Tinos

The first major clash within the Church over a tentative agreement between Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Archbishop Ieronymos to take clerics off the state payroll is expected on Friday when the Holy Synod is to convene amid reports of objections among a significant portion of the bishops.

Two men were knocked unconscious on the island of Tinos on Thursday after a wall fell, trapping them underneath.

Six firemen with three vehicles were called to extricated them, the fire service said.

The incident occurred at the mountainous village of Mountado. 

The meteorological service of the Athens National Observatory has warned of the possibility that a Mediterranean hurricane could develop in southern parts of the Ionian Sea Friday.

The service said that low barometric pressure is very likely to create tropical weather characteristics - powerful winds at up to 12 Beaufort, torrential rainfall and the development of a storm eye.

High winds, some exceeding 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour), in parts of Greece have prompted authorities to halt ferry services between the mainland and the islands.

Authorities also said Wednesday that schools were closed on the Aegean Sea islands of Andros, Mykonos and Tinos.

Multipurpose culture venue Soul Food is staging a traditional "panigiri" fete to celebrate the end of a great summer season on the island of Tinos, in the Cyclades archipelago. There will be a barbecue, wine and dancing to folk music performed by a three-member ensemble with lute, violin and percussion. The festivities start at 8 p.m.

Yiannis Hondroyiannis knew how to use a hammer and chisel at the age of 7. "I learned all about marble and its secrets in my father's workshop.

Efforts are underway to dislodge a ferry that ran aground in shallow waters in the port of Gavrio on Andros island.

The "Andros Jet" is carrying 46 passengers and nine vehicles on the Andros-Tinos-Syros route.

The doctor shortages that are hampering the operation of hospitals are particularly acute on the islands which are busier than usual during the peak tourist season.

Two Greek soldiers freed after months in a Turkish prison returned to Greece by government jet early Wednesday after their unexpected release by a provincial court.

Defense Minister Panos Kammenos said he phoned his Turkish counterpart to express his satisfaction with the soldiers' release and invite him to visit Greece.

The coast guard and traffic police were on standby on Tuesday to facilitate a final wave of people leaving the capital for their summer vacations ahead of the August 15 national holiday.

The main ports of Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio were busier than in recent weeks amid reports that ferries on the route to Paros and Tinos were booked to capacity.