The Hellenic Navy (HN) (Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemikó Naftikó, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence. During the periods of monarchy (1833–1924 and 1936–1973) it was known as the Royal Navy (Βασιλικόν Ναυτικόν, Vasilikón Naftikón, abbreviated ΒΝ).The total displacement of all the navy's vessels is approximately 150,000 tons.The motto of the Hellenic Navy is "Μέγα το της Θαλάσσης Κράτος" from Thucydides' account of Pericles' oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. This has been roughly translated as "Great is the country that controls the sea". The Hellenic Navy's emblem consists of an anchor in front of a crossed Christian cross and trident, with the cross symbolizing Greek Orthodoxy, and the trident symbolizing Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. Pericles' words are written across the top of the emblem. "The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory."...............The Hellenic Merchant Marine refers to the Merchant Marine of Greece, engaged in commerce and transportation of goods and services universally. It consists of the merchant vessels owned by Greek civilians, flying either the Greek flag or a flag of convenience. Greece is a maritime nation by tradition, as shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks and a key element of Greek economic activity since the ancient times. Nowadays, Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world, which is the second largest contributor to the national economy after tourism and forms the backbone of world shipping. The Greek fleet flies a variety of flags, however some Greek shipowners gradually return to Greece following the changes to the legislative framework governing their operations and the improvement of infrastructure.

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This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς....This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς.........

Thursday, January 12, 2012

The arrest of Abbot Efraim of "Athos" ...[ 2629 ]

Greek church protests pre-trial detention of Abbot Efraim

Abbot Efraim

Abbot Efraim//© RIA Novosti. Alexey Druzhinin //22:55 12/01/2012

ATHENS, January 12 (RIA Novosti)

The autocephalous Orthodox Church of Greece has called for the release of Abbot Efraim, the head of the Vatopedi Monastery in Mount Athos, who is currently under arrest on real estate fraud charges, the church’s Holy Synod said on Thursday.

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“Our church respects rulings by justice and would not like to interfere in its responsibility sphere… Nevertheless, together with many believers, the church expresses sympathy of all its members to the embattled abbot, and… hopes the possibility of his release from custody will be reconsidered,” it said.

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The Cypriot-born 56-year-old Abbot Efraim is accused of involvement in a criminal scheme under which the Greek government swapped cheap farmland for costly Athens real estate in favor of the Vatopedi Monastery. He says he is not guilty.

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The head of the Church of Greece, Ieronymos II, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, plans to visit Efraim in jail.

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On December 29, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, urged Greek President Karolos Papoulias to release Efraim, who was arrested on December 24.

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In November, Efraim led a Vatopedi Monastery delegation that brought one of the main Christian relics, a belt of the Virgin Mary, to Russia for the first time in history.

The arrest of Efraim has sparked a diplomatic row between Moscow and Athens.

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The Church of Greece is one of the fourteen autocephalous churches in the Orthodox Christian community. Mount Athos is within the jurisdiction of another autocephalous church in Greece, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

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The Ecumenical Patriarchate denounced the Russian Orthodox Church’s interference in the case.

A number of Greek legal experts have questioned whether the police actions on self-governed Mount Athos were legal. Athos is part of Greek territory. Its monks are Greek citizens, but a special warrant from the prosecutor’s office is required to arrest a person on Athos.

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