Antenna: News in English (AM), 98-04-14

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From: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: antenna@compulink.gr

Last Updated: Tuesday, 14-Apr-98 09:08:42

CONTENTS

[01] Karamanlis-Health

[02] Serafeim

[03] Sinai peninsula

[04] Athens stock market

[05] Sports

[01] Karamanlis-Health

Doctors made an experimental attempt to take him off his breathing support machine Monday morning. After 15 minutes, the put him back on it, not wanting to take any chances.

Karamanlis entered the hospital last Tuesday with a minor respiratory tract infection and a fever.

The founder of New Democracy was lucid, but unable to speak because of the respirator.

Doctors say they can't make any kind of prognosis. His health is stable, but anything could happen at any time.

The worry was written on the faces of relatives and friends at the hospital Monday.

Greeks everywhere are hoping the former president gets well soon.

In his native village of Proti, in northern Greece, residents who remembered him as a youth said they wish him a full and speedy recovery.

[02] Serafeim

Thousands of people filled the Metropolitan church to pay homage and to remember the man who did so much for the church and the good of his country; many thousands more followed the procession from the church to the cemetery.

Religious and political figures took the podium at the Metropolitan church to eulogize the passing of the late archbishop Serafeim, known for his simplicity, humility, and courage.

Metropolitan bishop of Patra, Nikodimos said, "It seems fitting to bury our leader on Holy Monday".

Chrysostomos, metropolitan bishop of Efessos came on behalf of Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos. Addressing Serafeim he said, "The Ecumenical Patriarchate and its leader know that their voice was always understood and respected by you. Your voice was welcome and appreciated as well, especially during difficult times".

President of parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis said, "Despite the difficult times you faced at the outset of your long career, you managed to bring calm and order to the Greek Orthodox church.

Many political leaders identified the late archbishop as a national Symbol not only for the orthodox church but for all of Greece as well.

Education minister Gerasimos Arsenis said, "He was pure Greek, a distinguished cleric with excellent judgement and an honest and simple man.

Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos fondly referred to Serafeim as a rebel not only for the church but for his country as well. He said, "He was a rebel before he became an archbishop. He fought against the German-Nazi occupation for Greece's freedom. He fought for the independence of Cyprus and worked with a fiery passion for the rights of Greeks in Northern Ipirus.

Pasok central committee secretary Kostas Skandalidis said, "It seems proper that he travel that road toward heaven during Holy Week and springtime in Greece. He will always live in our memory".

Nikos Konstantopoulos, Left Coalition leader, said, "On the road from life to eternity, he will be accompanied by the love of Greeks".

Democratic Movement leader Dimitris Tsovolas said, "You had full success as a patriot and as the leader of the Greek-Orthodox church as well. Rest in peace".

Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras said, "In these bitter hours, under a deep mourning, Greece greets you, but doesn't farewell you, because Greece can't farewell Greece itself".

Harilaos Florakis, a former Communist Party leader who came from the same region as Serafeim and also fought against the German occupation felt a certain closeness and comraderie with the late archbishop. He said, "We might have fought in different ranks but it was against the common enemy for Greece. Your life and work proved that there were honest fighters and patriots in the national resistance. You will be remembered. Farewell".

Vangelis Dimakis, president of Artesiano Serafim's hometown near Karditsa brought soil to place in the coffin as a symbolic gesture, reassuring everyone that the memory of Serafeim will never fade.

As thousands of people followed the funeral procession to the cemetery many fondly remembered Serafeim. One man said, "He was an amazing man, he achieved much". Another said, "He loyally served the Greek people, his country and the church. This kind of man you can't forget".

The village of ArtesianO, the homeland of Serafim, was empty Monday, as residents went to Athens to attend the funeral of their beloved compatriot. The bell of the village's church, Agios Theodoros, was tolling, while there was a picture of Serafim surrounded by flowers in the interior of the church.

At the Athens Symphony Hall Monday, composer Mikis Theodorakis paid tribute to Serafeim. Theodorakis was rehearsing his Third Symphony, which will be performed before an audience Tuesday night.

Theodorakis, a former communist, said it was Serafeim who reconciled him to God. "He maintained his simplicity and humanity", said Theodorakis of the archbishop. "He's an exceptional symbol".

Theodorakis was especially touched to see former communist party leader Harilaos Florakis speak at the funeral service.

[03] Sinai peninsula

In this special report, we take you on a tour of the place where man met God.

Sinai: the place where God blessed man, and forgave him for turning his back on him.

Father Michael is a hermit following in the footsteps of monks going back to the fourth century AD. Living alone in a hot, barren land, reaching out to touch the hand of God.

The same hand that gave Moses the Ten Commandments, a land made holy by being the font of the Old Testament.

Today, Father Michael ponders over what to him is incomprehensible: "On the very day that God gave man the Ten Commandments", he says, "man wanted to kneel down before an Egyptian idol. How could they ignore the word of God in favour of idols?

The creation of the golden calf by God's chosen people was a major act of ingratitude, and God made a stone effigy of it, so the memory of that ingratitude would never fade.

Father Michael is the perfect guide through the Sinai of orthodoxy.

Today, there are many conveniences for tourists, but the historical richness of the place is ever apparent.

Behind this hill is the mountain Moses climbed to receive the commandments. This is the area the monastic hermits, who first arrived in the year 300, preferred to build their cells in the rocks.

Says Father Michael, "You can only bear life in this place if you give your thoughts entirely over to God".

He is unfaltering in his search of the ruins in the area. His belongings are carried by his camel, named Vergina, to remind him of Greece.

The last of the hermits left here in 1620, but other monks continued to come on a quest for contact with God until 1750. The small churches became their monasteries.

Father Michael shows us the cave of Stephanos Sina-itou, a paradigm of ascetic isolation and repentance. He spent the last eight years of his life not only in solitude, but also in darkness, waiting to leave his earthly body; his only contact with the outside world was this tiny window and a small doorway he made in his cell.

Next, Father Michael shows us the valley of the prophet Ilias. This chruch was erected in the place where God's light shone.

"When I came to find a cell", explains Father Michael, "I searched through many ruins in the area. There are some 400 ruins altogether. With Bedouin escorts, I visited about 50.

We arrived here, at this gulley. I got the Bedouins to agree that if they found water within three metres of the gulley, then we should build here.

The Bedouins didn't know where to look, but one of them claimed he'd been visited by a monk as he slept, who told him to dig under the tree he was sleeping next to. A metre deeps, they found water, an ancient Byzantine well.

[04] Athens stock market

At closing, the exchange had gained 4.5 per cent on Friday.

Since the government devalued the drachma a month ago, the Athens stock market has made spectacular gains. The day before the devaluation the Athens index was 1537. At closing Monday, it was at 2255.

[05] Sports

In the quarterfinal best-of-three match-ups, Pao takes on Iraklio, Olympiakos is pitted against Apollon, Aek meets Panionios, and Paok squares off against Papagou.

Papagou surprises everyone in reaching the finals. Papagou upsets Peristeri in game three of their first round series to clinch the series 2-1.

Giorgos Limniatis hits with 12 seconds to play in game three, giving his team the 54-53 victory.

In the other weekend game, Apollon breezed past Irakles. The score in that one: 91-65.

In soccer, Olympiakos is two victories away from repeating as national champion.

The Piraeus side picked up its 26th win of the season over the weekend.

Paniliakos gets on the scoreboard first, with a goal by Nousias just 8 minutes into the match. But Olympiakos gets two goals of its own before half time, from Yiannakopoulos and Oforikoue, who makes it 3-1 with another tally at the start of the second half.

Paniliakos makes it 3-2 with a goal 10 minutes before the end of official time, but it's too little, too late. Olympiakos's Georgatos adds a late goal, making the final score 4-2.

Turning to the scoreboard, Panathinaikos is two games behind the frontrunners. Pao wins convincingly over the weekend. League scoring leader Christof Vazecha adds two goals in that one, taking his personal total for the year to 26.

Third place Aek is now five points ahead of fourth- place Paok, which manages only a draw in a scoring fest.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1998

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