Greek, Russian Orthodox patriarchs lead prayers together in Turkey in show of unity

October 13th, 2009 ANKARA - Archaeologists have found traces of a temple built for the Greek goddess of divine retribution, Nemesis, during excavations in the ancient city of Agora in the Aegean port city of Izmir in Turkey. According to a report in Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review, Akin Ersoy of Dokuz Eylul University's archaeology department and heading the archaeological excavations in the ancient city, said that there might be a temple built for Nemesis in the area.

October 3rd, 2009 Greece's Kokosalaki serves up elegant drapingPARIS — Greek designer Sophia Kokosalaki served up on Saturday a spring-summer 2010 ready-to-wear collection of artfully draped cocktail dresses that would have done her ancestors proud. Abbreviated cocktail dresses in neutral tones were wound in whisper-light chiffon so graceful it evoked classical Greek sculptures.

September 17th, 2009 Vatican sees end to tensions with Russian OrthodoxVATICAN CITY — Relations with the Russian Orthodox church have vastly improved, possibly paving the way for a papal visit to Moscow or a historic meeting between the pope and the Orthodox patriarch outside of Russia or the Vatican, a senior Vatican cardinal said Thursday. Cardinal Walter Kasper told Vatican Radio "we have overcome all the tensions in recent years." He spoke after meeting with Archbishop Hilarion, head of external relations for the Moscow patriarch's office.

September 12th, 2009 Flash floods hit Turkey, hundreds evacuatedISTANBUL — Flash floods in northwestern Turkey forced the evacuation of about 200 workers at tile and brick factories by helicopter Saturday, an official said. Flood waters were receding and rescue workers were working to evacuate a small number of workers left at the factories near the town of Kumbag, Gov.

August 10th, 2009 Remains of missing Greek Cypriot soldiers foundNICOSIA, Cyprus —The remains of five Greek Cypriot soldiers who appear in an iconic 1974 photo surrendering to invading Turkish troops were found in an abandoned well in the Turkish Cypriot north, officials said Monday. The soldiers' families and Greek Cypriot officials called the photographs proof that they were murdered in the custody of Turkish troops.

August 6th, 2009 Putin in Turkey seeking support for gas pipelineANKARA, Turkey — Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was in Turkey on Thursday courting support for a gas pipeline project it hopes will help maintain Russian energy dominance in European nations. Putin was holding talks with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan before the two planned to sign an agreement on constructing part of the South Stream pipeline through Turkish waters in the Black Sea.

August 5th, 2009 Former Greek junta minister Makarezos dies aged 90ATHENS, Greece — Nikolaos Makarezos, one of the leaders of the military dictatorship that ruled Greece from 1967-1974, has died at age 90. Colonel Makarezos, the junta's chief economic policymaker who served as deputy prime minister and minister for coordination under dictator George Papadopoulos, died Monday, Greek media reported.

July 27th, 2009 Patriarch Kirill: No independent church in UkraineKIEV, Ukraine — The head of the Russian Orthodox Church rejected calls from Ukraine's president to create a local Orthodox church that would be independent from Moscow, saying he firmly supports the status quo. Patriarch Kirill arrived in Ukraine for a prolonged visit, which observers say is aimed at reasserting Moscow's religious and political influence over this predominantly Orthodox nation of 46 million, which is trying to integrate with the West.

July 27th, 2009 Russian Patriarch calls for Ukraine church unityKIEV, Ukraine — The patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church has arrived in Kiev for a 10-day visit aimed at reasserting Moscow's dominance over the church's leaders in Ukraine. Patriarch Kirill said Monday he would pray for the two nations' "unbreakable spiritual and church unity." The statement was a reference to Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko's efforts to establish an independent Orthodox Church in Ukraine.

July 27th, 2009 Russian Patriarch calls for unity with UkraineKIEV, Ukraine — The leader of the Russian Orthodox Church led solemn prayers in Kiev on Monday, the first day of 10-day visit aimed at reasserting Moscow's dominance over church leaders in Ukraine. Patriarch Kirill led the service on the sacred St.

July 21st, 2009 Russian pupils to have choice of religion, ethicsBARVIKHA, Russia — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced a pilot project Tuesday that will require schoolchildren to take classes in religion or secular ethics. The proposal is part of a Kremlin effort to teach young Russians morals in the wake of a turbulent period of uncertainty following the collapse of the officially atheist Soviet Union.

July 14th, 2009 Bulgaria agrees Caspian gas linkSOFIA, Bulgaria — Bulgaria and Greece agreed on the construction of a pipeline that will allow Bulgaria to import natural gas from the Caspian Sea region, energy officials said Tuesday. Bulgaria's state-owned Energy Holding on Tuesday signed an agreement with Greek natural gas monopoly DEPA and Italy's Edison SpA on setting up a company to construct and operate the pipeline, and a second company to supply and make commercial use of the natural gas.

July 5th, 2009 Russian pagans from ancient cult greet solsticeMALOYAROSLAVETS, Russia — Tambourine throbbing in hand, Velislav chants to gods whose cult has almost been obliterated by a millennium of Christianity in Russia. Several hundred followers wearing linen, ancient Slavic ornaments and flower garlands circle around the high priest to celebrate the summer solstice, in an all-night festivity fought by the Russian Orthodox Church for centuries.

April 30th, 2009 2 Greek weightlifters suspended for dopingATHENS, Greece — The Greek weightlifting federation has suspended two athletes who tested positive for a banned stimulant during national games this year. A third athlete who took part in the European Union weightlifting championships in Poland in March has also tested positive for an unspecified stimulant but results on his backup sample were not yet available, the federation said Wednesday.

April 24th, 2009 Lebanese parliament based on sectarian splitA new parliament to be elected in Lebanon on Sunday will be apportioned among Christian and Muslim sects under a power-sharing formula that also divvies up Lebanon's main leadership positions by religion. Under the 1989 agreement to end a 15-year civil war, the 128-seat parliament is divided equally between Christians and Muslims, and subdivided among the largest of the country's recognized 18 religious sects.