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 Two people lost their lives and five others were injured in a serious road accident in Kozani at the Polymylos toll plaza on the Egnatia Highway when a truck slammed into vehicles waiting at the toll booths The truck then hit a protective barrier before crashing into the toll station booth the victims were passengers in the first two vehicles struck by the truck Fire department units and emergency responders rushed to the scene Two of the injured were transported to the Veria General Hospital while three others with minor injuries were taken to the Kozani Hospital Several vehicles were trapped at the toll station due to the incident Witnesses said thick fog blanketed the area at the time of the crash The truck driver was arrested and will undergo toxicological testing A preliminary investigation is underway to determine the exact causes and circumstances of the crash traffic from Veria to Kozani is being diverted through Kastania via the old national road Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox Veria in Greece is a town with a rich and layered history spanning over 2,500 years But despite its heritage – and being just 45 minutes drive from Thessaloniki – it is often overlooked by even the most discerning tourists Most of us no doubt have heard of Alexander The Great of Macedon and his conquest of the mighty Persian Empire What many don’t know is that he hailed from Aigai the royal capital of the Macedonian empire which today is the modest town of Vergina just 8 kilometres from the centre of modern Veria Veria is also rich in Byzantine architecture so much so that it’s earned the nickname ‘Little Jerusalem’ Here are 6 of the key historic sites to visit in Veria Veria’s rich Byzantine history is visible all around with more than 40 churches from the mid and late Byzantine periods scattered around the city The Old Cathedral of Veria is one of the most beautiful surviving temples of the middle Byzantine period which the Bishop of Veria built between 1070 and 1080 AD It is an architectural masterpiece of three-aisled basilicas and has many similarities in the shape with the early Christian temple of St The Old Cathedral incorporates early Christian architecture and artwork as well glorious paintings from the 12th without proper maintenance or restoration work being undertaken It was even used as a stable during the German Occupation of Greece in World War Two Byzantine monuments abound in Veria and the surrounding area and many Byzantine artefacts have been collated in the city’s Byzantine Museum Located in an old industrial building dating to 1911 the Byzantine Museum is home to countless Byzantine relics Visitors to the museum can expect to witness frescoes visitors can see examples of two Ottoman houses dating back to the 18th century These were unique secular architectural monuments built on top of the ancient Roman walls and defensive towers of the city No visit to Veria is complete without stopping off in the Jewish neighbourhood of Barbouta Veria was home to a significant Jewish population which played an important role in the cultural and commercial life of the city from the Ottoman years visit the synagogue which was restored and opened to the public around 2002 Romaniote Jews lived here since the early years of the Roman Empire They were removed by the Ottomans to repopulate Constantinople and their place was taken by Sephardi Jews less than half a century later Sephardi Jews’ connection with Veria came to a sudden and violent stop during the Nazi occupation of Greece many of Veria’s Jewish citizens were deported first to Thessaloniki then to concentration camps 460 died in the Holocaust and many others fled to the US or Israel Virtually no Jewish people returned to Veria in the immediate aftermath of World War Two Just outside of Veria is the ancient settlement of Aigai It was there that archaeologist Manolis Andronikos discovered the Royal Tombs of Philip II in 1977 Philip II was the father of Alexander the Great and also supreme organiser of the Macedonian army The Tombs now are a UNESCO World Heritage site a new museum in the area will offer visitors access to 4 heritage sites: The Royal Tombs Recently re-excavated and freshly presented the Palace of Aigai was constructed during the reign of Philip II (359-336 BC) and is thought to be one of the largest structures of classical Greece Utterly revolutionary and avant-garde for its time the Palace of Aigai was designed for Philip by an ingenious architect known for his contribution to the construction of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus It became an archetype for many of the palaces in the Hellenistic world and beyond this huge building – larger even that the Parthenon – was visible from the whole Macedonian basin It is a remarkable landmark and a lasting symbol of power and beauty visitors can witness a 30m long and 7m tall reconstruction of the palace’s upper floor revealing all the elements of the palace’s intricate architecture The city of Aigai was destroyed after the defeat by the Romans in 168 BC and then fell into decline and was gradually forgotten The relics of the city’s former role as the Macedonian capital are preserved in its Necropolis standing monuments commemorate those that lived and died in the region The Necropolis contains more than 500 ancient tumuli (mounds erected over graves) and covers a vast area where countless historic artefacts have been uncovered over the years History Hit brings you the stories that shaped the world through our award winning podcast network and an online history channel as well as exclusive offers from our shop and carefully selected partners Sign Me Up Latest UpdatesCountries Why Join?IL MagazineFree Daily E-LetterVideoOur ExpertsTestimonialsFAQsTopics Marni Patterson is a freelance travel writer When people travel to Greece, they often visit iconic spots like the Acropolis, Mykonos, or Santorini I ventured off the beaten path to discover fascinating places that few travelers ever experience My journey through eight little-known towns spanned centuries of history I walked in the footsteps of Alexander the Great and Paul the Apostle and visited monasteries dating back to the 11th century I navigated mountain villages with streets so narrow that I questioned whether my rented Volkswagen Polo would fit I encountered breathtaking scenery where steep The adventure began in Thessaloniki a region with three peninsulas that extend into the Aegean Sea: Kassandra Learn more about a slower pace of life in Greece and other countries in our free daily postcard e-letter Simply enter your email address below and we'll also send you a FREE REPORT — Retire in Greece—Find Your Dream Retirement in This European Archipelago a tiny mountain town with impossibly narrow streets The public fountains scattered around town caught my eye many adorned with paintings by local artists The town’s most prominent feature is the Byzantine Tower It’s one of the best-preserved towers in northern Greece Historians believe it was likely used for water storage so I recommend parking in the town square or along the road near the tower turnoff Next, I arrived in Psakoudia, a seaside town located midway between the Kassandra and Sithonia peninsulas. I stayed at the Philoxenia Hotel which became my base for exploring Halkidiki Psakoudia is ideal for sightseeing, offering easy access to all three peninsulas. Visitors flock to Halkidiki during summer for its luxurious beaches, lively beachfront bars, and wellness centers like the Thermal Spa of Agia Paraskevi My first excursion took me to Ouranoupolis were awe-inspiring even from 500 meters offshore Boats must stay 1,500 feet from shore for religious reasons one of the most picturesque villages on the Kassandra peninsula it offers stunning views of the Aegean Sea and Sithonia Its cobbled streets and stone buildings begged to be explored stands on the ruins of an older church destroyed in the Greco-Turkish War I reached an overlook with panoramic views of the Aegean and several restaurants serving local delicacies like spanakopita and souvlaki If you decide to stay overnight, the Blue Bay Hotel has comfortable reasonably priced rooms with gorgeous views of the Aegean Sea Ormylia is a small village near Psakoudia surrounded by olive groves and mountains dotted with windmills and stone churches Its main attraction is the Holy Monastery of the Annunciation Over 100 sisters from around the world live there and have jobs according to their talents and interests Some cultivate organic olives and produce the monastery’s own brand of extra virgin olive oil Sisters who enjoy crafts carve religious icons out of wood or make vestments with fabric they make by hand on old looms. Those who are musically inclined are famous for their beautiful chanting and have published several CDs and DVDs and for prayer services on major religious holidays call (30) 237-104-1278 to make a reservation Plan ahead because there’s a six-month waiting list a mountainside town built like an amphitheater Its name derives from poly (many) and gyros (rounds) I headed west past Thessaloniki to Vergina the original capital of Macedonia and Alexander the Great’s childhood home I saw the tomb of Philip II and treasures unearthed from the ancient city On the way to Veria, I stopped at the New Polycentric Museum of Aigai, which is located at the original site of the Royal Palace of Macedonia A large atrium shows a restored portion of the palace's upper floor and objects used in religious ceremonies and provide insight into life during the time of Alexander the Great Veria was the third most important city of the Byzantine Empire I met my friend Ioannis to delve into Veria’s rich Christian and Jewish history He described Veria as the “cradle” of Christianity in Greece where residents were notably receptive to the teachings of Christ compared to other cities The Apostle Paul visited Veria in 50 AD and 57 AD during his travels from Asia Minor to Greece Our walk through the Christian quarter culminated at The Tribune of Apostle Paul the spot where he preached the teachings of Jesus Christ Veria is also home to the “most ancient synagogue in Greece” and one of the oldest in Europe thrived as a close-knit community for 2,000 years until 1943 when the Nazis tragically deported its entire Jewish population to concentration and labor camps the synagogue stands on the same site as the original and the Jewish quarter has been restored to closely resemble its pre-World War II appearance After a morning of exploration, we stopped for lunch at Vergiotiko Taverna where Chef Nikos treated us to a traditional Greek meal The menu included yaprakia (stuffed grape leaves) saganaki (fried sheep cheese flambéed with ouzo) and ravani (semolina cake soaked in syrup) Many people are surprised when I tell them I made most of this trip alone by car I’m usually able to read or infer road signs across much of Western Europe I’ll admit I was anxious about driving in a country where I didn’t know the alphabet it turned out to be far easier than expected Many highway signs are in both Greek and English Here are some tips if you’re planning to drive in Greece Smartphone Service: Ensure your phone plan includes service outside the U.S Internet access can be spotty outside larger cities so make sure your plan includes unlimited data to avoid hefty roaming charges you can use Google Maps on your phone for reliable navigation auto insurance policies don’t cover international travel Check your credit cards to see if they include rental car insurance purchase coverage from the rental car company Hotel Toiletries: Many Greek hotels don’t provide toiletries beyond basic liquid soap and lotion—or hold onto the ones you get at other hotels Ask your hotel concierge or desk clerk to write down your destination and hotel name in Greek to show your driver This ensures you get where you need to go and back again But for an especially rewarding experience take the road less traveled and explore the eight little-known towns I visited—you won’t regret it Cookies allow us to understand how you use this site and improve your experience. Our detailed Cookie Policy can be found here By continuing to use this website you accept our use of cookies Mandatory cookies help make this website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website Our website cannot function properly without these cookies Statistic cookies help us understand how visitors interact with this website for example seeing which pages are most popular This information is collected anonymously and helps us improve the site by making the most sought after information easy to find Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites allowing the display of ads that are relevant and engaging for the visitor Whilst we do not display any advertising on the WJC website allowing marketing cooking may allow other sites to see that you have visited our site Unveiling veria monument s greek jewish community (c) Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece The Thread of the Memory of the Jewish presence in Veria before the evil period of the war and the Holocaust was unrolled during the afternoon of Sunday 22.9.2019 by all those who honored the invitation to attend the March in Memory of the 460 members of the Jewish Community of the city the Metropolitan Bishop of Imathia Panteleimon Jews all over Greece and representatives of Embassies were among the 2,000 people that attended the event The three day Holocaust commemoration events organized on the occasion of Chairmanship of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg at the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) culminated with the march which was followed by a concert entitled "The Memory of the Thread" based on an idea of the famous soprano Sonia Theodoridou The events were organized by the Embassy of Luxembourg in Greece the Central Board of the Jewish Communities in Greece the Jewish Museum of Greece and the Non-profit civil society "Beautiful Greece" with the support of the Embassy of Israel in Greece the Greek-Israeli Chamber of Commerce and the support of Mr in the footprints of all the people that have been deported from their homes The thread symbolizes the path of the blood" Sonia Theodoridou stated to the Athenian-Macedonian press agency while she was putting a last "touch" to the artwork made with shoes offered by local people The artwork was "bind" by a grid from red threads placed in front of the Synagogue in the old Jewish neighborhood of Barbouta holding cartons with the names of their Jewish fellow citizens perished in the Holocaust were led in the march by survivors Rachel Daniel and Reuven Emmanuel Some steps behind the famous soprano were unrolling with them the memorial thread They were all walking a three-kilometer course starting at the Synagogue and ending at the Railway station the point from which the Jews of the city were deported to Auschwitz - Birkenau while the Mayor of Veria Konstantinos Voryiazidis the President of the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece  David Saltiel and Sonia Theodoridou addressed the audience mentioning the content and the spirit of the "thread of Memory and responsibility" The thread passed from the picturesque uphill alleys to the central avenues of Veria holding the plates with the names of the victims of the Holocaust were apposed alongside the way and as the thread was passing by them they started walking The march was more and more crowded by hundreds of citizens who followed the thread with tears in their eyes The thread arrived to the railway station behind Mayor K Voryiazidis and Secretary General of the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece Victor Eliezer At the entrance of the railway station Luxembourg's cellist and composer Andre Morgenthaller received the crowd playing a melody from the theme "Schindler's list" Soprano Sonia Theodoridou placed with reverence the red thread in front of the stage starting the concert  with the hymn "Eli - Eli" An hour of amazing songs and music themes related to the Holocaust were interpreted by Sonia Theodoridou The soprano was accompanied by the ‘Mobile Orchestra’ conducted by Maestro Theodoros Orfanidis An hour of  thrilling performance by Sonia Theodoridou and by Veria's choruses followed The event ended with a discourse by the Reverend Metropolitan of Veria This initiative "gave a voice to our 460 fellow citizens expressing simultaneously our own feelings towards them It also expressed our commitment not to allow such an Holocaust to happen again" the Metropolitan strengthened UNVEILING THE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL AT THE OLD JEWISH CEMETERY the unveiling of the Holocaust Monument was realized This monument shows a Menorah placed in front of a small house built to remind the Jewish cemetery as this was ceded to the Municipality in order to house an area of sports a donation of the Jewish community of Thessaloniki was created by engineer David Frances and looms on the surrounding elevated area over which some still remaining tombstones are laying These gave the place-name "Jewish tombs" to the area on three marble tiles the following message is engraved in Greek English and Hebrew:  “460 JEWS OF VERIA WERE DEPORTED FROM THEIR BIRTHPLACE ON 1ST MAY 1943 AND EXTERMINATED BY THE NAZIS IN THE DEATH CAMPS OF AUSCHWITZ – BIRKENAU THE CITY OF VERIA REMEMBERS THE HOLOCAUST OF THE 6.000.000 JEWS AND DEDICATES THIS MONUMENT TO THE HOLY MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS” the Mayor of Veria Konstantinos Voryiazidis spoke about an "historical day" mentioning that the conservation of the Memory is an "historic and moral duty" underlining that if the local Jewish Community hadn't perished "It is important to remember and to learn this precise chapter of history on the Jewish life here" the new Israeli Ambassador to Greece Yossi Amrani stated during his speech at the ceremony "The Memorial consists an homage and an expectation for the future" the President of the Central Board of Jewish Communities Greece together with the Mayor of the city the Monument mentioning the necessity that the monument must be transformed in a "living tool of interaction with history" Addressing the public during the unveiling ceremony the Head of the Hellenic delegation at IHRA mentioned that remembering is a necessity and underlined the forthcoming assumption of IHRA's Chairmanship by Greece in 2021 The commencement of the events - The ties with the roots The three day events started on Friday September 20 women volunteers from Veria and Nana Karayiannidou in charge of the cultural affairs of the Municipality were motivated  and mobilized in order to welcome in the best possible way all the visitors coming to their city artistic interventions highlighted every place of the city Blue and white ribbons and multicolor hearts with the greeting "Shalom" written on them adorned trees A banner announcing the celebrations hulked at the entrance of the city hall  In Barbouta the Synagogue opened its doors The  shoes artwork underlined the missing Jews of Veria giving shivers of emotion to the visitors and the passersby came from Israel with her two daughters and visited her nest-house at Dimitros street The Mayor with Sonia Theodoridou and the President of the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece welcomed about 60 Israelis representatives of Jewish communities and a group of visitors from the Jewish community of Athens entered the city hall on a wheelchair and greeted the Mayor awestruckly "This used to be my school" he exclaimed and then started talking about the old citizens of Veria was housing initially the Hellenic Gymnasium and till the beginning of the nineties several school premises Haim Taboch is puzzled over being congratulated for his high level of Greek "...of course I have studied in this Gymnasium!" he said Answering the question of the Mayor who asked him if he has returned to Veria ever since Every five years we were celebrating reunions here with my old school mates ...but we have lost many of them recently and this custom is gradually lost..."  he added with tears The Mayor and the President of the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece welcomed the visitors in the hall of the city board Sonia Theodoridou presented the program of the three day events before the exchange of souvenir gifts the Authorities and the visitors walked till the Synagogue where a Kabalat Shabbat was celebrated by Mr The evening ended after offering a traditional Sephardic buffet was organized at the Arts Hall of the Municipality Earlier on that morning the visitors were offered a tour to Vergina and visited the Royal tombs at the archeological site of Aeges The main event started with the opening of the exhibition of the Jewish Museum of Greece titled "Hidden children in Occupied Greece" at the foyer of the Arts Hall spoke about the work the Museum is realizing its role as a member of the Hellenic Delegation to the IHRA and its contribution in promoting educational programs on the Holocaust The President of the Jewish Museum of Greece Samuel - Makis Matsas and Reina Siakki-Molho were also present at the event and spoke about their personal experiences during Nazi occupation Greetings by the co-organizers of the events followed at the theatre of the Arts Hall the Head of the Hellenic Delegation at the IHRA Dr the President of the Jewish Museum of Greece Samuel - Makis Matsas and the President of the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece David Shaltiel  mentioned during their speeches the meaning of the celebrations and the importance of these initiatives in order to keep the Memory of the Holocaust alive The event continued with the presentation of the 37th volume of the Chronicles of Imathia an edition of the Society for Historical and Cultural Studies of the region of Imathia which is dedicated to the history of the Jews of Veria The volume was preceded by the President of the Central Board of the Jewish Communities of Greece referred to his memories from Veria of older ages The event was brought to an end with Sephardic Hebrew and Greek songs sung by the choir Echo Verois In an interview with a local radio station, Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veria, Naoussa and Campania spoke about the actions of the 37-year-old priest who was defrocked by the Synodal Court and threw acid onto seven Metropolitans As he said, the 37-year-old had the talent to divide the world and be a populist while his lawyer wants to put forward mental health issues “This is a clergyman who was ordained at the Patriarchate of Alexandria in Libya and then transferred to two other Metropolises in the Peloponnese a brother called me to tell me that a clergyman from Northern Greece and the brother told me to take care of him we took care of him but in a very short time he started creating problems until he grappled with the church’s chanter He then asked to go to Mount Athos and he pledged by notarial deed that his salary be collected by the Metropolis to repay the debts he had created He did not keep this promise and hurried to collect his salary Then I sent him to a small village near Alexandria he divided the people and the worst of all; the security informed us that he was mixed up with illegal activities Evidence was gathered and the case was brought to the synodal court The case was examined on the second instance and was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic he had two bottles of acid in a bag and threw it onto people we had asked for a police officer to be there The man was waiting at the door and as soon as this happened the policeman came in and he stopped him and even burned the policeman’s hand with the acid His lawyer wants to put forward mental health issues I recommended many things to him with love and kindness in order to make him conform He has been suspended for three years now.” The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate approved on October 4th the canonization of Eldress Sophia Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew traveled by air to Antalya 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.. (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 2018Get email notification for articles from David B 2018Following the angry reception that greeted him when he preached to the Jews of Thessaloniki the Apostle Paul was spirited out of town by fellow believers in Jesus’ resurrection but in Berea the Jews “were more noble than those in Thessaloniki for they received the word with all eagerness,” according to the account in Acts of the Apostles 17 was a major hub of Greek Nationalism and Patriotism in the region during Ottoman Occupation It played a significant role in assisting during the Greek War of Independence Supplying men as well as producing several fine Military Leaders for the Revolution Like much of Macedonia and Northern Greece it had to wait a further 80 years for Independence The Hellenic Army entered and Liberated the town from the Turks once again bringing it under Greek control and Campania welcomed Consul General Jerry Ismail from the United States to the Apostolic Metropolis of Veria He extended warm greetings to the Consul General introducing him to the Byzantine city of Veria often referred to as “small Jerusalem” due to its abundance of Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches The Metropolitan expressed his hope that the founder of the local Church would grant strength and guidance in the Consul’s endeavors he presented the Consul General with the book “Erateini Imathia” issued by the Holy Metropolis and other symbolic gifts the Consul General reciprocated the warm welcome and engaged in a productive dialogue with the Metropolitan discussing various current affairs and matters of mutual interest Wellness proponent Veria TV is bringing life to a new name and attitude in this lifestyle sector.Focused on quality and vitality of life Featuring a newly created life cycle image showcasing sunshine yellow and tangerine orange integrates Eastern influence with Western design They say the move is about "pop wellness," with the new slogan "Go Well," succeeding its predecessor who are looking to secure more than a toehold in this wide category via programming that espouses the benefits and joys of living a healthy lifestyle Veria.com complements the network through online recipes and nutrition body-mind conditioning and all-natural products These rebranding elements will be incorporated on the revised website that will launch in November as well as on-air around such original programming as The Incurables hosted by recording artist Jewel and Sports Dads with Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.Part of Asia TV USA Ltd which also operates the Zee Channels here in the States Veria Living will be phased in over the months ahead and into next year.Initially the programmer plans to spread the news about its new logo look and slogan via business-to-business messaging where it's selling Veria's wellness catalogue and at next month's CTAM in New York meeting the network plans to continue distribution discussions with international and Stateside providers Verizon FiOS and Frontier Communications in the U.S.Indian media mogul Subhash Chandra whose Zee TV programming in its various iterations is now seen in 167 nations and who founded Veria as a way to promote wellness in the U.S said Asia TV USA continues to negotiate with providers In an interview in the company's New York headquarters last week Chandra expressed confidence that Veria would sign distribution pacts with Cablevision and Comcast "pretty soon."Asia TV marketing head Vibha Chopra said Veria Living's initial rebranding efforts would be supplemented by a viral campaign because the "programming lends itself to that space." Digital ads and commercials with the campaign extending well into 2012.Chandra said "the time has come to make some noise We want to let consumers know that this programming exists so they can voice their interest to providers." The smarter way to stay on top of the multichannel video marketplace the Archieratic Divine Liturgy was presided by Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veria people could make a pilgrimage to a piece of relic of Saint Argyri stressing that the brave woman also deserves this crown of honor and glory for her valour “And such a valorous and courageous woman we honour today bearing in mind the memory of the saint neomartyr Argyri For there is no greater proof of courage and bravery than that shown by the most holy martyrs who have courageously cherished their faith in Christ while knowing what the consequences of this confession would be,” he said The visit took place on the occasion of the festive events in memory of St in combination with the transfer of the relic skull of Saint Clement from the Monastery of Timios Prodromos of the Skete of Veroia The celebrations were attended by Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria a reception was held to welcome the relic skull of Saint Clement to the Church of the Ascension of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ officiated be Metropolitan Gregory of Vratsa a joint archieratic concelebration was held in the presence of Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria the Patriarch presided at the Paraklesis of Saint Sophronius Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veroia was accompanied by the Protosyncellus of the Metropolis the Abbot of the Monastery of Timios Prodromos of the Skete of Veroia Archimandrite Porphyrios Batsaras and clergy MONTICELLO - Shovels will be put into the ground Sunday for the groundbreaking of the wellness resort being built on the old Kutsher’s Country Club Property The event will celebrate the beginning of tree clearing to make way for the Z Living/Veria Nature Cure & Ayurvedic Wellness Center - formerly known as the Veria Lifestyle Wellness Resort The resort was originally slated to be located on the main site of Kutsher's the last of the old family-run Catskill resorts But Veria wanted a more picturesque location and chose the west shore of Bailey’s Lake off Anawana Lake Road - which is just a mile southeast of Kutsher’s The event is meant to coincide with the first International Yoga Day - which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on Dec Abhay Jain of Veria says it’s important for the center to celebrate its groundbreaking on International Yoga Day because it will be an activity offered by Veria Other activities offered by the wellness center will be golf It will also include Eastern and Western Medical Treatments It will also feature 120-130 “suite formatted” hotel rooms The $50 million wellness resort is expected to create 200 permanent jobs along with another 200 jobs for the construction of the facility The resort is expected to open by the summer of 2016 Veria’s stunning Peach Farms are set to become world-famous Everyone knows about the world-famous flowering cherry trees of Japan up until now the array of pink blossoms that transform the rolling hills of Veria and their peach orchards each spring are perhaps among Greece’s best kept “secrets” In recent years, an effort has been made to turn Veria’s gorgeous peach farms into a tourist attraction as well as an agricultural resource through a photography contest and other events held on March 16-17 “What we saw before us each March was an endless pink carpet of flowering peach trees but to tell the truth we never really took notice,” said Zisis Patsikas the area has held an open competition for photographs featuring the peach trees in blossom which each year attracted more than 300 entries He said the effort was to try to tap into the potential to create added tourism value through photographs of the peach blossoms in the same way that Tokyo has succeeded in doing with the images of cherry blossoms that flood the social media each year “Our aim is to promote this beautiful scenery as happens with the cherry blossoms of Japan since we have seen what they do and how these people have turned an agricultural product into a tourist product,” Patsikas said He explained that entering the competition was simple and open to everyone using both cameras or even just their phones The photography contest is just one of the events organised by the club around Veria’s peaches Others include the annual “Peach Festival” that is linked to the region’s gastronomy an annual 17-kilometer “Bicycle Ride through the Flowering Peach Trees This was also becoming increasingly popular with participation jumping from 60 people in 2017 to 280 the previous year and even more expected in 2019 The trees flower in March and the blossoms usually last about 15 days Some of the winning entries from previous years are shown above Reasons to visit Greece in September Metropolitan Panteleimon said that the forty days of Great Lent reminded us of the forty days of the world-engulfing flood in which God spared Noah He pointed out that “for us our Church is a kind of ark and thanks to that we are in a more advantageous position than Noah because we did not have to build it or even look for it He further added that God invited us to distance ourselves for a while from the cataclysm that surrounds us struggle to eradicate our passions and weaknesses “He invites us to abandon in these forty days of fasting all those things which do not allow us to devote daily to prayer participation in the Divine Liturgy of our Church” the Metropolitan of Veria highlighted in his sermon “Holiness is not something that comes and goes away as the worldly things do the Metropolitan of Veria said in his homily on the feast of Sant Demetrius the Myrrh-Gusher and Kampania presided over the festive Divine Liturgy at the outdoor altar of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest Concelebrants included 25 Romanian hierarchs The delegation led by Metropolitan Panteleimon brought a reliquary containing the right hand of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-Gusher of Thessalonica and the wonderworking icon of Panagia Soumela to join the celebrations of Saint Demetrius the New “Since today we celebrate the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-Gusher we wanted to bring you the blessing of his holy and graceful relic bringing a particle that our Metropolis holds as a heavenly treasure of great price.” we need to set as the purpose of our lives the purification of our souls and bodies from sin may dwell in us and fulfill the work of our purification through His grace,” the Metropolitan of Veria said October 26 The Metropolitan of Veria offered Saint Demetrius as an example of a pure life since he “succeeded in reaching such a high level of holiness that he became worthy to suffer the Christlike passion of having his side speared And he received so much grace from God that the flows of myrrh and his miracles are flooding the entire world and soul were cleansed from every impurity of the flesh and of the spirit.” “The purity of the soul and body was what made God choose the humble Maiden of Nazareth to become worthy to be the Mother of His Son but also the mother of all humans for whom she works miracles through her holy icons.” Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veria pointed to the religiosity of the Romanian people manifested through pilgrimages to the Monastery of Panagia Soumela in Pontus: “This devotion incentivized us to respond with an even greater joy to the invitation and to bring the wonderworking icon of Panagia Soumeliotissa to your city on the occasion of the festive celebration of your Patron Saint Demetrius the New.” “I humbly wish that the grace and blessing of the wonderworking icon of Panagia Soumela and the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius strengthen the Patriarch in his God-pleasing patriarchal ministry and always protect the devout clergy and people of Romania who love the Saints,” the Metropolitan of Veria said ending his speech The Orthros was held by Metropolitan Ierotheos of Zichna and Nevrokopi while the multi-archieratic co-liturgy was also attended by the Metropolitans Seraphim of Kastoria Neapolis and Thassos and Bishop Dimitrios of Thermi There preceded a litany from the Holy Church of the sacred relic and the icon of Apostle Paul as well as the Holy Head of Apostle Andrew from the Holy Metropolis of Patras where the Apostle spent his last years of his life untill his martyric death Archimandrite Panteleimon Korfiotakis and the local Monastic brotherhood welcomed the Archpriests Archbishop Job bowed in front of the Icon of Virgin Mary Dobra Lucas the Doctor Church and the holy relics of the temple Job remembered his first visit to Imathia 10 years ago He was also informed about the history and the modern ministry of the Holy Church and gave his blessings to the members of the Brotherhood Panteleimon provided the traditional monastic hospitality while he invited Job to participate in any of the local festives if his busy schedule allows it A quiet town in northern Greece full of picturesque neighborhoods the so called “Little Jerusalem” of northern Greece is located very close to the Thessaloniki on the foothills for mount Vermio with a unique view of the large Imathia plain Surrounded by the Pierian Mountains and river Aliakmonas that both add to the town’s special beauty Veria offers entertainment options that satisfies everyone’s likings It’s a setting that takes us back in time known for its revani (traditional syrupy cake) whose smell and syrup brings in mind homemade traditional sweets prepared by grandmothers Revani has been around since the years of the Ottoman rule and has survived to this day with the secret recipe passing from one generation to the next It’s worth visiting the Central Public Library that was awarded the “Access to Knowledge Award 2010” by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation It is fully renovated and equipped with all the necessary modern technology as well as a rich book collection for all ages and interests.  you’ll come across an imposing neoclassical building that houses the Town Hall operating as a school between 1908 and 1995 while during the Balkan Wars it was used as a military hospital It was transformed into the Town Hall in 2001 The area behind the Town Hall is rich with Byzantine churches including the church of Anastaseos tou Hristou that creates a mystifying atmosphere While if you walk around the neighbourhood you’ll also see the Agios Stefanos and Evagelistra churches The town has many mansions with traditional sachnisi that is stone houses with wooden elements and protruding balconies on wooden beams A neighbourhood known for its mansions is “Kiriotissa” a traditional neighbourhood that got its name from the homonymous church a special meeting place that the people of the area wanted to pay tribute to in a unique way At the end of the Kiriotissa neighbourhood you’ll find the Twin Hammam of Tuzcu Sinan Bey that date back to the 15th century and were divided in men and women bathhouses you’ll see the Greek Evangelical Church The cobbled alleys lead to Apostle Paul’s Tribune (Bema) where the Apostle Paul preached love and faith to the locals The next stop on this tour of Veria has to be the Jewish quarter It is an area full of cobbled alleys and impressive mansions that were sold by the Jewish to Greeks before they left town in the beginning of the Second World War The old cathedral of Veria is located a stone’s throw from the Jewish quarter It’s one of the most impressive churches with unique frescoes on the walls 13th and 14th century Byzantine art.  you can get a taste of Veria’s culture an ideal space for endless walks in nature with a panoramic view of the Imathia plain however it offers moments of quiet and relaxation And you can also sit on one of the chaise longues at the “Promenade of Veria” that has been designed in a way that resembles a beachfront promenade even though it’s on valley you’ll find yourselves in a true paradise The river banks are covered in various different plants and the waters reflect the sky creating an upside down illusion There’s also a trail for hiking in the woods and both banks of the river are accessible Veria may be known mostly for its churches and the religious but whoever visits realises it’s a town bustling with life The highest village in the Balkans is an alpine gem Naoussa, Greece: Living the grape-harvest experience at the foothills of Mount Vermio Fir-tree covered Greek village ideal for autumn excursion Source: footballmadeinghana.com « Prev Next » Comments (0) Listen to Article Alex Yamoah and Gideon Ofori Offei Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices a former captain of Greece's Under-19 team made the gesture in celebrating his winning goal in a 2-1 Super League victory over lowly Veria on Saturday.Katidis apologised and asked to be dropped from AEK's first team."I would like to confess that I am totally unacceptable and I feel terrible for those I upset with the stupidity of my act," Katidis said in a statement."I made the mistake so I will be the one to pay for it So that is why I have decided to put myself out of the team because I have now realised how much I have offended the history of the club."Also I understand fully the reasons for the decision made by the Greek Football Federation to which I owe a huge apology as it has helped me to get where I am in the professional game."Katidis reiterated that he was not a fascist or racist."Unfortunately I cannot take the clock back but I want to clarify that I am not a fascist or neo-Nazi or racist I have a step brother from Puerto Rico and all my family are from the Black Sea and have experienced racism in the worst ways," he said.'COMPLETELY WRONG'"There is no reason to look for excuses I was completely wrong and I will pay for it with a lot of pain because despite being only 20 years old my career is now at risk."I sincerely apologise to my team mates and everyone involved with the club that I have insulted in not knowing exactly what I had done in my celebration the fact that I did not know what I was doing is no excuse," Katidis added.AEK have asked Katidis to explain himself and will decide his future at a board meeting next week.He was heavily criticised by political parties and fans on Twitter and Facebook following the incident at the Athens Olympic Stadium Sunday marks the 70th anniversary of Greek Jew deportations in Nazi concentration camps in the Second World War."The player's action to salute to spectators in a Nazi manner is a severe provocation insults all the victims of Nazi bestiality and injures the deeply pacifist and human character of the game," the Greek federation (EPO) said in statement.Super League president Giannis Moralis said his organisation would consider possible sanctions against the player at next week's executive board meeting.Katidis initially denied he gave a Nazi salute saying he was pointing at Michalis Pavlis in the stands to dedicate the goal to his team mate as he continues to fight health problems.AEK's German coach Ewald Lienen backed Katidis."He is a young kid who does not have any political ideas He most likely saw such a salute on the Internet or somewhere else and did it without knowing what it means," he said.AEK are 10th in the table with 29 points from 26 games Veria are fourth from bottom.Katidis joined the club from Aris Salonika last year after impressing in Greece's run to the final of the European Under-19 Championship where they lost to Spain.Reporting by Harry Papachristou; additional reporting by Graham Wood; editing by Alison Wildey Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved THOMPSON — The sale of the last iconic Catskills resort was finalized late Wednesday according to Sullivan County Industrial Development Agency Chairman and county Legislator Ira Steingart Once the site of legends like Wilt Chamberlain family-operated Kutsher's Country Club is being transformed into a $90 million Nature Cure Lifestyle Management Center "We need resorts like this in Sullivan County," Steingart said and all its properties outside Monticello were sold to Veria Lifestyle which is connected to the Veria Living media conglomerate Veria's management has said it hopes to start demolition very soon with the opening expected next spring Steingart said the timeline is aggressive but he's eager to get the property back on the tax rolls and create hundreds of expected jobs "I'm very excited about the closing," he said Steingart said Veria is looking for bids to demolish the building and is hoping to hire a local company The agency approved a sales tax exemption of $88,000 for the process in October The healthy living resort will feature "yoga sciences," "ayurvedic medical treatment," "biodynamic restaurants," golf tennis and "a wide range of health-driven activities." Steingart doesn't expect Veria to rely on borrowing to finance the project because the owner of the parent company is Indian media mogul Subhash Chandra making him one of the richest people in the world the hotel has been branded as The New Kutsher's Resort and leased to Yossi Zablocki Brothers Louis and Max Kutsher began the business in 1907 For the next century the historic resort transformed itself from a rooming house to a 400-room year-round resort with a golf course and Much of the hotel's development in the last half-century was overseen by Milton and Helen Kutsher who took the reins in the early 1990s and helped guide the resort to its new ownership Focal point for literature and art in the heart of Veria has brought the northern Greek city to the forefront as a centre of creativity and knowledge a place where modern requirements are met while The city’s library has deservedly established itself as a Veria highlight It has emerged as a leader in Greece by offering a range of services and programmes for children and adults the library reintroduced itself to the public after winning a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation “Access to Learning” Award coming with prizemoney of one million dollars This achievement marked the beginning of a new era for the library contributing to its further development and bolstering the services it provides.Nowadays an ultra-modern complex in the heart of Veria promises visitors a unique experience.The library features a colourful and spirited children’s corner with intelligent games as well as a creative workshop for constructions The library is available for exclusive school group visits an experience that includes interactive games specialised library staff providing assistance an attraction for visitors interested in being informed about social political and economic developments in Greece and abroad offers numerous newspapers and magazines.The library’s first floor combines education art and technology in an incredibly harmonious way This section offers a pleasant study area for students its vibrant colours blending with the ample natural light flooding in through large windows The first floor offers visitors free access to modern PCs while other attractions here include the opportunity to use a 3D printer and scanner The library staff is generally very helpful An aquarium hosting a variety of fish species is a lovely touch It is definitely worth spending a little time at the library’s “inspiration space” offering a sound-proofed environment that is ideal for concentration and relaxation multi-coloured sofas make for pleasant reading.The first floor is also equipped with all the technology needed for online lessons as well as professional teleconferences adds yet another dimension to the many services offered by the library features a bright and spacious hall for events and conferences The variety of events includes cinema nights Given the fact that the interest of children in the field of robotics is at a high filling in for their absence at state schools They help establish the library as a greenhouse offering exploration into new worldsThe library’s outdoor reading area a shady space with a colorful flower garden at the back of the building is another attraction that wins over visitors.As highlighted above the financial support coming with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation award just over a decade ago was certainly pivotal for the Veria library’s upgrade and development knowledge-centred complex could not have been achieved without the never-ending efforts and creativity of the people who staff the library The staff’s tireless actions during the pandemic have been remarkable they expressed concerns about pandemic-related repercussions regarding the library’s ability to keep operating smoothly as well as hope that the quest for knowledge will bring people back together Veria, Greece: an autumn destination with an intense spiritual atmosphere Edessa: Autumn visit to northern Greece’s city of water Egypt’s Amr Warda has been voted as PAOK’s best player as he made his first start for them in their big 4-0 victory over Veria FC in the 21st round of the Greek League In the poll to choose the best player in the game against Veria, Warda has obtained 42% of the votes after delivering two assists in the game according to PAOK’s official website The former Al Ahly youth product was a prominent member of the Egyptian team that made to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon where the Pharaohs fell short against Cameroon in the final Editor & Social Media contributor for KingFut.com Passionate football fan in general and a massive AC Milan fan in particular and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed Zamalek have been slapped with yet another transfer ban by FIFA Mohamed Elneny has been awarded the UAE Pro League’s Player of the Month for.. Mohamed Salah has credited Liverpool manager Arne Slot for unlocking his best-ever form by.. Al Ahly announced the departure of Marcel Koller on Saturday Billions of peach blossoms at the foothills of mount Vermio offer a unique sight each year around this time Despite the recent snowfall and the frosts Spring is not deterred and Imathia’s fertile valley has started blooming with over 8 billion peach blossoms brings the Japanese “hanami” in mind: observing the cherry blossoms in the country of the rising sun It’s one of the greatest events in the country the famous Gardens of Midas were located in the fertile land of Imathia Thousands of fields with different varieties of the “Persian apple tree” they were brought to Greece from Persia by Alexander the Great and his troops the peach tree is considered the “tree of life” and the tree of “paradise on earth” Blooming peach trees have inspired great artists throughout time like Vincent van Gogh who painted 14 paintings with blooming fields the blooming peach trees of Veria travelled around the world through National Geographic’s documentary series “Europe from Above” with the narrator noting that the huge blooming valley of Imathia is “one of the best kept secrets in the world” but it offers great beauty and strong images to the local and foreign visitors who seek some moments of relaxation and calm walking on the pink “carpet” covering the fields of Imathia the blooming peach trees of Imathia are becoming a favourite photographic subject in recent years the activities and events organised by Veria Tourism Club came to a standstill but this year’s plans are expected to bring crowds for hikes or bike rides among the thousand blooming peach trees that can be spotted from miles away Veria and the surrounding area has many beautiful accommodation options You can find lodgings even if you decide to take a trip there in the last minute If you decide to participate in the activities organized by the Veria Tourism Club you need to follow the regulations for the prevention of the spread of Covid-19 It’s worth travelling to Imathia during this time the blooming peach trees are an opportunity to “set our eyes on a dreamy setting The blooming peach trees on the foothills of mount Vermio are the Greek “hanami” that invites us to experience the lively spirit of nature in spring and take in its colours and fragrances Tzoumerka: 8 exciting recreational activities in this part of Epirus promise memorable experiences An impressive medieval castle overlooking the Ionian Sea