossip; what’s-her-name’s daughter is back from Athens for the bank holiday so-and-so’s son decided not to come back after all while Giorgis is in the main house playing on his iPad it suddenly dawns on Vangelis that he hasn’t bought enough fish for the weekend — and must do so before everything closes as he whips off his apron and dashes outside I follow him and jump into the passenger seat of his white pickup truck We chug along the path through the orange grove towards the fish market just down the road There aren’t many food markets in Chios — most ingredients are either bought from supermarkets or grown in people’s back gardens where we pick up a handful of red mullet from the friendly fishmonger and zoom back to the mansion I wind down the window and try to catch a whiff of the citrus trees “Just you wait; in a few months, when spring has fully kicked in, the smell is unbelievable,” Vangelis says. “I still can’t believe it, even after 57 years of living here.” In addition to owning the Perleas Mansion, Vangelis runs the nearby Citrus Museum He also makes his own marmalade and essential oil a traditional Greek rice pudding. Photograph by Philippa LangleyBack at Perleas we walk through the stony courtyard and into the main guest house where we find Giorgis and Marianna dutifully laying the table of the elaborately decorated dining room — think marionettes hanging from its ceiling French exhibition posters from the 1990s on the walls and sapphire-blue cabinets stocked with floral teapots and crystal sugar bowls Vassilis and Eirini arrive and everyone immediately helps to bring out the food: the two cod dishes a plate of homemade pickles and finally some French fries Vangelis pulls up a chair at the head of the table and pours the adults a glass of Ariousia Chora We toast with a collective “Yamas!” before tucking in the table is an entanglement of arms passing plates and bowls from one end to the other I scoop two large spoonfuls of the psari plaki onto my plate along with some salad and a piece of bread before furtively taking more than my share of Vangelis’s homemade pickles from the pandemic to why Vangelis isn’t entirely happy with his fish “The best thing about this place is the people,” she says affectionately putting her hand on my shoulder She tells me that Chios has little appetite for mass tourism despite being Greece’s fifth-largest island Lunch is served in the dining room at Perleas Mansion.Photograph by Philippa LangleyIn the adjoining kitchen is busy putting the finishing touches to the desserts: a doughnut-shaped apple pie and ryzogalo — a traditional rice pudding made with fresh milk and It would be very difficult for anyone to visit Chios without she plonks two differently flavoured bottles of mastiha liqueur down on the table — one that’s straight-up mastiha and a bright red one infused with cinnamon but this doesn’t stop Roula from prompting me to try the desserts remembering a Greek proverb I’d read about on the journey here: ‘It’s difficult to argue with the belly Vangelis excuses himself from the table and heads off for a well-deserved afternoon snooze and the kids retire to a spot by the fireplace to play on their iPads Eirini asks me about my plans for the evening and I reel off a somewhat uninspiring list of chores I must do before my flight This is the rhythm of the island,” she tells me Simos ambles past the French doors and settles down for an afternoon nap by the entrance to the orange grove He has the rhythm of the island down to a tee MastihaOn a visit to Chios, it’s impossible to avoid tasting the aromatic resin of the mastiha tree. The island even has a dedicated museum MasteloSqueaky, salty and similar to Cypriot halloumi, mastelo is a semi-soft cheese made in Chios with cow’s and goat’s milk It’s best grilled and drizzled in honey and sesame seeds MarmaladeThe Genovese introduced citrus to Chios during their occupation the Kampos area is famed for its oranges and tangerine — and the marmalade made with the fruit Masourakia This traditional Chian dessert is made with filo pastry Vangelis serves a portion of psari plaki. Photograph by Philippa LangleyVangelis' psari plaki25 March is a national holiday in Greece partly because it’s inexpensive and you can find it anywhere — even in the mountain villages in the form of salt cod.Serves: 6 Takes: 1 hr 30 mins peeled and each sliced into 5-7 pieces1 onion peeled and finely chopped1 large tomato 3-4 tsp olive oil 1 tbsp dried oreganojuice of ½ lemon1kg skinless/boneless cod fillet For the sauce500g large tomatoes2 tbsp tomato puree1 tbsp dried oregano 1 tsp honey1 tbsp olive oil Cover the pan with tin foil and cook in the oven for 1 hr.2 Grate the tomatoes using a box grater and add to a bowl with the rest of the sauce ingredients Sprinkle in some salt and pepper and mix well then layer the cod and sauce and add the lemon juice Turn off the oven and switch on the grill to the highest heat Place the dish under the grill for 10-15 mins Getting thereAegean Airlines flies from London to Chios (via Athens) £177 one way Where to stayB&B at Perleas Mansion starts at £111 More infovisitgreece.gr Published in Issue 16 (summer 2022) of Food by National Geographic Traveller perleas mansion","lg":"https://assets-cdn.nationalgeographic.com/natgeo/static/default.NG.logo.dark.jpg","pblshr":"National Geographic","abt":"Geography","sclDsc":"On the Greek island of Chios Unauthorized use is prohibited."},"marginTop":false,"ratio":"1600x1067"},"config":{},"usesArticleObject":true},{"name":"PrismBadgeTag","props":{"badge":null,"tags":{"tags":[{"label":"TRAVEL","href":"https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel"}]},"isUserAuthed":false},"config":{}},{"name":"Headline","props":{"title":"A Greek feast: breaking bread on the island of Chios","description":"On the Greek island of Chios where local guest house owner Vangelis Xydas is cooking up a traditional feast."},"config":{},"usesArticleObject":true},{"name":"Byline","props":{"contributors":[{"name":"Farida Zeynalova","role":"writer","labelOverride":"By"},{"name":"Philippa Langley","role":"photographer","labelOverride":null}],"logoRadius":true,"publishedDate":{"date":"2022-07-18T23:00:00.000Z","postFormat":"MMMM D YYYY"},"shareProps":{"title":"A Greek feast: breaking bread on the island of Chios","url":"https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/greek-feast-breaking-bread-island-chios","pageType":"Story","source":"NatGeo","shareButton":"inline","size":"l","networks":["facebook","twitter","email","link"],"description":"On the Greek island of Chios The family’s sleepy British Shorthair seems done with the day."]},{"type":"p","content":["My day a 17th-century property on the wider ",{"type":"a","content":["Perleas Estate"],"attrs":{"href":"https://www.perleas.gr/en/","rel":"noopener noreferrer","target":"_blank"}}," that’s been a guest house since 1992 which is separate from the main building and looks out onto 17 acres of citrus trees."]},{"type":"p","content":["Our chef is the mansion’s owner pickles and herbs."]}],{"type":"inline","content":{"name":"Ad","props":{"ad":{"kvps":{"pos":"fitt-article-inline-outstream-1"},"type":"fitt-article-inline-outstream","className":"fitt-article-inline-outstream"},"className":"natgeo-ad","placeholders":{"compact":{"size":[320,50]},"regular":{"size":[320,50]}},"initSelf":true},"context":{},"config":{"gridDisplayMode":"none"}}},[{"type":"p","content":["For lunch we’ll be eating psari plaki we’re celebrating this special day a little early."]},{"type":"p","content":["As Vangelis busies himself an ingredient that traditionally only Chians from the Kampos area throw in."]},{"type":"inline","content":{"name":"Image","props":{"link":{},"caption":{"title":"","credit":"Photograph by Philippa Langley","source":"","text":"Owner Vangelis collects beet leaves for lunch from the estate's garden. ","lines":3,"showMoreText":"Read More","showLess":false},"image":{"id":"Owner Vangelis collects beet leaves for lunch from the estate's garden.","showCopyright":"Please be respectful of copyright she and her husband Vassilis quit their IT jobs in the capital and moved to Chios to become ",{"type":"a","content":["mastiha producers"],"attrs":{"href":"https://www.facebook.com/masticulture/","rel":"noopener noreferrer","target":"_blank"}}," The versatile resin is cultivated throughout the south of Chios and has been used for centuries to make everything from sweets and alcohol to cosmetics and furniture."," "]},{"type":"p","content":["Swapping IT for mastiha feels like quite a leap of faith to me and it likes it that way.”"]},{"type":"p","content":["Of the 50,000 people who inhabit the island of Chios reddish stone walls built to"," ","protect the land and its produce from pirates when I’d"," ","gone for walk earlier in the day clutching"," ","fresh bread under one arm and steering with the"," ","other a half-smoked cigarette clinging for dear life to"," ","his upper lip."]},{"type":"p","content":["Back in the kitchen prompting him to do a little jig."," "]},{"type":"inline","content":{"name":"Image","props":{"link":{},"caption":{"title":"","credit":"Photograph by Philippa Langley","source":"","text":"Pyrgi is one of 24 mastiha-producing villages in Chios.","lines":3,"showMoreText":"Read More","showLess":false},"image":{"id":"Pyrgi is one of 24 mastiha-producing villages in Chios.","showCopyright":"Please be respectful of copyright You just collect them from the fields.”"]},{"type":"p","content":["Although the cuisine of Chios feels Greek which is widely used in Chian cuisine."," "]},{"type":"p","content":["While Roula and I discuss the importance of mastiha production to the island then throws chopped carrots and onions into a large pan of olive oil."]}],{"type":"inline","content":{"name":"Ad","props":{"ad":{"kvps":{"pos":"fitt-article-inline-outstream-2"},"type":"fitt-article-inline-outstream","className":"fitt-article-inline-outstream"},"className":"natgeo-ad","placeholders":{"compact":{"size":[320,50]},"regular":{"size":[320,50]}},"initSelf":true},"context":{},"config":{"gridDisplayMode":"none"}}},[{"type":"p","content":["Then with the cod to be added in later."," "]},{"type":"inline","content":{"name":"Image","props":{"link":{},"caption":{"title":"","credit":"Photograph by Philippa Langley","source":"","text":"Marianna watches on as Vangelis prepares lunch. ","lines":3,"showMoreText":"Read More","showLess":false},"image":{"id":"Marianna watches on as Vangelis prepares lunch.","showCopyright":"Please be respectful of copyright Unauthorized use is prohibited.","alt":"Marianna while Giorgis is in the main house playing on his iPad."," "]},{"type":"p","content":["As he takes his last sip of coffee "," "]},{"type":"p","content":["We chug along the path through the orange grove towards the fish market just down the road I wind down the window and try to catch a whiff of the citrus trees."," "]},{"type":"p","content":["“Just you wait; in a few months even after 57 years of living here.” In addition to owning the Perleas Mansion Vangelis runs the nearby ",{"type":"a","content":["Citrus Museum"],"attrs":{"href":"http://www.citrus-chios.gr/","rel":"noopener noreferrer","target":"_blank"}}," a traditional Greek rice pudding. ","lines":3,"showMoreText":"Read More","showLess":false},"image":{"id":"A bowl of ryzogalo a traditional Greek rice pudding.","showCopyright":"Please be respectful of copyright Unauthorized use is prohibited.","alt":"A bowl of ryzogalo mainly for the twins."," "]},{"type":"p","content":["Vangelis pulls up a chair at the head of the table and pours the adults a glass of Ariousia Chora from the pandemic to why Vangelis isn’t entirely happy with his fish."," "]},{"type":"p","content":["“Eh,” he says “I’ve tasted better… My mother’s!”"]},{"type":"p","content":["“Typical Greek son!” shaking her head and rolling her eyes."," "]},{"type":"p","content":["Eirini was born and raised on Chios for it has no ears’."," "]},{"type":"p","content":["A little later I’d say."]},{"type":"h2","content":["Four foods to try in Chios",{"type":"br","content":[]}," "]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"b","content":["Mastiha"]},{"type":"br","content":[]},"On a visit to Chios it’s impossible to avoid tasting the aromatic resin of the mastiha tree The island even has a ",{"type":"a","content":["dedicated museum"],"attrs":{"href":"https://piop.gr/","rel":"noopener noreferrer","target":"_blank"}}," in the village of Pyrgi."," "]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"b","content":["Mastelo"]},{"type":"br","content":[]},"Squeaky ",{"type":"a","content":["mastelo"],"attrs":{"href":"https://mastelo.gr/","rel":"noopener noreferrer","target":"_blank"}}," is a semi-soft cheese made in Chios with cow’s and goat’s milk It’s best grilled and drizzled in honey and sesame seeds."," "]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"b","content":["Marmalade"]},{"type":"br","content":[]},"The Genovese introduced citrus to Chios during their occupation a mastiha-flavoured sweet."]},{"type":"inline","content":{"name":"Image","props":{"link":{},"caption":{"title":"","credit":"Photograph by Philippa Langley","source":"","text":"Vangelis serves a portion of psari plaki. ","lines":3,"showMoreText":"Read More","showLess":false},"image":{"id":"Vangelis serves a portion of psari plaki.","showCopyright":"Please be respectful of copyright in the form of salt cod."]},{"type":"br","content":[]},{"type":"br","content":[]},"Serves: 6 "," "," "," ",{"type":"br","content":[]},"Takes: 1 hr 30 mins"," "]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"b","content":["Ingredients"]},{"type":"br","content":[]},"1kg King Edward potatoes peeled and each sliced into 5-7 pieces",{"type":"br","content":[]},"1 onion peeled and roughly chopped",{"type":"br","content":[]},"1 garlic clove peeled and finely chopped",{"type":"br","content":[]},"1 large tomato"," ",{"type":"br","content":[]},"3-4 tsp olive oil"," ",{"type":"br","content":[]},"1 tbsp dried oregano",{"type":"br","content":[]},"juice of ½ lemon",{"type":"br","content":[]},"1kg skinless/boneless cod fillet sliced into"," ",{"type":"br","content":[]},"6-8 pieces"," ",{"type":"br","content":[]},"capers a sprinkling (optional)"," "]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"b","content":["For the sauce"]},{"type":"br","content":[]},"500g large tomatoes",{"type":"br","content":[]},"2 tbsp tomato puree",{"type":"br","content":[]},"1 tbsp dried oregano"," ",{"type":"br","content":[]},"1 tsp honey",{"type":"br","content":[]},"1 tbsp olive oil"," "]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"b","content":["Method"]},{"type":"br","content":[]},"1."," ","Heat oven to 180C Cover the pan with tin foil and cook in the oven for 1 hr.",{"type":"br","content":[]},"2 Sprinkle in some salt and pepper and mix well."," ",{"type":"br","content":[]},"3 watches on as Vangelis prepares lunch. ","lines":3,"showMoreText":"Read More","showLess":false}}},{"type":"image","data":{"disableFullscreen":false,"articleConfig":{"alignXxs":"full","align":"full"},"image":{"id":"A bowl of ryzogalo a traditional Greek rice pudding. ","lines":3,"showMoreText":"Read More","showLess":false}}},{"type":"image","data":{"disableFullscreen":false,"articleConfig":{"alignXxs":"full","align":"full"},"image":{"id":"Lunch is served in the dining room at Perleas Mansion.","showCopyright":"Please be respectful of copyright but between the tuk-tuk-packed streets and steamy markets there’s a serene the Tusheti region tends to substitute this for lamb.","rchDsc":{"markup":"While Khinkali dumplings are traditionally filled with a 70-30% blend of beef and pork the Tusheti region tends to substitute this for lamb."},"rchTtl":{"markup":" "}},"sections":["Paid Content"],"headline":"6 must-try dishes in Georgia","link":"https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/paid-content-six-must-try-dishes-georgia"},{"description":"The Swiss canton on the Italian border blends Mediterranean and mountain cuisine with charcuterie much of the architecture within the town of Ascona is of a Mediterranean-style.","ttl":"Ticino Asconato town","rchDsc":{"markup":"Positioned upon the shores of Lake Maggiore much of the architecture within the town of Ascona is of a Mediterranean-style The impressive increase in Turkish visitors to Chios is reflected in the data published by tourism bodies on the island 653 gate visas were issued during the same period The closing of the quarter brings 16,568 arrivals This means that the increase in arrivals in this quarter compared to 2024 amounts to 37% the total number of Turkish visitors was 12,082 It is recalled that the island's agencies have entered into collaborations with tourist agencies in the neighboring country such as the MSL Global Turizm agency from Ankara which has already covered its excursion program for Chios with prices from 299 euros and accommodation in a 5* Hotel