A series of underwater excavations carried out off the island of Delos in the Cyclades, has brought to the fore ancient coastal structures, a port and shipwrecks, the Greek culture ministry announced on Monday. The finds “confirm that Delos was an important trade hub and a significant maritime trade route through the ages, linking the Eastern …
One of the landmarks in the city’s history was the great battle that occurred in 42 BC. Following the battle, Roman colonists and veteran soldiers settled in the fertile plain of Philippi, and the city was transformed into a Roman colony (Colonia Augusta Julia Philippensis). The most important sites, from the Roman times up to …
One of the greatest engineering achievements of ancient times, a Greek wonder on the island of Samos, the 6th century BC Eupalinos Tunnel re-opened to the public this week following extensive restoration works. The 1,036m tunnel or Eupalinian aqueduct was excavated more than 2,500 years ago from both ends using the principles of geometry to …
With the transfer of the seat of the Eastern Roman Empire to Constantinople (330 AD), the dominance of Christianity (4th c. AD), and the graduation Hellenizing of the Eastern Roman state, the Roman colony of Philippi regained its character as a Greek city. With the change of religion, the large public buildings, which had been …
Four impressive three-aisled basilicas with narthex have been erected at the archaeological site of Philippi, coming from the Early Christian Period. Basilica A On a level above the Kavala – Drama road and the marketplace of Philipi (west of the theater) has been traced the biggest early christian church of Philipi, called Basilica A. It …
The archaeological site of Philippi is located in Eastern Macedonia between the modern cities of Kavala and Drama, at the southeast edge of the plain of Drama. For the most part, the landscape that surrounds the archaeological site has been preserved intact from antiquity to this day. The most important sites, apart from the theater …
This impressive monument is one of the oldest and most important buildings of the city. Its present form is the result of successive building changes that represent various phases of the city’s history. It is located on the hillside of the acropolis hill, in contact with the eastern wall of the city, on which it …
Long before the Ancient Greeks located to Philippi, there was a Neolithic settlement that was discovered in the last decades, next to water springs, at Dikili-Tas (Orthopetra), lying 2km east of the ancient city. This settlement in the prehistoric dark millennia can be considered as a distant ancestor of the city of historical times. Life …
The Orthodox religion takes an important role in the Greek culture and its presence on the island of Mykonos is without exception. If when the name Mykonos comes to mind, you think about endless parties, then you miss an important part of the religious tradition of the island. Spreading all over the island with the …
Panagia Paraportiani The chapel of Panagia (Virgin Mary) Paraportiani is one of the most famous churches of Mykonos, located in the town of Chora, in the neighborhood of Kastro. Its name literally means “Our Lady of the Side Gate” in Greek, as it is positioned near the main harbor entrance in the side gate of …
Greek Easter hymns are among the most beloved, spiritual and esoteric hymns of the Orthodox Church Liturgies. To the Greek Orthodox Christians the Holy Week centers on the hymns and the Church. The hymns from the Eastern Orthodox Church were most written during the height of the Byzantine Empire, originally composed in Koine Greek. About …
Each day during Holy Week has a special meaning, and understanding what each day represents can help making attending all those church services a lot more meaningful! It is really worthwhile to go to the church and watch the services being able to feel the unique spiritual atmosphere Greek Orthodox Church offers. Here is an …
A photo collage with the 29 winners of the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards. Photo source: Europa Nostra Greece is among the winners of the 2017 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards, Europe’s top honor in the heritage field. The European Commission and Europa Nostra on Wednesday …
The celebration of Easter in Patmos is certainly a unique life experience. Mainly because of the Holy Monastery of Saint John the theologian in Chora (a UNESCO world heritage site), which is a reference point for the whole Greece and Orthodox Christianity. The island is often called the «Jerusalem of the Mediterranean», due to the …
Greek Secretary General for Tourism Policy and Development Yiorgos Tziallas met with UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai on the sidelines of the 7th UNWTO Silk Road Task Force Meeting in Valencia and discussed issues of cooperation between the organization and the tourism ministry. Greek Secretary General for Tourism Policy and Development, Yiorgos Tziallas, represented Greece …
Holi Fest Crete Τhe colored festival will travel to Chania, Rethymnon and Heraklion starting from Chania, on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at ABEA parking, Kanaris Coast, Nea Chora. Known djs and live acts of the island are framing the line up of the festival. Acrobats, dancers, sky dancers and many more happenings promise to entertain …
Easter is the most important religious holiday of the Orthodox Church marking the resurrection of Christ and the chance of rebirth for mankind. Falling always on a different date, Easter signals the end of the cold days of winter and the beginning of the sunny and warm days of summer. Easter celebrations hold also a …
The “burning of Judas” is a unique tradition which revives in areas of Greece every Easter, attracting crowds of people who want to admire the “punishment” of the avarice traitor. Nowadays, this tradition can express a strong need for shaking off any kind of betrayal. The “Judas Iscariot” who betrayed Jesus for “thirty pieces of …
There are three museums in the Municipality of Monemvasia, the most important being the Monemvasia Archaeological Collection in the Monemvasia fortress, showing the town’s historical development from the early Christian era until the Turkish occupation. A quite different aspect is presented in the two folklore museums at Riechia and Velies, where the exhibits relate the …
The large number of historic churches and monasteries in the Municipality of Monemvasia bears witness to the region’s long religious tradition. These places of worship attract many pilgrims and other visitors every year. They are also favorite sites for marriages and baptism both among locals and others from further afield. In Monemvasia’s fortress are the …