Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-07-30

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] PM ends trip to Athos awed by monastic heritage

[02] Education minister visits Cultural Capital

[01] PM ends trip to Athos awed by monastic heritage

Ending the official segment of his trip on Saturday to the remote northern peninsula, which houses about 20 monasteries and 1,500 monks, Karamanlis attended services, admired Byzantine treasures and viewed an icon of the Virgin Mary that is reputed to have wrought miracles.

Before leaving for Thessaloniki on his way to Athens, the premier enjoyed a two-hour walk amid the mountain's rugged beauty.

He also planted a wild mulberry at a monastery entrance as a token of his respect for Athos' spiritual and earthly environment.

Under its ancient privileged status, Athos is a self-administering part of the Greek state while falling under the country's sovereignty. Spiritually, the "Holy Mountain" lies under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul.

All who live the monastic life on Athos acquire Greek citizenship as soon as they are accepted as novices or monks, with no further formalities.���������������������

[02] Education minister visits Cultural Capital

Briefing Yiannakou on the institution, which Patras holds this year, was head organiser Christos Roilos.

The minister welcomed events held for the city's one-year tenure as cultural capital.

Later in the day, she reported that one million euros had been earmarked for pre-seismic controls and asbestos removal at schools in Achaia, whose capital is Patras, as part of a 25 million euro nationwide scheme.

Yiannakou also visited a children's summer camp arranged by the European Space Organisation and hosted by Patras this year.

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