Virgin

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has attended religious services for the day of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary on the island of Tinos.

Accompanying him were Defense Minister Nikos Dendias and Chief of the General Staff General Konstantinos Floros.

The famous holiday resort town of Kuşadası in the western province of Aydın hosted five cruise ships with 6,700 passengers on board in a single day.

Liners Celestyal Olympia, Star Flyer, MSC Lirica, Viking SKY and Seven Seas Explorer docked at the Ege Port on July 5.

Passengers of the cruise ships visited the ancient city of Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary.

The famed ancient city of Ephesus in Turkey's picturesque Aegean region attracts millions of tourists and history buffs every year. Ephesus was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2015. 

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Kyriakos Mitsotakis sent a message of optimism on the occasion of today's celebration of the 15th of August. The Prime Minister sent his wishes to everyone, while he made special reference to the fires that "swept" the country and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The Prime Minister's statement in detail:

The feast of the Mother of God of Christianity, the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is celebrated every year on the 15th of August.

In the Orthodox Christian Church, the celebration of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary includes, firstly, the death and burial of the Virgin Mary and, secondly, her resurrection and metastasis to heaven.

The Turkish security forces have seized a painting featuring the figures of Jesus and Virgin Mary in an operation in the southern province of Mersin, home to thousands of years of history.

The painting is carved on wood and dates back to the 11th and 13th centuries.