Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-06-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] Carved wood structures in Meteora Monasteries

[02] Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline

[03] ASE opening: Decline

[01] Carved wood structures in Meteora Monasteries

The six monasteries of Meteora (meaning in Greek: "suspended in the air") are built on natural sandstone rock pillars located at the northwestern edge of the plain of Thessaly near Pineios River and Pindus Mountain Range in central Greece. The Meteora Monasteries are a UNESCO World Heritage Monument distinguished for their wooden structures.

The Church of Holy Trinity (Hagia Triada) in the Holy Trinity Monastery was built in 1475 and the gilt iconostasis (the screen decorated with icons that divides the sanctuary from the nave of an Eastern Orthodox Church) made of carved wood is dated back to the 1660s. In 1975 it was stolen and was replaced. Parts of the iconostasis are kept in the monastery. The Timios Prodromos Chapel built in 1682 also features a gilt iconostasis of carved wood.

The Katholikon (main church) in Saint Stefanos Monastery was built in the 14th century and was restored in 1545. It has carved wood ceilings and iconostasis. The current Katholikon, the Church of Saint Charalambos, was built in 1798 and features an iconostasis of exceptional artistry dating back to 1814.

The Varlaam Monastery Katholikon, the All Saints Church, was built in 1541-1544 and its gilt iconostasis of carved wood was made in the early 18th century. The Abbot Throne made of carved wood and decorated with ivory was made in 1784-1808.

The Katholikon of the Monastery of Rousanou was built in mid 16th century and was dedicated to the Transfiguration of Jesus. The gilt iconostasis of carved wood also dates back in the 16th century. Half of it was stolen in the 1970s.

The Monastery of the Transfiguration of Jesus (Great Meteoron) was erected in mid 14th century and has most of the carved wood structures found in Meteora distinguished for their ornaments. The building serves as the main museum for tourists.

The monastery's hospital and Home for the Elderly were built in 1572. It has two chapels dedicated to Saint Prodromos and Saints Constantine and Helen. The gilt iconostasis of carved wood in the monastery's Katholikon is a masterpiece. Equally important are the two carved wood crosses on display in the monastery museum.

The Monastery of Saint Nikolaos Anapafsas is the only one of the six monasteries in Meteora that has no wooden structures of notable historical and artistic value.

[02] Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline

The minister was answering to a relevant question tabled by the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party. ND deputies accused the government of "double talk" (ANA-MPA) regarding the project, which was agreed between Russia, Greece and Bulgaria, when ND was in office. The Bulgarian government announced its decision to withdraw from the project two weeks ago, invoking environmental reasons.

[03] ASE opening: Decline

Individual sector indices were moving mostly downward, with the biggest gains in Personal Goods, up 2.31 percent; and Chemicals, up 0.48 percent.

The biggest losses were in Commerce, down 3.18 percent; and Media, down 1.83 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was down 0.48 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was up 1.45 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was up 0.41 percent.

Of the stocks traded, 41 were up, 47 were down, and 17 were unchanged.

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