Eos The eastern Mediterranean was the setting of major transitions in the late Stone Age, including the widespread adoption of farming. But tracing the timeline of those transitions is difficult. Now, researchers have dated a late Stone Age (Neolithic) settlement in Greece using a combination of tree ring counting and radiocarbon dating The researchers measured radiocarbon in timber samples from Dispilio where early farmers built houses on stilts along a lakeshore A radiocarbon spike traced back to a known solar storm in 5259 BCE enabled the team to date the settlement with single-year precision “Thanks to the painstaking work of these authors, Dispilio is the first site from the Neolithic in the northern Balkans and Greece with an exact absolute timeline,” said Brita Lorentzen an environmental archaeologist at the University of Georgia who was not involved with the study The results provide a chronological reference point for other prehistoric sites in the Mediterranean and may inform research about how early farmers interacted with their environment Get the most fascinating science news stories of the week in your inbox every Friday Archaeologists who study the time before written history must rely on other types of records. Where wooden artifacts are available, those records can be found in tree rings—a method called dendrochronology Each tree ring records the plant’s annual growth Wet years promote growth and produce thick rings Because neighboring trees experience similar weather conditions their yearly rings create a local climatic barcode Scientists can piece together partially overlapping barcodes to create tree ring chronologies spanning thousands of years its rings can be matched up with established chronologies to determine when the tree died “Instead of one continuous chronology going from the present back to 5,000 BC we may instead have several chunks,” Lorentzen explained Radiocarbon ages from the Neolithic have uncertainties of decades or more so chunks of single-year tree ring records need additional constraints to narrow down the period they cover Because there is no continuous tree ring record for the Mediterranean reaching into the Neolithic the new study’s authors initially faced a floating chronology The researchers made use of so-called Miyake events: short intense bombardments of cosmic rays likely caused by massive solar storms At least five Miyake events have been discovered in Earth’s past dating from the 8th millennium BCE to 993 CE it could disrupt satellite and electrical signals and produce aurorae far outside the Arctic Circle “Combining tree rings and radiocarbon of Miyake events is a bit like getting the cheat codes in a video game.” Miyake events cause rapid increases in atmospheric radiocarbon Unlike the thick or thin patterns of tree rings the radiocarbon spikes produced by Miyake events are global This eliminates the need for a regional dendrochronological record “Combining tree rings and radiocarbon of Miyake events is a bit like getting the cheat codes in a video game,” Lorentzen said long chronology extending back from the present we can skip that and anchor a chunk of chronology like that from Dispilio to an exact point in time.” the study’s authors made use of a previously known Miyake event in 5259 BCE Conventional radiocarbon dating suggested the trees had been felled in the mid-6th millennium BCE The researchers then homed in on each tree ring and searched for the Miyake peak Using the Miyake peak as a reference point the researchers determined that Dispilio was occupied for at least 188 years from 5328 to 5140 BCE with intermittent construction during that time “Each of the tree rings in this chronology provides an annual time capsule of the climate and environmental conditions.” “This is the first time that we get annually resolved information on construction episodes on a 6th millennium BC site,” said Andrej Maczkowski an archaeologist at the University of Bern tree ring sequences from Dispilio could be used to precisely date other Neolithic sites in the Mediterranean Wood samples from Dispilio can also provide insights into prehistoric climate, Maczkowski explained. Because a tree ring’s width reflects annual rainfall, scientists can search the dendrochronological record for signs of drought and study how early farmers coped with such crises tree ring records can be combined with archaeological and climate information to reveal how agriculture affected the environment “Each of the tree rings in this chronology provides an annual time capsule of the climate and environmental conditions,” Lorentzen said “So we can look very precisely at both human and climate activities over time and see how they fit together.” —Caroline Hasler (@carbonbasedcary) Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Orestiada in the Evros region of northeastern Greece on Thursday to present his government’s development and reconstruction plan following last year’s catastrophic wildfire Mitsotakis announced a package of 19 measures to be implemented between 2025 and 2027 The aim of these initiatives is to boost employment and entrepreneurship primarily in the northern and central parts of the Evros region while also providing incentives for residents to stay or return to these areas He said that more than 2.83 billion euros would be allocated to the border region with a target horizon of 2030 and that Greece would advocate for additional funding from the European Union “I believe you have every reason to be optimistic today and to feel the government’s support and the security you deserve as citizens protecting Greece’s and Europe’s eastern borders,” Mitsotakis said Last August’s blaze destroyed an area larger than New York City and resulted in at least 20 fatalities making it the deadliest wildfire in Europe in 2023 Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox 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 responding to a kind invitation of Metropolitan Kyprianos of Stara (Old) Zagora on the 5th and 6th of December 2023 visited the beautiful city of Stara Zagora (until the 8th century was called Veria) on the occasion of the feast of the Holy Cathedral of the city of Agios Nikolaos abbot of the Stavropegial Monastery of Bačkovo also participated in the Vespers and the Divine Liturgy Both the address of Metropolitan Kyprianos and the response of Metropolitan Damaskinos stressed the need for the unity of the Ecclesiastical Body and the loving cooperation of the local Churches and especially those who serve in the same wider area of Thrace such as those of the province of Stara Zagora and the province of Didymoteicho offered to the Metropolitan of Stara Zagora an icon of the Virgin Mary with the Amaranth Rose a work of the hagiographer Sophia Papazoglou 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 Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Orthodox Christians are ready to celebrate Easter finding deep reasons for joy even amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic As people gather in-person or online to worship together different nations and diverse communities are coping with vastly different circumstances and challenges Orthodox communities are drawing together to celebrate the risen Christ and the value of the human person Orthodox communities are moving through Holy Week preparing for their traditional Easter celebrations serving the Church of Saint Theodores in Orestiada (Greece) and Abbot of the Monastery of Agia Paraskevi (Nea Vyssa) said that Orthodox communities will not deviate from their holy days and traditions “The services of the Orthodox Easter are performed normally throughout the Holy Week,” he said we follow the measures proposed from the authorities out of respect and love for the faithful and our communities.” Asteriadis said that the scientific community healthcare workers and governments across the globe have gone through an unprecedented struggle for humankind “We can support them by showing our solidarity sacrificial love and spiritual strength,” he said “The Orthodox Church can always find the way to resolve practical difficulties having at the core of its teachings the cross.” He added: “The love of Christ and the value of the human person are the measures that guide us through these challenging times.” It has been difficult this year to visit beautiful places of worship such as the Church of Saints Theodores the Monastery of Saint Paraskevi and Holy Protection.  finding comfort in each other’s presence in whatever way they can at the Monastery of Saint Paraskevi and Holy Protection the world’s 300 million Orthodox Christians are celebrating Easter carrying forth time-honored traditions even in difficult times Orthodox churches are respecting their traditions while equally respecting government rules put into place to stop the spread of COVID-19 some restrictions have eased as infections drop in some nations while others are suffering under new waves of COVID-19 A woman prays by an icon inside the Church of Saints Theodores wearing a mask in view of the restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic Professing their common faith in the crucified and risen Christ at the Church of Saints Theodores Transmitting the light of hope and fearlessness that Christ gives us from one heart to another Still connected by tradition at the Church of Saints Theodores Many families still missed traditional travels out to ancestral villages but many are celebrating Easter surrounded by immediate family or small groups WCC message: As we confront uncertainty, may Easter infuse us with power and courage Please fill in this form if you would like to receive news and updates from the WCC by email Ecumenical CentreKyoto BuildingChemin du Pommier 42CH-1218 Le Grand-Saconnex You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed a festival in Texas and an event in a cinema theater in Orestiada make up the frame of a big picture that journalism has probably missed The situation becomes even more dystopian when considering the close ties between big tech companies and political powers a reality we’ve all recently witnessed which highlights the intersection of technology Both events were dominated by panels on AI and its profound impact on every aspect of human life If I could summarize the essence of both conferences in one sentence it would be that journalism today stands at a critical juncture: adapt and lead or fade away we live in a paradox: information has never been more accessible yet public trust in information has never been lower While newsrooms recognize they are “competing with AI” and influencer-driven content to shape public understanding research presented at SXSW revealed that at least half of both journalists and the public believe non-journalists (YouTubers trust journalism produced by non-journalists the technological advancement of its industry journalism needs to reinforce its core values—accuracy Because these values will distinguish quality journalism from so-called “content.” And just as while artificial intelligence continues to advance journalists need to become more journalistic employing young journalists from around the world amplifying their voices as they explore new approaches “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” iMEdD is a non-profit organization in an effort to enhance transparency founded in 2018 with the exclusive donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Not much happens in Praggi. So when 150 Syrian refugees arrived in the village, high in the flatlands of far-flung north-eastern Greece it was not something residents were likely to forget Some of the Syrians were huddled against the biting cold in the courtyard of the church; others had congregated beneath the trees of a nearby forest. All had made the treacherous journey from Turkey – crossing the fast-flowing waters of the Evros river – in a bid to flee their country's war Then came the white police vans and the Syrian men "Ever since we have lost all trace of them," said Vasillis Papadopoulos a lawyer who defends the rights of migrants and refugees Our firm belief is that they were pushed back into Turkey." immigration experts and international officials are becoming increasingly concerned about the heavy-handed tactics Greek authorities use to keep immigrants away In a recent report released by Amnesty International Greece was strongly criticised for its "deplorable treatment" of would-be refugees especially Syrians desperate to escape their nation's descent civil war Enforced deportations – highlighted by an alarming rise of migrant deaths – have spurred the criticism In contravention of international conventions signed by Athens coastguard officials and police officers have waged a concerted campaign to stop thousands from accessing EU territory via Greece Illegal pushbacks have been the focus of those efforts The drive has intensified as Greece – long seen as the EU's easiest backdoor entrance – has struggled to keep its economic and social fabric together in the face of the country's worst crisis in modern times Since prime minister Antonis Samaras's conservative-led coalition assumed power in the midst of the crisis last year authorities have faced charges of violently apprehending migrants beating them and stripping them of their belongings Special coastguard units – often masked and dressed in black – have been accused of dumping migrants without any consideration for their safety "The number and scale of these alleged incidents raises serious concerns," said Ketty Kehayioylou at the Greek outpost of the UN refugee agency "We still don't know what happened to the two groups in Praggi," she said "No one was ever registered at the First Reception Centre as foreseen by national law and we've demanded an investigation." The claims come as Amnesty International urged Greece to launch an inquiry into comments by the country's police chief in which it is alleged he ordered his officers to make the lives of immigrants unbearable "If they told me I could go to a country … and would be detained for three months and then would be free to steal and rob … it would be great," Papagiannopoulos the highest security official in the land after the public order minister was quoted as telling officers during a secretly recorded meeting "We must make their lives unbearable." The comments were published by the investigative magazine John Dalhuisen, Amnesty's director for Europe and Central Asia the deeply shocking statements attributed to the Greek chief of police would expose a wilful disregard for the rights and welfare of refugees and migrants seeking shelter and opportunity in the European Union." With allegations of torture also on the rise two senior coastguard officials were jailed last month after a military court found them guilty of subjecting an asylum seeker to a mock execution and water-boarding The discovery of ever more bodies – in the Aegean Sea and around the land border Greece shares with Turkey – have also raised the alarm recently estimated that 149 people had died this year – an increase attributed mostly to the enormous risks refugees were prepared to take since Greece sealed its land border with Turkey in August 2012 Following the construction of the fence – a six-mile barricade topped with thermal and sonar sensors – traffickers have focused on ferrying their human cargo to Greek islands in the Aegean Sea "The brutality and extent of violations are shocking," it claimed "Refugees are being brutally pushed back by Greek authorities This is happening systematically with the complicity of other European authorities despite the fact that it is against international law." detections of illegal immigrants in the Aegean Sea have increased by 912% since the barbed-wire barrier went up a hair-raising element of Fortress Europe," said Aphrodite Stambouli MP of the radical left main opposition Syriza party "It is outrageous that people in need of international protection should be obstructed from getting it in this way." she travelled to the remote Evros region – passing signs emblazoned with the words "danger: mines" and guards posted at checkpoints – to learn for herself what had happened in Praggi "What we know is that 150 Syrians crossed the border because relatives they called both in Greece and other European capitals have confirmed that that is what happened," she said some of us in a forest.' The police version of events that only 13 [refugees] were found that day does not add up and that is because they were obviously pushed back over the border." Immigration experts say blame lies partly with the rise of xenophobia in Greece, where the virulently anti-immigrant, neo-fascist Golden Dawn party is now the country's third biggest political force But they add that Greek authorities are under immense EU pressure to do the "dirty work" of buttressing what is widely seen as the bloc's most porous border northern Europe's policy has always been that the south has to assume the burden of stopping irregular migration," said Martin Baldwin-Edwards who heads the Mediterranean Migration Observatory in Athens and the disrespect Turkey and Greece have historically shown for migrants' human rights account for the push-backs." Last week Turkey signed a deal with the EU promising to repatriate immigrants who illegally enter the 28-nation bloc in return for its citizens being granted visa-free travel across the union "It's hugely important," said Baldwin-Edwards "Turkey is the main point of entry from Asia and the Middle East The more it is brought into the European ambit and assumes the responsibility of managing Europe's south eastern borders it will lessen the pressure on Greece." In the forlorn villages of squat one-story homes that dot the frontier's heavily militarised zone the push-backs have caused consternation even if residents – many hard-bitten nationalists – have welcomed the erection of the wall "The fence may have made us feel safer but we also know that all these people want is to pass through," said Nikos Dollis ,who runs a cafe in Nea Vyssa the last settlement before the frontier in one of Greece's most secretive corners "Their intention is never to stay here Demonstrators recently protested outside the police headquarters in Orestiada the gritty town that is the region's biggest metropolis in a display of outrage over the incident in Praggi a human rights campaigner who edits Orestiada's weekly newspaper "We want to know what really happened to the 150 Syrians whose only crime was to want to escape the war," she said after spending days investigating the affair "Are the police saying that everyone in Praggi is mad The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Divine Liturgy on Saturday George of the Bulgarian-speaking Community of Adrianople The service was co-officiated by Metropolitan Amphilochios of Adrianople the Metropolitans Damaskinos of Didymoteicho The Metropolitans Elder Emmanuel of Chalcedon and Theoliptos of Iconium the Consuls of Greece and Bulgaria Aris Radiopoulos and Borislav Dimitrov the Presidents of the Bulgarian-speaking Communities of Edirne Dimitrios Giotov and Vyssa and other areas of neighboring Evros attended the service the Ecumenical Patriarch referred to the Saints and the martyrs that Adrianople gave to the Church Speaking about the life and personality of his Holy predecessor he recalled that in 1803 he was elected Metropolitan of Iconium and in 1810 he became Metropolitan of his hometown “he was called to serve the Holy Apostolic and Ecumenical Patriarchal Throne of Constantinople Saint Cyril VI is the patron saint of all Orthodox all of Thrace on both sides of the state border in which Orthodox Christians massacre Orthodox Christians in Ukraine expel and force to expatriation of millions of people energetically exclude countries and peoples threaten with nuclear destruction the world and generally completely overthrow the Gospel and the ethos of Christianity in a demonic way to stop the devastating war and to give His peace to the long-suffering country and the whole world!” Photos: Nikos Papachristou / Ecumenical Patriarchate In the wake of Germany’s decision to reintroduce controls at its external borders the Hellenic Police (ELAS) is updating its plan for the protection of the land borders between Greece and Turkey on the Evros River The decision was taken not so much because the country is facing increased migratory pressure on the Evros but to send a message of vigilance in a period of generalized instability the Hellenic Police and we are protecting the country’s borders and guaranteeing the security of Greece,” said Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrysochoidis during his visit on Tuesday to the border station at Kastanies Sources have told Kathimerini that patrols at the land border in Evros will be increased by around 20% A high-ranking ELAS officer told Kathimerini that several groups of border guards who have been patrolling the mountainous areas of Evros regional unit in the past will henceforth be assigned to policing the riverside area Commenting indirectly but clearly on Germany’s decision to unilaterally suspend the Schengen Treaty where there is a legal entry point and passport controls are carried out as provided for by the Treaty and the Migration Pact our mission is being carried out without exception and I believe that all Europeans recognize this great effort that we are making.” He also reiterated the decision of the ministry’s leadership to recruit an additional 150 border guards – 100 of them will be allocated to the prefecture of Rodopi and the remaining 50 to the regional unit of Kavala The newly recruited border guards will patrol the mountainous areas of Kavala and Komotini to limit the so-called “secondary flows” – i.e the passage of migrants from Turkey to Bulgaria via Greece the government is also mulling an expansion of the fence with the present contract for the central Evros River nearing completion 4 more kilometers of the total 35 kilometers of the contract concerning the section of the borderline connecting Psathades and Didymoticho with Kornofolia in Soufli have not yet been constructed A well-informed source told Kathimerini that the government has decided to proceed with a new extension of the border fence while diplomatic contacts and processes are under way for the further extension of the project to be financed by both national and European funds Defence minister says arrests have aggravated already strained ties between two countries Protesters have taken to the streets of northern Greece demanding the release of two Greek soldiers detained by Turkey amid rising tensions between the two countries described the pair as “hostages” and ordered border patrols to be stepped up along the heavily defended land frontier the two nations share were seized 11 days ago after allegedly being found in a “forbidden military zone” deep in Turkish territory The soldiers say they inadvertently strayed across the frontier in bad weather Last week a court in the Turkish border town of Edirne, where the two are being held in a high-security prison, rejected a plea for their release pending further investigation protesters called for the soldiers to be set free immediately “We want to send the message that we live in peace and harmony with our neighbours in this area,” said members of the Orestiada cycling club who held a separate protest riding to the border in a display of solidarity for the detainees Kammenos said the arrests had aggravated already strained ties between the neighbouring countries had reached the point where the two nations were “very close to a fatal accident” the minister told the French daily Libération at the weekend referring to repeated air and sea violations of Greek territory by Turkish forces In comments to the German newspaper Die Zeit said the Turkish judiciary was still trying to establish whether the soldiers entered Turkey deliberately confirming Greek fears that the pair could be charged with espionage “They crossed the border illegally and it is up to the prosecutors and judges who need to know what is behind this case Did it happen inadvertently or was it deliberate They want to be sure,” Çavuşoğlu said when asked when the men would be released Athens’ leftist-led government raised the case with Nato and the United Nations last week Kammenos told his Romanian counterpart during a visit to Bucharest that Greece was seeking support for the “immediate release of Nato Cross-border infractions are common and Athens argues that Ankara has deliberately sought to raise the stakes in what would ordinarily be a routine affair resolved at officer level Suspicion has grown that the pair were deliberately snatched in a tit-for-tat move sparked by anger over Greece’s refusal to extradite eight Turkish officers who sought political asylum after a botched coup attempt against the president Greece’s supreme court has rejected the extradition request would not be given a fair trial in a country that has become increasingly autocratic since the failed putsch The honorary head of the Hellenic National Defence General staff Manoussos Paragiodakis said there was evidence to believe the two soldiers had been “set up” by a unit especially trained for the task “There is no way they were simply arrested by Turkish soldiers,” he told Skai TV “It must have been some other force which is trained to do that some kind of special force which had been trained to snatch two Greek forces Turkish diplomats have vehemently denied the accusations Çavuşoğlu rebuffed any suggestion that Ankara wanted to exchange the Greeks for the eight officers “We do not want such a bargain,” he told Die Zeit Diplomats in Europe have become increasingly alarmed as tensions have risen markedly not only along the land border between Greece and Turkey but in the Aegean Sea and off the coast of Cyprus where Ankara has threatened to use military force in a dispute over the ethnically divided island’s right to explore for oil and gas reserves In February a Turkish vessel rammed a Greek coastguard ship as both patrolled the waters off the disputes isle of Imia officials fear such incidents – and the concomitant risk of an accident – is bound to increase The mood in Turkey has become increasingly fractious ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections next year With the country in a state of emergency since the coup Erdoğan and his Islamist AKP party have sought to exploit nationalist fervour going so far as to team up with the nationalist opposition MHP party in an attempt to secure greater power Erdoğan surprised supporters by making a hand gesture long associated with the fascist Grey Wolves an unprecedented move by any leader since the foundation of modern Turkey The Metropolitan pointed out that the priesthood was sacrifice and offering and he hoped that the ministry of the newly ordained deacon would be inspired by the testimony and martyrdom of the saints and especially of Saint Marina the Great Martyr Metropolitan presided over the Great Vespers Service at the Chapel and Catacomb of Saint Marina Αναβαθμίστε τον για να δείτε σωστά αυτό το site. Αναβαθμίστε τον browser σας τώρα! × Kathimerini travels to Edirne on the Turkish-Greek border where thousands of refugees and migrants are waiting to cross the people of Edirne were counting down the days to the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr On the main promenade in the downtown area young women shopped for scarves and street peddlers sold Turkish flags a completely different crowd was trying to get its message across Hundreds of refugees and migrants were holding a protest rally at Ilhan Koman Park They held their babies and children aloft and shouted Greece!” One of them approached the TV cameras with a cardboard placard reading “We love Merkel,” referring to the German chancellor Responding to a call on Facebook via the Crossing No More community Iraqis and Palestinians had made the almost 250-kilometer trip from Istanbul to Edirne 9 kilometers from the land border with Greece's Evros region Some traveled from refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon when they heard of the campaign The key demand was for the gateway to Europe to open so they wouldn't have to turn to the smugglers in Izmir and Bodrum and take their chances with the “boats of death.” “We heard that this was the cheapest and a safe way to cross into Europe,” said 26-year-old Syrian Serhan Elafi The protest movement caused concern on the Greek side More patrol vehicles were dispatched to Evros and locations on the border around the town of Orestiada were buttressed with more police The customs officials at Kastanies were worried about developments thousands will follow,” one of the customs officials told Kathimerini took emergency measures to thwart the refugees' plan Around 2,500 refugees and migrants managed to stay in the town but they have become trapped there The rest were led to an arena on the outskirts of town used for a traditional form of wrestling in which the athletes' bodies are covered in oil A makeshift camp was set up in the locker rooms The governor initially gave them three days to evacuate the premises He prayed with them and tried to explain that they were on a futile mission Police negotiators and a team from the Interior Ministry made daily visits and tried to convince the crowd to stop marching They flew three refugee representatives to Ankara to hold talks with Davutoglu “The voices of our Syrian brothers have been heard by the entire world They must now return to a normal life,” Davutoglu said a video of the meeting was shown on a giant screen at the arena the refugees' exhaustion and frustration started becoming apparent in their faces and reactions The group protesting at the park started to fall apart Their representatives could no longer coordinate them One of them was lambasted by a group of young Syrians when he tried to explain that they were at a dead end and had to leave the town and join the others at the arena camp A number of families started to board the buses rented by the Interior Ministry to make the trip back to the cities from where they had started their journeys “We will rent hotels to secure their accommodation,” Sahin said Turkish police remanded five activists near Istanbul who are suspected of inciting another group of refugees not to cooperate with Turkish authorities and to keep marching to Edirne The park there was eventually evacuated but hundreds remained at the arena – they were not ready to give up “I have made preparations for my family to stay here for at least two weeks,” said 28-year-old Syrian Soumar Kriker He had just recently traveled from Jordan to Edirne to accompany his two sisters and their children to Europe They had originally planned to reach Izmir and then cross by boat to one of the Greek islands of Lesvos or Chios Then they heard it would be possible to make the trip overland Turkish historian and writer Ismail Keskin has been watching the Edirne campaign with a lot of interest In a recently published novel he tells the story of a large family of Syrians trying to cross the bloated Evros River from Edirne into Greece on smugglers' directions “After [Angela] Merkel announced that Germany will be taking in thousands of refugees it became a utopian destination for Syrians,” he said “That was then followed by a suspension of the Schengen agreement by Germany Some 2 million Syrians live in Turkey today A law passed in 2014 grants them certain privileges such as free healthcare and admission to university without entrance exams has witnessed several cases of refugees being taken advantage of He says that apartment rental rates have doubled in some neighborhoods since the Syrians started to move in Some of those who had planned to settle in Turkey later decided to move on west after discovering that they would earn less than the minimum wage at factories Soumar waited for a breakthrough from the European Union summit on the refugee crisis in Brussels last Wednesday The coordinators of the Edirne campaign had created the impression that the EU would reach some kind of specific decision on the refugees trapped in Edirne The main actual decisions to come from the meeting were to help the countries neighboring Syria and to increase dialogue with Turkey the refugees at Edirne's wrestling arena started leaving still had some hope of making the crossing but he did not know that what was waiting for them on the land border between Greece and Turkey was a 10.3-kilometer fence topped with security cameras and reinforced with barbed wire “I studied the route on my GPS but I'm not going alone; we're all going together I know it's hard but I don't know why,” he said A military jeep was waiting for us just outside the village of Nea Vyssa at the point where the asphalt ends and the dirt road begins where the double fence rises 2.5 meters on the Turkish side and 3 meters on the Greek side a part of the fence was damaged by floods and was repaired in September by the caretaker government There are plans to construct floodgates so this does not happen again thermal vision security cameras keep guard at night and vehicle patrols can be seen along the roads The permanent force of Evros (based in Orestiada and Alexandroupoli) consists of 400 border guards and 250 police officers dispatched in the last couple of years An operation is also under way until October 14 called REX 2015 (RABIT Exercise 2015) which consists of 80 members of the EU border agency Frontex and Greek police officers Since its construction in December 2012 (at a cost of 5.5 million euros) the fence has proved impregnable but has also shifted the migration flow to the islands of the Aegean “In 2010 we made 36,000 arrests in Orestiada while this year we have made just 1,300 arrests so far,” explains Paschalis Syritoudis More than 110,000 migrants and refugees have landed on the shores of Lesvos alone so far this year “Before the fence was built they would come through in droves anything we could,” said Christos Kyriakidis the owner of a cafe at Nea Vyssa who has been observing developments at Edirne – an area which has seen numerous battles and sieges over the centuries while also serving as the crossing point during the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1923 Fewer refugees and migrants may stop by Kyriakidis's cafe these days but the daily police reports from the Orestiada and Alexandroupoli stations almost always contain at least one arrest of a smuggler police had flagged down a vehicle with fake license plates on a rural Evros road He dumped the vehicle in a narrow lane and tried to escape through the fields on foot He was arrested and a subsequent search of the vehicle revealed 12 undocumented migrants hiding inside “We have always been under pressure from international criminal organizations that are well networked and have people in Turkey explaining that Greek and Bulgarian smugglers are usually the last link in the chain the people who drive the vehicles that pick up the migrants and refugees at the border and take them further inland 115 suspected smugglers were arrested in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace But the networks always find a way to sneak past the patrols and roadblocks During our visit last week we saw a family of Syrians suddenly emerging from a field they stopped for a few minutes to catch their breath at the side of a country road One of the men in the group gave the signal to keep going: “Germany!” he shouted Reporting: YIANNIS PAPADOPOULOS For Kathimerini and for EKathimerini.gr Fifty-three asylum seekers, comprising Kurds and Turks fleeing a crackdown on non-loyalist citizens in Turkey, were attacked and forcibly returned to Turkey by unidentified, knife-wielding men along the Greek border at Evros on Thursday, relatives of the victims told Bünyamin Tekin from Turkish Minute On Thursday videos emerged on Twitter showing men women and children claiming to be assaulted by the masked individuals asylum seekers had recorded pleas for shelter from the Greek government saying they had fled political repression from the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan the Turkish government initiated a massive purge of state institutions jailing tens of thousands under the pretext of an anti-coup fight The government has faced criticism for using vague counterterrorism laws to imprison critics and opponents of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) particularly alleged affiliates of the faith-based Gülen movement inspired by Turkish cleric Fethullah Gülen This has resulted in thousands of people fleeing Turkey due to a widespread witch-hunt against alleged members of the Gülen movement As many had their passports revoked by the government some have sought to leave the country illegally On Thursday disturbing videos of asylum seekers in distress prompted social media activists to rally support and call for intervention from Greek and EU authorities to prevent the asylum seekers from being forcibly returned to Turkey ASSEDEL (L’Association européenne pour la défense des droits et des libertés) a Strasbourg-based non-profit organization applied to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) for an interim measure concerning the asylum seekers The Strasbourg court promptly decided on an interim measure indicating to the Greek government that the group should not be removed from Greece and should be provided with the necessary care until further notice there were originally 61 asylum seekers who had crossed the Evros River and were waiting on the Greek side as directed by smugglers they were reportedly attacked by the masked men their belongings were seized and they were forcibly transported back across the river to the Turkish side Eight of the initial group are still unaccounted for Turkish authorities have reportedly detained the remaining 53 individuals 37 fled prosecution due to alleged affiliation with the Gülen movement while the rest were politically active Kurds claims on social media suggesting the group had been in Greek custody were later refuted by the victims The Bold Medya news website shared footage of three injured children from the group being transported to a Turkish hospital 📌Dün Yunanistan'ın Orestiada bölgesinde çetelerin bıçaklı saldırısında ayağına darbe alan Zeynep K. (7), Edirne Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi'ne kaldırıldı. 📌AİHM kararına rağmen geri itilen Hatice-Gürsel Karaca çifti gözaltında tutuluyor. Hatice Karaca'nın travmayı… pic.twitter.com/IJ5bBIR9Dq With the aim of containing the seemingly uncontrollable flow of migrants overland from Turkey, the government is reportedly mulling a plan to make the Evros River on the country’s northeast border impenetrable by extending an already existing iron fence in Orestiada along its entire length, ekathimerini.com reports as the Evros stretches for more than 230 kilometers on the Greek side of the border if the river breaks its banks in winter – not a rare phenomenon – the fence could collapse despite the difficulties involved in bringing such a plan to fruition a fence is still considered an effective means of prevention as demonstrated by the one that already exists in Orestiada A similar steel-enforced fence put up by Bulgaria and stretching over 250 kilometers along its border with Turkey has also proven exceptionally effective the government is seriously considering the plan since there are no signs that the migrants flows will let up any time soon there are no indications that Turkey will stop using the refugee/migrant issue as a weapon in the years to come – by threatening to send more people over the border if its demands are not met depending on the state of Greek-Turkish relations and those between Ankara and Europe the numbers of migrants crossing the river are rising and they are often seen in groups crossing the Egnatia Highway and passing through the villages in the area – in particular to the increasing dismay of local communities many of these migrants have been seeking shelter from the cold in warehouses and farm buildings where they light fires to keep warm In certain cases this has led to fires that have destroyed installations and equipment who have also reported a rise in thefts and petty crime Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Reinhard Dietrich Samaria Gorge “War Zone” – “Others Decide, We Pay the Price” Top distinctions for Greece and Santorini at the American Leisure Lifestyle Awards 2025 TripAdvisor Awards 2025 | Elafonisi Beach World's Best Beach - 9th in Crete, Sani Beach Award 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 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 Juneyao Airlines: More direct flights from Shanghai to Athens in 2025 Alltours: Familiarization trip to Greece for 250 travel agents Nations Cup Beach Volleyball is coming to TUI Magic Life Candia Maris on May 16-18 Navarino Challenge returns on May 9-11, 2025 Traditional Easter in Naxos: Unique Customs and Local Cuisine Annual revenue of over 43,000 euros for Airbnb in Mykonos and Santorini Destination Management and Promotion Organization established in Heraklion  Lyft steps up European presence with FreeNow acquisition Jet2: Four new Greek destinations from Luton in summer 2026 Athens is the new hotspot in Europe for hotel investments - the 8th most attractive city in 2025 Significant increase of over 18% in direct bookings at Greek hotels for Easter Short-term rental: 1.15 million available nights in March in Greece What the Israeli Ambassador discussed at the Chania Chamber ATM'25 - Tourism | The fight against food waste at the forefront of sustainable development PM at 1st Greece-Saudi Arabia High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council on Monday Greece's Permanent Delegation to UNESCO organizing concert on January 16 Athens to host the European Film Awards in 2027 German tourism: Advance bookings are the new "last-minute" What to expect at this year’s ITB Berlin Exhibition from March 4-6 North Macedonia: Increase in foreign tourists in 2024 The 20 "loudest" luxury hotel arrivals in Greece in 2025 Athens Municipality Festival 2025 | The city's biggest celebration, with more than 200 events Tri-city winter luncheon unites upstate New York Philoptochos chapters ELSTAT: Hospitality enterprises' turnover grows 28.6% in Greece during Q1 Alonissos tops the list of Greek destinations without mass tourism Direct connection of Chania airport to Israel to be strengthened easyJet holidays | Fam trips to Santorini, Skiathos and Rhodes Greek tourism sets new records in 2024: 36 million visitors and €22 billion revenue Navarino Challenge returns on May 9-11, 2025 Chania: The next actions of the “Tourism Partnership” Increase in visitor numbers and revenues to museums and archaeological sites in 2024 Passenger traffic in Q1 | +9.1% at CAA airports, +6.5% in all Greek Tourism 2024: Record Performance at a Glance Ryanair: New Brussels – Volos connection in summer 2025 Samaria Gorge “War Zone” – “Others Decide, We Pay the Price” Global air passenger traffic hits record high in 2024 with 5.85 billion airline seats Greeks Traveled (A Lot!) in 2024 – Where They Went, How Much They Spent HOT: » What kind of news would you like to see more of? Police from across the EU have arrived in Greece to patrol its border with Turkey against illegal immigrants as part of the continued "Joint Operation Poseidon" of Frontex Police officers and equipment from Bulgaria Slovakia and Denmark will be deployed along the border with Turkey in Northeastern Greece which is a major point of entry into the EU for illegal immigrants The mission is expected to last for two months and will focus on policing a previously unguarded 12-km section of a river border between the towns of Nea Vyssa and Orestiada This is the first time a rapid-intervention border team has been deployed to an EU member state since the Frontex teams were created in 2007 coordinating the operational cooperation between member states in the field of border security under the European Patrol Network project has agreed to place 175 police officers from across the EU after last month Greece requested from it help to cope with the growing number of refugees from African countries Iraq and Afghanistan penetrating through its river and land border with Turkey A surge in the number of illegal immigrants captured in Northeastern Greece is clearly underway compared with 34 000 in the first nine months of 2010 The surge is seen to be the result of the closure of another route for illegal immigration from Libya to Italy A recently made controversial bilateral agreement allows Italian patrol vessels to turn back at sea any boats transporting illegal migrants which has a longer land border with Turkey than Greece has not detected a substantial increase of illegal immigrants seeking to enter the EU even though the Bulgarian border police occasionally capture small groups of illegal migrants from the Middle East and Africa EU's Joint Operation Poseidon started in 2006 as a purely sea-based operation patrolling the coastal waters between Greece and Turkey Poseidon has also had a land-based component covering the Greek and Bulgarian land borders with Turkey — now confirmed as the dominant country of transit for irregular migration into the EU We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria Bulgaria and Greece have signed a draft Joint Declaration regarding the use of the Arda River waters over the next five years following a decision by the Bulgarian Council of Ministers A series of powerful earthquakes shook western Turkey on April 23 causing panic among residents but resulting in no fatalities or serious damage A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck western Turkey at approximately 12:50 Bulgaria and Turkey's long-standing partnership continues to serve as a model in Europe for securing national and external EU borders Bulgarians rank among the leading buyers of real estate in Northern Greece Former Environment Minister Assen Lichev has accused Greece of violating Bulgaria’s rights within the European Union Bulgaria's Minister of Defense Todor Tagarev admitted the possibility that an explosive device might have been planted on board the crashed plane in which Yevgeny Prigozhin was traveling The European Commission has announced that it is preparing criminal proceedings against Bulgaria and Portugal for incorrect application of the rules on the exchange of data on criminal records and the establishment of the relevant The European Commission has started an evaluation of the Plan for Reconstruction and Development of Bulgaria said the spokesman of the European Commission Eric Mamer The document was submitted to the Commission on 15 October 58% of Bulgarians do not support the introduction of the euro as the official currency in the country This shows a study prepared by Trend agency specifically for the financial forum NEXT DIFI 2021 Too late Bulgaria began to explain its own position towards North Macedonia as it should have been clear to our European partners some time ago An SPD-led government in Germany has significant potential to sharpen international attention to the problems of corruption in Bulgaria Google Street View Cars Return to Bulgaria for Major Mapping Update Housing Prices Soar in Bulgaria’s Major Cities as Demand and Supply Strain Increase At a time when finding housing in the major cities of Greece feels like “a headache” for citizens houses in Didymoteicho and the rest of Evros are being sold at bargain prices and plots of land with no demand,” real estate agent Alexandros Gerasoudis said on SKAI Most of the unsold properties are located in the remote villages of northern Evros the houses are ready to live in with just minor renovations,” he added Detached House for €35,000 and Apartment for €23,000On the TV program “Where Greece Exists,” a detached house below the castle of Didymoteicho was showcased this specific house is habitable and comes with a 140 sq.m there are no buyers at all,” said Gerasoudis for €12,000When asked whether foreign residents Gerasoudis responded positively and referred to a case of a detached house near Ormenio you can’t even install windows or get permits,” he commented Similar cases exist in villages like Sofiko they could come and live here almost for free,” noted Alexandros Gerasoudis and even Alexandroupoli have exceeded €3,000 per square meter ‘Give us whatever you can.’ When someone offers you a house for €10,000 or €20,000… Those who see this should consider it Instead of living in a dreadful basement in Athens and paying outrageous rent they’re being given the opportunity to come to beautiful Evros and own a home The population here is aging—the youngest person in the villages is 85 years old to revitalize the villages,”** Gerasoudis said Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr Orestiada has a high level of seismic activity Based on data from the past 55 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900 there are about 58 quakes on average per year in or near Orestiada Orestiada has had at least 2 quakes above magnitude 6 since 1900 which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently probably on average approximately every 60 to 65 years The last earthquake in Orestiada occurred 3 days ago and had a magnitude of 1.1: Mag. 1.1 earthquake Merkez (Kırklareli) - writeAge(1746259710)A light magnitude 1.1 earthquake hit Merkez (Kırklareli) in the morning of Saturday The quake had a very shallow depth of 7.9 km (4.9 mi) and was too small to be felt by people Orestiada was shaken by 1 quake of magnitude 4.3 There have been also 28 quakes below magnitude 2.0 which people don't normally feel 2025 at 3.12 pm local time (Europe/Istanbul GMT +3) The quake had a very shallow depth of 9.4 km (5.8 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so) Deputy Minister of Health Eirini Agapidaki visited Evros today marking the official launch of the Mobile Health Units (KOMY) an innovative service that strengthens Primary Healthcare by offering free basic medical and preventive check-ups to residents of remote areas across the country Specifically, Ms. Agapidaki traveled to Ormenio, the northernmost village of Greece where she chose to kickstart the Mobile Health Units’ operations emphasizing the importance of equal access to healthcare services for all citizens The Mobile Health Units conducted their first medical check-ups on local residents before making house calls to vulnerable groups (elderly The Deputy Minister was welcomed and accompanied throughout her visit by Christodoulos Topsidis Regional Governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace; Evangelos Poulilios Deputy Regional Governor of Evros; Georgios Dalakouras Thematic Deputy Regional Governor for Health and Family Policy; Adamantios Papadopoulos Mayor of Orestiada; as well as the local community leaders of Ormenio and Petrota Also present were Christos Chatzichristodoulou President of the National Public Health Organization (EODY) Agapidaki held a press conference at the Orestiada Town Hall.“Our primary concern is citizens who experience health inequalities have access to quality healthcare services,” the Deputy Minister emphasized.“The Mobile Health Units prove in practice that healthcare knows no geographic boundaries They help bridge health inequalities by bringing essential medical and care services closer to those who need them most we take another step to ensure that no one is left behind Agapidaki will accompany the Mobile Health Units to three villages (Dikaia where they will provide medical check-ups to residents and conduct home visits as well