Greek Orthodox Church

Turkey has closed nationwide mosques for the upcoming Friday prayers and the holy night of Lailat al Miraj ("Miraç Kandili" in Turkish) as part of precautions taken against the novel coronavirus outbreak.

All services in all places of worship, regardless of religion or dogma, are suspended until March 30, the Greek government announced on Monday evening, as part of its efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.

The operation of all places of worship, regardless of religion or dogma, is suspended until March 30, the Greek government announced on Monday evening, as part of its efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.

Amid fears of a broader coronavirus contagion across the country, the Holy Synod, the ruling body of the Greek Orthodox Church, on Monday issued a statement saying that the disease does not transmit through the distribution of holy communion by the chalice.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday welcomed a decision by the Church of Greece and Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa to recognize the autonomy of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, during a visit to Kiev.

Education Minister Niki Kerameus' recent announcement may not make front-page news stateside, but the potential impact will be felt imminently. Minister Kerameus announced the government's plan to attract thousands of foreign students to study in Greece. By definition this involves collaboration with leading universities nationwide.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tueday visited the Mariamite Cathedral of Damascus, one of the oldest Greek Orthodox churches in the capital, as part of a rare visit to Syria.

"I am 110% Greek," Tom Hanks said some time ago and now it is official

Upon the initiative of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who had met him in the past, Hanks and his family will receive honorary citizenship and the decision was signed today by President Prokopis Pavlopoulos.

It is considered a particular and rare honour in most countries.

With that meeting, Vucic ended his two-day official visit to Greece.
Vucic and Tsipras cooperated while Tsipras was still at the helm of the Greek government, as part of regional co-operation between Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece.

Greek officials Tuesday scrapped plans to criminalize blasphemy as a law-and-order debate intensified between the country's new conservative government and the left-wing opposition.
Justice Minister Costas Tsiaras said the proposal has been removed from draft legislation that's being debated in Parliament. It would have made blasphemy punishable by up to two years in prison.