The search and rescue operation on Lysikratous Street ended on Saturday with rescuers recovering the bodies of all six people who had been reported missing.

The victims have been identified as Florinda Hoxha, her husband Ian Alexander Kirkpatrick, Eris Çani, her husband Florin Hoxha, Athina Papareskou and Edmond Hings.

Four of the victims had been staying in an apartment on the first floor of the building. Reports indicate that three of them were of Albanian origin and held American citizenship.

Newlyweds were in Greece for their honeymoon

The tragedy has taken an even more devastating turn with reports that Florinda Hoxha and Ian Alexander Kirkpatrick had only recently married and were in Greece for their honeymoon.

A relative reportedly appealed for information online after passports bearing their names were discovered among the rubble.

“The building that collapsed in Plaka approximately 13 hours ago is believed to have housed my cousins, Ian and Florida,” the relative wrote, according to reports. “They are in Greece for their honeymoon.”

The couple had travelled to Athens for what should have been a celebration of their marriage before becoming victims of the devastating incident.

Another couple reportedly expecting a child

Reports have also indicated that Eris Çani and Florin Hoxha, who were staying in the same building, were expecting a child.

The circumstances surrounding the couple’s presence in the building and the details of their final hours are expected to form part of the wider investigation.

The remaining two victims were an elderly couple who lived on the second floor.

They have been identified as Athina Papareskou and Edmond Hings, 77, who was reportedly of British origin.

Investigation into explosion continues

The deadly incident occurred shortly after 7:30am on Friday, September 25, causing the building to collapse and damaging neighbouring properties and vehicles in the surrounding area.

Fire Brigade and EMAK rescue teams worked through the rubble for hours as they searched for the six missing people.

The operation ended with the recovery of the final two bodies on Saturday.

Authorities are now investigating what caused the explosion and subsequent collapse.

The possibility of a gas leak is among the lines of inquiry being examined, although investigators are expected to consider all available evidence before determining the cause.

Experts will examine the scene, the building and any relevant technical evidence as the investigation continues.

The tragedy has left six people dead in the heart of Athens, including two people who had travelled to Greece to begin their married life together.

The post Newlywed Couple Among Six Killed in Plaka Building Collapse appeared first on Greek City Times.

A nurse who worked at the practice appeared before the investigating magistrate on Thursday and reportedly withdrew parts of her initial statement to police, saying she had decided to “tell the truth”.

Her testimony has raised further questions about what happened during the plasmapheresis procedure that preceded Mazonakis’ cardiac arrest and death.

According to Greece’s state broadcaster ERT, the nurse told investigators that employees at the practice were instructed by a 56 year old doctor to maintain a “unified stance” when speaking to police and other authorities following Mazonakis’ death.

Sedatives and anaesthetic drugs under investigation

One of the most significant allegations concerns the administration of medication during the plasmapheresis procedure.

The nurse reportedly told the magistrate that Mazonakis was given midazolam, Anexate and propofol.

Midazolam is a sedative, while Anexate, also known as flumazenil, can reverse the effects of certain benzodiazepines such as midazolam. Propofol is a powerful intravenous anaesthetic.

Authorities are now awaiting toxicological and histological results to establish what substances were present in Mazonakis’ system and whether they played any role in his collapse.

The results are expected to take several weeks. His family has reportedly requested that additional samples be examined by an expert appointed by the family.

The nurse also reportedly told investigators that no anaesthesiologist was present when the medication was administered.

“Mazonakis is not doing well”

According to the testimony reported by Greek media, the nurse noticed an unusual movement in Mazonakis’ hand while he was lying on the plasmapheresis bed.

She allegedly warned the doctor that “Mazonakis is not doing well”.

The doctor reportedly responded: “I’m the doctor, not you.”

The nurse further alleged that Mazonakis had already received a sedative and its corresponding reversal medication before the treatment deteriorated.

When the singer lost consciousness and failed to respond to medication, she reportedly called an anaesthesiologist at a major private hospital seeking instructions and assistance.

Defibrillator allegations

The testimony also raises questions about the practice’s emergency preparedness.

According to the nurse, when attempts to revive Mazonakis failed, the doctor and her husband attempted to use a defibrillator.

However, she reportedly told investigators that they did not know how to operate the device and contacted the person who had sold it to them for instructions.

The nurse further alleged that they were unable to activate the defibrillator and that there was no oxygen available at the practice.

These claims are now part of the wider investigation into whether the practice had the appropriate equipment, personnel and authorisations for the procedure being performed.

Why were these drugs at the practice?

A central question for investigators is how anaesthetic and sedative medication came to be used during the treatment and under what medical authorisation.

Authorities are also examining the licensing status of the facility and whether it was legally equipped and authorised to perform plasmapheresis.

Plasmapheresis is a specialised medical procedure used for certain serious conditions, including some autoimmune diseases and other indications. The procedure requires appropriate medical supervision, equipment and emergency support.

Questions over the treatment Mazonakis received

Investigators are also examining the treatment Mazonakis underwent in the days before his death.

Reports have claimed that he underwent hydrotherapy the previous day and was left severely dehydrated.

Questions have subsequently been raised over whether his physical condition should have prevented or delayed the later plasmapheresis procedure.

The exact medical circumstances, however, remain subject to investigation and expert assessment.

The financial trail

Investigators are also examining the financial arrangements surrounding the treatments Mazonakis allegedly received.

Reports have claimed that two plasmapheresis sessions had been arranged at a cost of approximately €6,000 each, alongside a separate €1,500 hydrotherapy treatment.

Authorities are examining whether payments were properly recorded and whether additional treatments, supplements or other services were recommended to the singer.

The precise amount paid by Mazonakis and whether any payments were made without receipts remain matters for investigators to establish.

A hypnotherapist who had reportedly been in contact with Mazonakis is also being examined as part of the wider investigation into the circumstances surrounding his final days.

International clientele

According to MEGA TV reporting, the Kolonaki practice had an international clientele.

One reported case concerns a Swiss woman who was allegedly undergoing plasmapheresis in a room next to the one where Mazonakis was being treated.

The significance of that case, if confirmed, remains unclear and is expected to form part of the authorities’ broader examination of the practice.

Investigation continues

The investigation is continuing, with another employee of the practice still expected to provide testimony.

Authorities are also examining the phones of those involved to establish who was contacted during the critical period after Mazonakis collapsed.

Investigators are seeking to reconstruct the timeline minute by minute, including the medication administered, the response of those present, emergency calls and the attempts to revive the singer.

The two doctors involved in the case remain in pre trial detention as the investigation continues.

For Mazonakis’ family, the key questions remain unanswered: what exactly was administered to the singer, why was he being treated in that setting, what emergency equipment and personnel were available, and could earlier medical intervention have changed the outcome?

The answers will ultimately depend on the forensic evidence, medical expert assessments and the findings of the ongoing judicial investigation.

The post Mazonakis Death: Nurse Reveals Alarming Details About Final Treatment appeared first on Greek City Times.

Kick-off is 20:45 local time in Augsburg (CEST). That is 19:45 in London, 14:45 in New York, 11:45 in Los Angeles, 21:45 in Athens, 02:45 Monday in Sydney, and 00:45 Monday in Dubai.

Greece travel after a 2-1 comeback win over Serbia. Andrija Živković scored inside four minutes, Christos Tzolis equalised in the 74th minute, and Anastasios Douvikas won it in stoppage time. Germany’s 1-1 draw with the Netherlands left Greece two points clear after Matchday 1 in a group also containing Serbia and the Netherlands.

Ivan Jovanović is building around a young group that includes Konstantinos Tzolakis, Charalampos Kostoulas, Konstantinos Karetsas, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Christos Mouzakitis and Thanasis Androutsos. Douvikas is in contention to start after his late winner, possibly with Vangelis Pavlidis, which would drop Kostoulas to the bench. Panagiotis Retsos and Konstantinos Mavropanos are expected at centre-back, with Tzolakis remaining in goal.

Germany go into Klopp’s first home match since he replaced Julian Nagelsmann after the World Cup exit. Die Mannschaft have won their last five home games and are unbeaten in their last 10 meetings with Greece.

Jamal Musiala is out with a thigh injury suffered against the Netherlands. Kai Havertz has returned to Arsenal with a muscular problem. Florian Wirtz and Jonathan Burkardt have been added to cover those absences. Felix Nmecha should keep his place after scoring in Amsterdam.

Predicted line-ups

Germany (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Treu, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Brown; Nmecha, Kimmich, Amiri; Wirtz, Schade, Burkardt.

Greece (4-4-2): Tzolakis; Vagiannidis, Mavropanos, Retsos, Tsimikas; Karetsas, Kourbelis, Zafeiris, Tzolis; Douvikas, Kostoulas.

The post Team News and Predicted Line-Ups: Germany vs Greece appeared first on Greek City Times.

The two bodies were found at around 2pm on Saturday, September 26, by firefighters searching through the rubble of the building on Lysikratous Street.

The discovery brought the major search and rescue operation to an end after hours of painstaking work under extremely difficult conditions.

The operation began following the powerful explosion on Friday morning, which caused the building to collapse and left several people trapped beneath the debris.

Around 30 firefighters took part in the operation using six vehicles, including two specialised rescue vehicles from the 1st EMAK. Three search and rescue dogs were also deployed.

Rescuers used specialist geophones to detect possible sounds beneath the rubble, along with cameras designed to search inaccessible areas.

The Municipality of Athens also provided heavy machinery to assist firefighters with the removal of debris and other materials.

Reports of a gas smell before the explosion

Questions are now emerging over reports that a gas smell had allegedly been noticed in the area in the weeks before the deadly explosion.

The citizens’ movement “Stay Active” published a social media post referring to a complaint from a resident of Lysikratous Street, who claimed that a gas smell had been detected in the area.

The resident also alleged that relevant investigations had been postponed until November because of the high tourist season.

Greek Police spokesperson Constantia Dimoglidou confirmed to ERTnews that authorities had received reports from residents about a possible gas smell before the explosion.

However, authorities have not yet determined the source or type of gas involved.

The Fire Department is conducting the preliminary investigation into the cause of the explosion.

Authorities have stressed that determining exactly what caused the blast will now be a key focus following the completion of the search operation.

Extensive damage across Plaka

The explosion caused extensive damage well beyond the collapsed building.

Homes, businesses and vehicles throughout the surrounding block and nearby streets were affected, with windows, shutters and glass shattered by the force of the blast.

Cars parked along Lysikratous Street were also damaged.

Municipal authorities have carried out initial inspections of neighbouring buildings. Based on the first assessment, buildings adjacent to the explosion site are currently considered unsafe for habitation and will require repairs.

Further inspections are expected now that the search operation has concluded, allowing authorities to establish the full extent of the structural damage.

The discovery of the final two victims brings a devastating end to the rescue operation, while the investigation into what caused the explosion is now expected to intensify.

The post Plaka Tragedy: Last Two Bodies Found as Death Toll Rises to Six appeared first on Greek City Times.

The highly anticipated national finals, orchestrated by the prestigious GS Hellas National Organisation under the direction of President Giorgos Kouvaris, took place in Athens on September 25, 2026. Vassilopoulos triumphed over an elite pool of finalists, including Evi Siskos, Mirina Kontoni, and Iliana Machremi, to claim the coveted diamond-anniversary title.

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A Journey Spanning Three Continents

For the global Greek diaspora—particularly in Australia—Vassilopoulos’s victory carries a profound sense of pride. Born in Australia into a family with deep roots in Mytilene (father’s side) as well as Argos and Patras (mother’s side), she spent her formative years growing up between Sydney and Melbourne before her family migrated back to Greece a few years ago.

Her remarkable journey connects three distinct worlds: Australia, Hong Kong, and Greece. An alumna of the University of Melbourne, Vassilopoulos successfully built an international modelling career spanning the highly competitive catwalks of Asia and Europe. Notably, she previously made headlines in the motherland for her steadfast refusal to enter reality TV via Greece’s Next Top Model (GNTM), opting instead to focus on building an authentic global modelling portfolio and prioritizing her formal studies.

More Than a Crown: Advocacy and Identity

Vassilopoulos represents a modern generation of beauty queens who blend style with substance. Fluent in multiple languages and boasting a strong academic foundation, she intends to use her platform for cultural diplomacy and global advocacy.

She has been a vocal proponent of environmental sustainability, actively championing efforts that promote a more responsible, eco-friendly relationship between the global fashion industry and the planet. Furthermore, she maintains tight-knit bonds with her roots; just days before her crowning, she was seen in Athens proudly supporting publications from the Greek Community of Melbourne alongside her father, George.

“I don’t like putting limits on myself,” Vassilopoulos recently shared, a mindset that has evidently propelled her from the classrooms of Melbourne straight to the pinnacle of Greek pageantry.

Destination: Puerto Rico

With the national crown firmly on her head, Vassilopoulos is shifting her focus to the global stage. She will proudly carry the blue and white flag to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she will represent Greece at the historic 75th Miss Universe competition.

The preliminary events and national costume showcases are scheduled to begin on November 21, culminating in the grand international final on November 24, 2026. Armed with elegance, five languages, and the unyielding backing of both Greece and the Hellenic diaspora worldwide, Olivia Vassilopoulos is ready to show the universe the true power of the modern Hellenic spirit.

Follow her journey here

The post From Melbourne to Athens: Olivia Vassilopoulos Crowned Miss Universe Greece 2026 appeared first on Greek City Times.

A man’s body was recovered at around 11am on Saturday, while the body of a woman was found earlier at dawn.

The identities of the victims have not yet been released.

Rescue crews are continuing their desperate search for two people who remain missing following Friday morning’s explosion on Lysikratous Street.

Four Americans were reportedly staying in a short term rental apartment on the first floor of the building, while an elderly British couple lived on the second floor.

Rescue operation continues

Firefighters are now working on the final section of rubble that has not yet been fully searched.

Special concrete cutting shears are being used as crews carefully remove debris and search for signs of the remaining missing people.

Around 30 firefighters are involved in the operation, supported by six vehicles, including two specialist rescue vehicles from the 1st EMAK.

Three search and rescue dogs are also at the scene.

Rescuers are using specialist sound detection equipment and cameras to search beneath the collapsed structure.

The Municipality of Athens is assisting the Fire Department with heavy machinery to remove debris from the site.

Explosion caused widespread destruction

The explosion occurred shortly after 7:30am on Friday, September 25, causing the building to collapse and sending a powerful blast through the surrounding area.

Nearby buildings and parked vehicles were also damaged.

Firefighters rescued two women from an adjacent building shortly after arriving at the scene. They were taken by ambulance to Georgios Gennimatas Hospital.

Another person suffered minor injuries from flying debris.

A specialist team from the Fire Investigation Division remains at the scene as authorities investigate what caused the explosion. Police and EKAB emergency crews are also continuing to assist with the operation.

Athens mayor: “An unbelievable disaster”

Athens Mayor Haris Doukas described the situation as extremely difficult as emergency crews continued their search.

“These are difficult hours, hours of anguish. All the Municipality’s crews, the Fire Department and EMAK are there,” Doukas said.

Asked about the possible cause of the explosion, Doukas said investigators already had some initial information but stressed that the immediate priority was finding the missing people.

He said the blast appeared to have been extremely powerful and suggested that an extensive gas leak could be among the possible causes being examined.

“There may have been an extensive leak. A very large leak,” he said.

Doukas also warned that neighbouring buildings had suffered serious damage.

“The two adjacent buildings are in very bad condition,” he said, adding that inspections were underway to determine whether they remained structurally safe or would also need to be demolished.

He said several buildings across the street were also in a difficult condition, with the blast wave affecting the wider area.

“We are talking about an unbelievable disaster,” Doukas said.

The search and rescue operation remains ongoing as crews work through the final areas of the collapsed building in the hope of locating the two people still missing.

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Oikonomopoulos had previously postponed the concert following Mazonakis’ death on September 9. When he finally took the stage, he paused during the performance to speak about his late friend and the memories he leaves behind.

“Remember Giorgos with love. What ultimately remains are the songs. These are what you will hear at home and at work,” Oikonomopoulos told the audience.

“Have a good trip, our Giorgos. Let us all sing and send him our love.”

He then made a deeply personal reference to his relationship with Mazonakis.

“And as for whether I loved him, only he knows. Only he knows if I loved him, if I supported him, if I was by his side.”

Oikonomopoulos also urged people not to turn Mazonakis’ death into a subject for speculation and social media commentary.

He said people should avoid making assumptions about the singer, his family or the circumstances surrounding his death, stressing that justice should determine what happened.

“Everyone carries something in their soul,” Oikonomopoulos said, revealing that he too is dealing with something significant that he may speak about publicly in the future.

“I have something very important, which I will not share with you yet. At some point I will share it so that you know that even in this difficult moment, I am here, I am present, I am trying.”

The singer also reflected on Mazonakis’ three decade career and the lasting impact of his music.

“George was a singer. George is a singer that you loved. For 30 years, you listened to his songs and you will continue to listen to his songs.”

Oikonomopoulos then dedicated two songs to his late friend, performing “Φεύγω για Μένα” (Févgo gia Mēna) and “Ανήκω” (Aníko), songs closely associated with Mazonakis’ career.

His tribute came as the investigation into Mazonakis’ death continues, with authorities examining the circumstances surrounding the medical treatment he received before his death.

For Oikonomopoulos, however, the focus of the evening was on remembering Mazonakis through his music and saying goodbye to a fellow singer and friend.

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Nikolaos (Nikos) Strimpoulis has been named ZWO Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 by the Royal Observatory Greenwich for Mineral Moon, a close-up of the lunar surface that reveals colours most people never see with the naked eye.

The image was captured on 8 March 2025 from Palaio Faliro, Athens. It shows the Moon’s dark maria — ancient lava plains — and the brighter, heavily cratered highlands. Processing brings out subtle mineral hues: warmer oranges linked to iron-rich rock and cooler blues associated with titanium deposits. Among the features visible are Mare Serenitatis, Mare Imbrium and the lunar Apennines.

Judge Steve Marsh, art editor at BBC Sky at Night Magazine, said many photographers only explore these mineral colours later in their careers. “This amazing young astrophotographer has achieved perfectly developed coloring in this photograph.”

Strimpoulis used a 6-inch Sky-Watcher Dobsonian (Skyliner 150 Classic) and a Player One Astronomy Ares-C Pro cooled colour camera at 1,200 mm, f/7.8, ISO 100. The final frame was built with lucky imaging: the sharpest 15 percent of frames from a 20-second video, a technique used to beat atmospheric turbulence.

He receives £1,500 and a year’s subscription to BBC Sky at Night Magazine. The photograph is on display with the other 2026 winners at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London.

The overall Astronomy Photographer of the Year title went to Ali Alobaidly of Kuwait for an image of the Shark Nebula. Strimpoulis also had further work shortlisted in the young category, including views of the Orion Nebula and the core of Andromeda.

Greece has a long tradition of looking up. This time a teenager from a Athens suburb has put the country’s name on the Moon — in colour.

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Pavlos Bakoyannis was born on 10 February 1935 in Velota, a small village in Evrytania in Central Greece. His father, Kostas Bakoyannis, was the village priest. The civil war years forced the family to move, and he completed his schooling in Agrinio, Thermo, Karpenisi and Patras before studying political and social sciences at Panteion University in Athens.

He continued his studies in Germany, taking degrees in political economy and political science at Munich, Tübingen and Konstanz, where he earned a doctorate in social sciences. He taught political science and journalism at the University of Munich and, from the mid-1960s, directed the Greek-language programme of Bayerischer Rundfunk. Those broadcasts, also carried by Deutsche Welle, became a reference point for Greeks living under the 1967–1974 military junta.

After the dictatorship collapsed, Bakoyannis returned to Athens in 1974 and joined the state broadcaster ERT. That December he married Theodora (Dora) Mitsotakis, daughter of New Democracy politician Konstantinos Mitsotakis. They had two children, Alexia and Kostas.

He later worked as a political commentator for To Vima and, in 1982, became publisher of the weekly magazine ENA. In the June 1989 general election he entered parliament for the first time as New Democracy MP for Evrytania and served as a parliamentary spokesman. He was widely associated with efforts at national reconciliation in a country still marked by the civil war and the junta years.

On the morning of 26 September 1989 — the same day parliament was due to debate the indictment of former prime minister Andreas Papandreou over the Koskotas scandal — Bakoyannis arrived alone at his office building at 35 Omirou Street in Kolonaki. Shortly before 8 a.m., members of Revolutionary Organization 17 November ambushed him in the entrance and shot him at close range. He was taken to Evangelismos Hospital, where he died. He was 54.

17 November later claimed the killing in a 12-page proclamation sent to Eleftherotypia, accusing Bakoyannis of involvement in the Koskotas affair. No court ever established those allegations. He was the first sitting member of parliament murdered by the group.

In December 2003 an Athens court convicted several 17 November members for the assassination. Dimitris Koufodinas, Iraklis Kostaris and Alexandros Giotopoulos received life sentences. Savvas Xiros and Vassilis Tzortzatos were also found guilty and given lengthy prison terms.

Bakoyannis’s widow, Dora Bakoyannis, later entered politics and served as mayor of Athens and foreign minister. Their son, Kostas Bakoyannis, later became mayor of Athens.

The post Pavlos Bakoyannis: 37 Years Since His Assassination by 17 November appeared first on Greek City Times.

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Four people remain missing. The Fire Service is racing to reach them before time runs out.

The search
Teams are using specialised concrete-cutting shears on the last section of debris that has not yet been fully checked. About 30 firefighters are on site with six vehicles, including two specialist rescue units from the 1st EMAK, and three search-and-rescue dogs. Rescuers are also using acoustic geophones and cameras to listen and look for signs of life.

The Municipality of Athens is supporting the operation with heavy machinery to clear material.

How the disaster unfolded
The blast happened shortly after 7:30 a.m. on Friday, 25 September. It wrecked the building, damaged neighbouring properties, and wrecked parked cars.

On Friday, firefighters pulled two women from an adjacent building on Lysikratous Street. They were taken by EKAB ambulance to Georgios Gennimatas Hospital. Another person was slightly injured by flying debris.

The Arson Crimes Division is still at the scene investigating the cause. Police (ELAS) and ambulance crews remain on site.

Mayor: “an unbelievable disaster”
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said the city is living through “difficult hours, hours of anguish,” with municipal crews, the Fire Service and EMAK all deployed.

Asked about the cause, he said there are already some early indications, but “the big battle right now is finding people.” He described the blast as terrifying and said it hit the front of the site hardest, though the rear is damaged too. “It is an explosion that may be due to an extensive leak. A very large leak,” he said.

On neighbouring buildings, Doukas said the two adjoining properties are in very poor condition. Surveys have begun to decide whether they can stand or must be demolished. Two or three buildings across the street are also in a difficult state. Damage runs the length of the street and the street behind; the shock wave reached the pavement in front. “We are talking about an unbelievable disaster,” he said.

Source: GCT Staff

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The Holy, Glorious All-laudable Apostle and Evangelist, Virgin, and Beloved Friend of Christ, John the Theologian was the son of Zebedee and Salome, a daughter of Saint Joseph the Betrothed. He was called by our Lord Jesus Christ to be one of His Apostles at the same time as his elder brother James. This took place at Lake Gennesareth (i.e. the Sea of Galilee). Leaving behind their father, both brothers followed the Lord.

The Apostle John was especially loved by the Savior for his sacrificial love and his virginal purity. After his calling, the Apostle John did not part from the Lord, and he was one of the three apostles who were particularly close to Him. Saint John the Theologian was present when the Lord restored the daughter of Jairus to life, and he was a witness to the Transfiguration of the Lord on Mount Tabor.

During the Last Supper, he reclined next to the Lord, and laid his head upon His breast. He also asked the name of the Savior’s betrayer. The Apostle John followed after the Lord when they led Him bound from the Garden of Gethsemane to the court of the iniquitous High Priests Annas and Caiphas. He was there in the courtyard of the High Priest during the interrogations of his Teacher and he resolutely followed after him on the way to Golgotha, grieving with all his heart.

At the foot of the Cross he stood with the Mother of God and heard the words of the Crucified Lord addressed to Her from the Cross: “Woman, behold Thy son.” Then the Lord said to him, “Behold thy Mother” (John 19:26-27). From that moment the Apostle John, like a loving son, concerned himself over the Most Holy Virgin Mary, and he served Her until Her Dormition.

After the Dormition of the Mother of God the Apostle John went to Ephesus and other cities of Asia Minor to preach the Gospel, taking with him his own disciple Prochorus. They boarded a ship, which floundered during a terrible tempest. All the travellers were cast up upon dry ground, and only the Apostle John remained in the depths of the sea. Prochorus wept bitterly, bereft of his spiritual father and guide, and he went on towards Ephesus alone.

On the fourteenth day of his journey he stood at the shore of the sea and saw that the waves had cast a man ashore. Going up to him, he recognized the Apostle John, whom the Lord had preserved alive for fourteen days in the sea. Teacher and disciple went to Ephesus, where the Apostle John preached incessantly to the pagans about Christ. His preaching was accompanied by such numerous and great miracles, that the number of believers increased with each day.

During this time there had begun a persecution of Christians under the emperor Nero (56-68). They took the Apostle John for trial at Rome. Saint John was sentenced to death for his confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but the Lord preserved His chosen one. The apostle drank a cup of deadly poison, but he remained alive. Later, he emerged unharmed from a cauldron of boiling oil into which he had been thrown on orders from the torturer.

After this, they sent the Apostle John off to imprisonment to the island of Patmos, where he spent many years. Proceeding along on his way to the place of exile, Saint John worked many miracles. On the island of Patmos, his preaching and miracles attracted to him all the inhabitants of the island, and he enlightened them with the light of the Gospel. He cast out many devils from the pagan temples, and he healed a great multitude of the sick.

Sorcerers with demonic powers showed great hostility to the preaching of the holy apostle. He especially frightened the chief sorcerer of them all, named Kinops, who boasted that they would destroy the apostle. But the great John, by the grace of God acting through him, destroyed all the demonic artifices to which Kinops resorted, and the haughty sorcerer perished in the depths of the sea.

The Apostle John withdrew with his disciple Prochorus to a desolate height, where he imposed upon himself a three-day fast. As Saint John prayed the earth quaked and thunder rumbled. Prochorus fell to the ground in fright. The Apostle John lifted him up and told him to write down what he was about to say. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord, Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty” (Rev 1:8), proclaimed the Spirit of God through the Apostle John. Thus in about the year 67 the Book of Revelation was written, known also as the “Apocalypse,” of the holy Apostle John the Theologian. In this Book were predictions of the tribulations of the Church and of the end of the world.

After his prolonged exile, the Apostle John received his freedom and returned to Ephesus, where he continued with his activity, instructing Christians to guard against false teachers and their erroneous teachings. In the year 95, the Apostle John wrote his Gospel at Ephesus. He called for all Christians to love the Lord and one another, and by this to fulfill the commands of Christ. The Church calls Saint John the “Apostle of Love”, since he constantly taught that without love man cannot come near to God.

In his three Epistles, Saint John speaks of the significance of love for God and for neighbor. Already in his old age, he learned of a youth who had strayed from the true path to follow the leader of a band of robbers, so Saint John went out into the wilderness to seek him. Seeing the holy Elder, the guilty one tried to hide himself, but the Apostle John ran after him and besought him to stop. He promised to take the sins of the youth upon himself, if only he would repent and not bring ruin upon his soul. Shaken by the intense love of the holy Elder, the youth actually did repent and turn his life around.

Saint John reposed when he was more than a hundred years old. He far outlived the other eyewitnesses of the Lord, and for a long time he remained the only remaining eyewitness of the earthly life of the Savior.

When it was time for the departure of the Apostle John, he went out beyond the city limits of Ephesus with the families of his disciples. He bade them prepare for him a cross-shaped grave, in which he lay, telling his disciples that they should cover him over with the soil. The disciples tearfully kissed their beloved teacher, but not wanting to be disobedient, they fulfilled his bidding. They covered the face of the saint with a cloth and filled in the grave. Learning of this, other disciples of Saint John came to the place of his burial. When they opened the grave, they found it empty.

Each year from the grave of the holy Apostle John on May 8 came forth a fine dust, which believers gathered up and were healed of sicknesses by it. Therefore, the Church also celebrates the memory of the holy Apostle John the Theologian on May 8.

The Lord bestowed on His beloved disciple John and John’s brother James the name “Sons of Thunder” an awesome messenger accompanied by the cleansing power of heavenly fire. And precisely by this the Savior pointed out the flaming, fiery, sacrificial character of Christian love, the preacher of which was the Apostle John the Theologian. The eagle, symbol of the lofty heights of his theological thought, is the iconographic symbol of the Evangelist John the Theologian. The appellation “Theologian” is bestown by Holy Church only to Saint John among the immediate disciples and Apostles of Christ, as being the seer of the mysterious Judgments of God.

This Apostle was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and the brother of James the elder. First a fisherman by trade, he became an Apostle and the beloved Disciple of Christ. Only he of all the Disciples followed Him even to the Cross, and was entrusted with the care of our Saviour’s Mother, as it were another son to her, and a brother of Christ the Teacher. After this, he preached throughout Asia Minor, especially in Ephesus.

When the second persecution against the Christians began in the year 96 during the reign of Domitian, he was taken in bonds to Rome, and there was cast into a vat filled to the brim with boiling oil. Coming forth therefrom unharmed, he was exiled to the island of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. Returning again to Ephesus after the death of the tyrant, he wrote his Gospel (after the other Evangelists had already written theirs) and his three Catholic Epistles.

In all, he lived ninety-five years and fell asleep in the Lord during the reign of Trajan in the year 100. He was called Theologian because he loftily expounded in his Gospel the theology of the inexpressible and eternal birth of the Son and Word of God the Father. It is for this cause that an eagle-a symbol of the Holy Spirit, as Saint Irenaeus says-is depicted in his icon, for this was one of the four symbolic living creatures that the Prophet Ezekiel saw (Ezek. 1:10).

John was the son of Zebedee the fisherman and Salome the daughter of Joseph, the betrothed of the Holy Theotokos. Called by the Lord Jesus, John immediately left his father and his fishermen’s nets and, with his brother James, followed Christ. From then on, he was not separated from his Lord until the end. With Peter and James, he was present at the raising of Jairus’s daughter and the Transfiguration of the Lord. At the Last Supper, he inclined his head on Jesus’ breast.

When all the other apostles had abandoned the crucified Lord, John and the Holy Mother of God remained beneath the Cross. In obedience to the Lord, he was as a son to the Holy Virgin Mary, and carefully served and watched over her until her Dormition. After her Dormition, John took his disciple Prochorus to preach the Gospel in Asia Minor. He lived and labored mostly in Ephesus. By his inspired preaching and miracles he converted many to Christianity and shook paganism to its foundation. The embittered pagans bound him and sent him to Rome, to face Emperor Dometian. Dometian had him tortured and flogged, but neither the bitterest poison he was given to drink, nor the boiling oil into which he was thrown, did him any harm.

This terrified the emperor and, thinking him immortal, Dometian sent him into exile to the island of Patmos. There St. John converted many to Christianity by words and miracles, and confirmed well the Church of God. He also wrote his Gospel and Revelation on Patmos. In the time of Emperor Nero, who granted freedom to all prisoners, John returned to Ephesus, where he lived for some time, confirming the work he had begun earlier. He was over one hundred years old when he went to the Lord. When his disciples later opened his grave, they did not find his body. On May 8 of every year, a fine dust, fragrant and healing, rose from his grave. After a long, laborious and fruitful life on earth, this beloved disciple of Christ, a true pillar of the Church, took up his habitation in the joy of His Lord.

The post The Falling Asleep of St. John the Evangelist and Theologian appeared first on Greek City Times.

The blaze started in one of the ship’s parking decks and spread to other areas, prompting the 29 people on board to abandon ship. All were later reported in good health.

Executives from the salvage company leading the firefighting operation said the priority is to stabilize the ship and create safe conditions so a specialized team can enter the interior.

Blue Carrier 2 has tilted slightly to starboard because of the large volumes of water used to cool overheated steel plates and bring down the high temperatures that built up inside the vessel.

The next step is to pump the water out to improve stability. After that, a recovery team is expected to inspect the decks where the fire started and spread, then decide how to proceed.

Firefighting and cooling operations continued Saturday. The salvage tug Aigaion Pelagos, which arrived Friday afternoon, remains central to the water-dropping effort.

Once the fire is fully out and the ship is judged safe to move, authorities will consider towing it to a port. That decision will be made with the Coast Guard and Fire Department.

Rescue

The 29 people on board — 28 crew members and one truck driver — left the ship in two lifeboats and were transferred to a Coast Guard patrol boat, which took them to the port of Tinos. All are well.

Greece’s Joint Rescue Coordination Center (EKSED) was alerted in the morning and mobilized immediately. A coordination videoconference later brought together Coast Guard and Fire Department leadership, the shipowner, and the salvage company.

Blue Carrier 2 was on the Piraeus–Syros–Vathy–Kos–Rhodes–Kos–Piraeus route, carrying 166 trucks and 29 passenger cars. Greek reports say the fire likely began on a truck in garage No. 4. The cause remains under investigation.

Source: AMPE / Skai.gr, with additional reporting from Kathimerini and maritime outlets.

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A series of diplomatic meetings involving Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, UN Secretary General António Guterres and other officials has kept the Cyprus issue high on the agenda during the UN General Assembly.

However, there has been no clear indication of a fundamental shift in the positions of the two sides.

Christodoulides met Guterres in New York on September 24 and presented proposals covering the substance and methodology of negotiations, as well as confidence building measures. The Cypriot president said Guterres had received the proposals positively and was considering the possibility of a tripartite meeting.

Christodoulides also indicated that he was prepared to extend his stay in New York if the conditions were created for further talks.

The central dispute remains the framework for a settlement

The main obstacle remains disagreement over the basis of a future settlement.

The Greek Cypriot side supports the resumption of substantive negotiations within the UN framework and based on the existing body of UN resolutions.

Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership have continued to advocate a different approach centred on two states and political equality.

Recent UN backed diplomatic efforts have therefore focused on whether enough common ground exists to restart a meaningful negotiating process.

UN Cyprus envoy Maria Angela Holguin has said that the UN continues its efforts, while recent meetings have yet to produce concrete progress.

Guterres continues to push for talks

Guterres has continued efforts to keep the Cyprus process moving before the end of his term as UN secretary general.

The UN has been exploring the possibility of another meeting involving the two sides, with the wider format potentially including Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Christodoulides has said Guterres is considering a three way meeting involving himself and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman, but stressed that there must also be a positive response from the other side.

The Turkish Cypriot side has also spoken about the possibility of a wider five plus one meeting, while arguing that preparations should ensure the talks have a realistic prospect of producing an outcome.

Despite the diplomatic activity, disagreements remain over political equality, confidence building measures and the methodology for restarting negotiations.

Mitsotakis raises Cyprus with Guterres

The Cyprus issue was also discussed when Mitsotakis met Guterres in New York.

Athens has consistently supported a settlement based on UN resolutions and the reunification of Cyprus, while rejecting a two state solution.

Mitsotakis also raised the issue during his address to the UN General Assembly, highlighting the continuing division of the island and Greece’s position that the Cyprus issue must remain within the UN framework.

Netanyahu directly targets Erdogan over Cyprus

The Cyprus dispute also featured prominently in Benjamin Netanyahu’s UN General Assembly address.

The Israeli prime minister directly criticised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and accused Turkey of illegally occupying the northern part of Cyprus, while also accusing Ankara of regularly acting against Greece.

Netanyahu’s remarks were delivered during his September 24 address to the UN General Assembly.

Turkey subsequently rejected Netanyahu’s comments, with Turkish presidential communications director Burhanettin Duran condemning the Israeli prime minister’s remarks.

Athens and Nicosia face a difficult diplomatic path

The latest diplomatic activity has demonstrated that there is still international interest in keeping the Cyprus process alive.

But the fundamental disagreement over the framework for a settlement remains unresolved.

For Nicosia, the objective remains a negotiated settlement within the established UN framework. Ankara and the Turkish Cypriot side continue to promote a different model centred on two states and political equality.

Until the two sides find sufficient common ground on that fundamental question, the prospects for a substantive restart of negotiations remain uncertain.

Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis is expected to continue diplomatic efforts alongside the UN and Cypriot government to identify a pathway back to negotiations.

For now, the New York meetings have generated diplomatic activity but no breakthrough on the central disagreement that has kept the Cyprus issue deadlocked.

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Remos has not personally commented on the controversy. However, his lawyer, Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, announced that an official extrajudicial demand, known in Greece as an exodiko, will be sent to the influencer.

Briefly about the main points

• A well-known influencer posted a TikTok video containing statements and insinuations about Remos;
• she referred to an alleged incident dating back to before 1999, when the singer was reportedly in hospital;
• Remos’ lawyer described the claims as false and defamatory;
• the influencer will first be asked to retract her statements and apologise publicly;
• if she refuses, Remos is considering both criminal and civil legal action.

What the influencer said

The dispute began after the influencer published a video claiming to have knowledge of an episode from Remos’ past.

She referred to an alleged incident dating back to before 1999 and said that she was a child at the time, while her mother worked at the hospital where Remos was allegedly admitted.

The video reportedly did not contain a direct or specific accusation. However, the wording was interpreted by Remos’ legal team as creating insinuations about the circumstances surrounding his alleged hospitalisation.

Remos’ lawyer: “This is a disgusting lie”

On September 23, Dimitrakopoulos appeared on the ANT1 programme To Proino and said that Remos considers the statements defamatory.

The lawyer acknowledged that public figures must accept criticism, but argued that there is a distinction between criticism and the publication of claims that are allegedly false and damaging.

Dimitrakopoulos also said that Remos does not know the influencer and that her statements have caused significant distress to the singer and his family.

Remos demands a public apology

According to Dimitrakopoulos, the first step will be an exodiko, rather than immediately launching court proceedings.

The legal notice will reportedly demand that the influencer retract her statements and issue a public apology.

If she complies, Dimitrakopoulos said Remos would not proceed with either a criminal complaint or a civil lawsuit. If she refuses, the singer is prepared to pursue the matter through the courts.

Why Mazonakis has entered the discussion

The controversy comes amid intense public attention in Greece surrounding the death of singer Giorgos Mazonakis and reports concerning private medical and wellness facilities.

Remos’ legal team is concerned that viewers could interpret the influencer’s references to his alleged hospitalisation in the context of recent events surrounding Mazonakis.

No connection between the two cases has been established.

Remos has not personally commented

As of publication, Remos has not issued a separate public statement about the TikTok video. His position has instead been communicated through his lawyer.

The dispute will now depend on whether the influencer retracts her statements and apologises or whether Remos proceeds with legal action.

The post Antonis Remos threatens legal action after influencer makes insinuations about his past appeared first on Greek City Times.

Turkey will not join or participate in broader European defense mechanisms as long as it maintains a threat of war against Greece. The source also voiced strong concern over possible food shortages, citing the shadow of the Middle East crisis and the war in Ukraine. Athens’ position is that the European Union must not look the other way and should act collectively.

Greece’s diplomatic calendar in October is expected to be especially heavy. The country will hold the presidency of the UN Security Council at a time of critical international developments and the process of selecting the next UN Secretary-General. The diplomatic source said the presidency will have a “major say” in that selection because it is tasked with seeking consensus among Council members. Athens has already formed a view on candidates who align with its principles; the priority is identifying who can secure the agreement of the Permanent Members.

Greek-Turkish relations: channels remain open amid tension

On Turkey, the source stressed that communication channels “never ceased.” Greece “remains consistent but is not going to make concessions on Greek positions.” The main pillars of the Greek-Turkish Structured Dialogue—confidence-building measures (MOE), political dialogue, and the Positive Agenda—continue. “The dialogue should continue” and recent tension should be reduced, the source said, adding that this does not depend only on the Greek side.

When Turkish actions conflict with core Greek positions, “of course there will be a corresponding response.”

“The first is that the channels of communication have never ceased. The channels start from the bottom of the hierarchy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and reach the army. So the channels did not stop even during the period of tension. The second is that tension has indeed been generated beyond what we had experienced. My view is that the dialogue should definitely continue and we should try to ease these tensions,” the source said.

The structured dialogue has not disappeared. Specific dates have not yet been set, but planning is proceeding normally.

Upcoming milestones and the Cyprus-Greece electricity cable

Several challenges lie ahead, including research and installation of the electrical interconnection with Cyprus and related legislation expected to go to parliament for ratification. The source said the survey vessel will face no problems and work will continue as planned.

French participation is important, and even more so because this is a European project. “Whoever takes responsibility for a European project also takes responsibility,” the diplomat emphasized.

Cyprus: mobility without near-term optimism

On the Cyprus issue, the source assessed that there is “great mobility,” but current signs do not allow optimism before the end of the current UN Secretary-General’s term. The source described the Turkish president’s position as “unproductive,” even though Ankara has taken a milder stance on Greek-Turkish relations. Creating better momentum for a settlement that the next Secretary-General can inherit is considered very important.

On Turkey’s pursuit of a role in broader European defense mechanisms, the source said that for Athens it is a matter of principle: “this cannot proceed as long as there is a threat of war.”

Food and energy risks: call for EU action

Particular concern was expressed about energy security. “Everyone is in a state of great concern,” the source said, noting that planning is needed even for a possible prolonged crisis. For Greece, however, there is “no issue of adequacy” this winter because of existing reserves.

The source warned of a supply-chain problem: if current conditions continue, they will lead to a food crisis and, in any case, a very large increase in the prices of basic goods.

“As long as things remain as they are today, the need for collective action in the European Union will become obvious. I cannot see how Europe will turn a blind eye to the possibility of energy asphyxiation. Energy is not just for running industry. Energy is for heating, for transportation.”

Iran: negotiations remain very difficult

On relations with Iran and the Greek foreign minister’s meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Athens maintains a “permanent channel of communication,” but without optimism for an immediate regional peace. The Iranian side “does not appear willing to back down from its basic demands.” During the meeting, Greece conveyed its positions on freedom of navigation and maritime security.

“The Iranians are not at this moment disposed to make major concessions regarding their basic demands… a ceasefire throughout the Middle East, the lifting of sanctions, and the unfreezing of frozen assets. This makes any negotiation very, very difficult,” the Foreign Ministry source said.

UNGA contacts and broader outreach

In New York, Greece received a large number of meeting requests and sought contacts especially with countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The source made special mention of India, Brazil, and Pakistan, of efforts to strengthen Greece’s footprint in Latin America, and of meetings with Eritrea, Libya, Algeria, Somalia, and Egypt. Algeria was highlighted as an energy partner; Somalia was discussed in the context of the Security Council and maritime security.

Rubio visit and U.S. ties

The senior diplomatic source described Greek-American relations as very good and confirmed that Marco Rubio is expected in Greece for the 6th round of the Strategic Dialogue, within a framework of “deep cooperation” that is developing further. The source linked Greece’s international standing to the diplomatic capital built in recent years and stressed the importance of synergy among foreign policy, defense, and the economy.

On Lebanon, the source said a proposal for participation in an international force after the end of UNIFIL is being examined.

Source: skai.gr

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