Latest news with #GreekOrthodoxChurch
Perth Now
a day ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Dad's funeral refusal ‘discrimination': court
A man who claimed he was subject to religious discrimination by the Queensland Government after they refused to pay for his deceased father's Greek Orthodox funeral says he was denied 'natural justice' when his case was thrown out. Angelos Angelopoulos' attempt to take the government to the state's civil tribunal was refused in 2022 after he complained he was subject to discrimination when told a grant of funding for a burial service for his father, Anastasios, would not cover the costs of a Greek Orthodox service required to help farewell the 93-year-old. After appealing the decision from the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), Mr Angelopoulos this week suffered an additional blow in court when this fresh attempt was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in Brisbane. Anastasios died in hospital on June 23, 2018. Angelos Angelopoulos claimed he was subject to religious discrimination when the government refused to cover the costs of a Greek Orthodox service for his father, Anastasios, in 2018. Zak Simmonds Credit: News Corp Australia His son sought financial assistance from the Palaszczuk-led Labor government under Queensland's Burials Assistance Act (BAA) as he could not afford to pay for the funeral service and burial at the time of Anastasios' passing. But the aid only covered the reopening of a pre-purchased burial plot, a graveside service, the funeral director's fee, a coffin and 'any required preparation of the body and transportation from the morgue to the burial site'. Angelos desired for his father to hold a Greek Orthodox funeral according to Anastasios' strong beliefs, but further financial assistance for this was refused. The Greek community and the Greek Orthodox Church stepped in to fund a church service, but it did not extend to the costs of the private viewing of Anastasios in an open coffin. It was not for another 20 weeks Mr Angelopoulos' father was buried in November 2018. In his submissions to the tribunal, he argued he was discriminated against over the requirement to bury his father 'without his complying with his father's and his own religious beliefs'. 'According to Mr Angelopoulos, a higher proportion of people who are not of Greek Orthodox faith would be able to comply with the term and bury family members without a church service or private viewing,' the Court of Appeal judgment states. Anastasios Angelopoulos was not buried for 20 weeks until the Greek community and the Greek Orthodox Church stepped in to fund a church service, but it did not extend to the costs of the private viewing of Anastasios in an open coffin. Supplied Credit: Supplied Anastasios Angelopoulos with his wife Lygeri. Supplied Credit: Supplied The tribunal dismissed Mr Angelopoulos' application in 2022. In her decision, QCAT member Joanne Browne said Mr Angelopoulos was not treated 'less favourably' than any other person because of the decision to grant him funding under the BAA. 'The respondent's conduct is in all of the circumstances reasonable … on the basis that the conduct was necessary to comply with or is specifically authorised by the BAA,' she wrote. Ms Browne noted Mr Angelopoulos was not denied the additional costs associated with a funeral because of his religious beliefs. Under the Act, the government could only make arrangements for the disposal of a body, such as helping with a burial or cremation, and funerals were not covered under the funding arrangement. The Department of Justice and Attorney-General (DJAG) also wrote to Mr Angelopoulos informing him the Orthodox service was not part of the scope of their funding arrangement. 'Queensland is a multicultural state with diverse range of cultures and religions. Should DJAG agree to provide a church service and viewing in the current circumstances, then it would be obliged to provide a similar offer to all applicants of all cultures and religion,' the department said, according to the QCAT judgment. The Court of Appeal in Brisbane threw our Mr Angelopoulos' application to overturn the QCAT decision, finding there were no sufficient grounds. NewsWire/ Glenn Campbell Credit: News Corp Australia 'The cost to the state would be very significant and this would be a huge impost on limited government funds to provide specialised funeral services, as opposed to a simple burial, for each and every culture and religion in circumstances where burial assistance is approved.' A subsequent attempt to appeal the decision through QCAT's own appeals tribunal was also dismissed. Mr Angelopoulos then took the matter to Queensland's Court of Appeal, arguing five grounds. Some of his submissions included that he was denied natural justice due to limited evidence, the tribunal overlooked the Human Rights Act and that there was an error of fact in the respondent's argument. The Court of Appeal judgment states there was 'no jurisdiction' for at least three of the grounds of appeal. 'Leave should not be granted to the applicant given the proposed appeal does not raise questions of law arising from the final decision … in relation to grounds 1-3 and 5,' the judgment states. In addressing claims surrounding the Human Rights Act, the court found it did not raise an 'arguable error of law requiring correction to avoid substantial injustice.'
Egypt Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Egypt pledges full protection for historic St. Catherine's Monastery
The Egyptian presidency has reaffirmed its full commitment to preserving the unique and sacred religious status of St. Catherine's Monastery in South Sinai, ensuring this status remains untouched. In a statement released Thursday evening, the Egyptian presidency stressed that the recent judicial ruling regarding the monastery reinforces this status and aligns with what President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi affirmed during his recent visit to Athens on May 7th. The presidency underscored the importance of maintaining the 'close and fraternal relations between the two countries and brotherly peoples, and ensuring they are not harmed.' These developments follow reports circulated months ago that alleged the South Sinai Governorate was attempting to reclaim the monastery's land, which belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church, after evicting and expelling the monks, including the Greeks who oversee the monastery. Recently, the Ismailia Court of Appeal's 'El Tor Circuit' issued its ruling on the lawsuit concerning the disputed land plots between the South Sinai Governorate and St. Catherine's Monastery. The court affirmed the right of those affiliated with St. Catherine's Monastery to utilize the monastery and the archaeological religious sites in the St. Catherine area, with the state retaining ownership of these sites as public property. This is based on the understanding that those affiliated with the monastery are present in their religious capacity, performing their religious rituals under the leadership of the Monastery's Metropolitan, appointed by Presidential Decree No. 306 of 1974, and that the Supreme Council of Antiquities oversees these archaeological sites. Built in 548 AD in South Sinai, Saint Catherine's Monastery is considered one of the oldest monasteries in the world, holding immense religious and historical significance. After rumors spread about the monastery's evacuation and sale, the Egyptian government quickly denied these claims months ago. President El-Sisi also emphatically refuted these allegations, affirming the state's commitment to protecting the monastery and respecting religious pluralism in Egypt. During his visit to Greece this month, President El-Sisi emphasized that the relationship between Egypt and Saint Catherine's Monastery is an eternal contractual relationship that cannot be touched. He expressed his annoyance at the circulation of these rumors, noting that the Egyptian state respects the religious sanctities of all denominations. The crisis concerning the monastery began months ago. Last October, the South Sinai Governorate confirmed the falseness of the rumors circulated on social media regarding a threat or plan to evacuate the monastery. The monastery belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church and is under the supervision of the Greek Ambassador. It is located on the slopes of Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. It is one of the oldest continually operating monasteries in the world, also known as the Monastery of Saint Catherine, though its official name is the 'Sacred Monastery of God-Trodden Mount Sinai.' It was built by order of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I between 548 and 565 AD to house the monks who had been living in the Sinai Peninsula since the fourth century AD. The monastery includes multiple structures, the most important being the Church of the Transfiguration, which itself contains nine smaller chapels. One of these chapels is the Burning Bush Chapel, where God spoke to the Prophet Moses. The Egyptian Cabinet also issued a statement last November to address the controversy surrounding the monastery and alleged plans for its evacuation coinciding with the area's development. Furthermore, the recent judicial ruling mandated the respect of contracts executed between the local unit of Saint Catherine City and the Monastery concerning certain plots of land utilized by those affiliated with the Monastery. This effectively denies any encroachment on these lands. The court also stated that the remaining disputed land plots are natural protectorates and all are public state property, meaning they cannot be disposed of or acquired through prescription. No contracts have been issued for these lands by the relevant authority.
Kuwait Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
Fire walkers defy pain in ancient Greek ritual
Under a cloud of incense smoke, a group of men and women in a village in northern Greece swayed slowly to the music before removing their shoes and rushing, barefoot, onto waiting embers. The fire walking ritual, held on the day of the Orthodox feast of Saint Constantine and Saint Helena on May 21, has been practiced for over a century in four villages of the Greek region of Macedonia, which borders Bulgaria. Each year, this ceremony -- called "Anastenaria" ("sighs" in Greek) -- attracts crowds of visitors. Considered a pagan ritual to honor the ancient Greek gods Dionysus and Artemis, the ancient custom was once banned by the powerful Greek Orthodox Church. For the past several decades, cooler heads have prevailed. But the rite remains shrouded in mystery. "Those who walk on fire don't like to talk about it much," explained Sotiris Tzivelis, 86, who grew up in the village of Agia Eleni, near the city of Serres. "Back then, when someone fell ill, we would call the 'anastenarides' to help heal them," he told AFP. The family requesting help would make a special handkerchief, to be blessed during the ceremony. It is one of these handkerchiefs that the ceremony leader, Babis Theodorakis, gives participants to mark the start of the ritual in the "konaki" -- a room decorated with Orthodox icons where participants prepare by dancing to the sound of the lyre and the drum. When ready, they head to a nearby meadow and form a circle around the glowing embers. "I have never walked on fire, but every year, I give our family's handkerchief to the dancers before taking it back at the end of the ritual," said Tzivelis. Musicians play traditional Greek music as a select group of faithful known as "Anastenarides" take part in a trance-like preparatory dance before walking on hot coal during a religious ritual ceremony in the northern Greek village of Agia Eleni.--AFP photos A select group of faithful known as "Anastenarides" take part in a trance-like preparatory dance before walking on hot coal. Men light a fire to prepare the burning embers before a select group of faithful known as "Anastenarides" walk on hot coal. A faithful known as "Anastenarides" walks on hot coal. A select group of faithful known as "Anastenarides" walk on hot coal. A faithful known as "Anastenarides" shows their feet after walking on hot coal. Pagan ritual According to local tradition, the rite originated in the villages of Kosti and Brodivo in southeastern Bulgaria, where Greek communities lived before emigrating to Greece in the early 20th century with the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. "How to walk on fire without getting burned, I can't explain it to you!" said Babis Theodorakis, the ceremony leader. Apostolis Vlaspos, 65, who has practiced the ritual for 20 years, described it as "something internal, an indescribable force". "The first time I walked on fire, I saw the image of Saint Constantine, whom we call 'grandfather', and I felt like an electric shock," he said. After circling the glowing embers three times, participants begin to walk on them, swaying to the music and clutching icons under their arms. When they return to the "konaki", visitors rush to photograph them and check that they have no burns on their feet -- proof of a miracle, according to believers. The ceremony concludes with a meal of mutton specially slaughtered for the occasion. "Those who say that people walking on fire are in a trance are wrong," said villager Kostas Liouros, 67. "What happens to them is natural and requires mental peace and great concentration," he explained. "Some say we drink alcohol or that before removing our socks and shoes, we coat our feet with herbs and things like that, but none of that is true," added another participant, who declined to give his name. — AFP
France 24
23-05-2025
- France 24
Fire walkers defy pain in ancient Greek ritual
The fire walking ritual, held on the day of the Orthodox feast of Saint Constantine and Saint Helena on May 21, has been practised for over a century in four villages of the Greek region of Macedonia, which borders Bulgaria. Each year, this ceremony -- called "Anastenaria" ("sighs" in Greek) -- attracts crowds of visitors. Considered a pagan ritual to honour the ancient Greek gods Dionysus and Artemis, the ancient custom was once banned by the powerful Greek Orthodox Church. For the past several decades, cooler heads have prevailed. But the rite remains shrouded in mystery. "Those who walk on fire don't like to talk about it much," explained Sotiris Tzivelis, 86, who grew up in the village of Agia Eleni, near the city of Serres. "Back then, when someone fell ill, we would call the 'anastenarides' to help heal them," he told AFP. The family requesting help would make a special handkerchief, to be blessed during the ceremony. It is one of these handkerchiefs that the ceremony leader, Babis Theodorakis, gives participants to mark the start of the ritual in the "konaki" -- a room decorated with Orthodox icons where participants prepare by dancing to the sound of the lyre and the drum. When ready, they head to a nearby meadow and form a circle around the glowing embers. "I have never walked on fire, but every year, I give our family's handkerchief to the dancers before taking it back at the end of the ritual," said Tzivelis. Pagan ritual According to local tradition, the rite originated in the villages of Kosti and Brodivo in southeastern Bulgaria, where Greek communities lived before emigrating to Greece in the early 20th century with the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. "How to walk on fire without getting burned, I can't explain it to you!" said Babis Theodorakis, the ceremony leader. Apostolis Vlaspos, 65, who has practised the ritual for 20 years, described it as "something internal, an indescribable force". "The first time I walked on fire, I saw the image of Saint Constantine, whom we call 'grandfather', and I felt like an electric shock," he said. After circling the glowing embers three times, participants begin to walk on them, swaying to the music and clutching icons under their arms. When they return to the "konaki", visitors rush to photograph them and check that they have no burns on their feet -- proof of a miracle, according to believers. The ceremony concludes with a meal of mutton specially slaughtered for the occasion. "Those who say that people walking on fire are in a trance are wrong," said villager Kostas Liouros, 67. "What happens to them is natural and requires mental peace and great concentration," he explained. "Some say we drink alcohol or that before removing our socks and shoes, we coat our feet with herbs and things like that, but none of that is true," added another participant, who declined to give his name. © 2025 AFP
Business Mayor
18-05-2025
- Health
- Business Mayor
Ikaria island diet helps a third of locals live past 90 – how to do it
The island diet has some key ingredients and eating methods that can lend itself to more healthy years (Image: GETTY) Located in the eastern Aegean, the small Greek island of Ikaria is home to a mere 8,000 full-time residents. Despite its modest population, the island boasts one of the world's highest life expectancies. An impressive one-third of the population lives beyond the age of 90, while the entire island enjoys lower rates of chronic diseases compared to other parts of the world. Reaching the age of 100 is not uncommon among the island's residents. Researchers have attributed the Ikarians' remarkable longevity to several factors, including exercise and frequent napping as an integral part of daily life. The islanders also place a strong emphasis on social and family ties, despite their relatively small population. However, their diet is likely the most significant contributor to their remarkable longevity. The scenic island is part of the Blue Zone, where people are more likely to live to 100 and beyond (Image: GETTY) Greek American chef Diane Kochilas, who has family roots on the island and spends half the year living there, explores the Ikarian diet in her cookbook, The Ikaria Way. In an interview with the BBC prior to the book's release last year, Kochilas explained that the key to the Ikarian diet lies not only in the ingredients used but also in the love and care with which meals are prepared. Read More 'Appalling' NI gynaecology waits under rapid review She noted: 'I think that one of the things that always surprises me is just the level of stress that people accept. In the US, stress is so detrimental, and most of it is in our own heads and thought patterns. Food is also love'. The Ikarian diet bears a strong resemblance to the Mediterranean diet, known for its longevity benefits. It emphasises healthy fats, high fibre, whole foods and is predominantly plant-based. Olive oil is the primary source of added fat, while items like fish, poultry and red wine are consumed in moderation. Red meat is even less frequent, making an appearance only a few times a month. Moreover, many inhabitants of the island adhere to the Greek Orthodox Church's fasting calendar, abstaining from certain foods such as meat during specific periods, like Lent. Beans, surprisingly, play a vital role in The Ikaria Way and have become a staple in Blue Zone diets. The chef encouraged people to 'eat beans and live longer', highlighting that good quality beans can be found anywhere in the world. The chef praised the health benefits of beans, noting that they're also easy to find (Image: GETTY) This phrase was originally coined by longevity expert Dan Buettner, who famously suggested that consuming one cup of beans daily could prolong a person's life by four years. The claim isn't completely unfounded. A 2004 study foundthat people who ate at least 20 grams per day could add around eight years to their lifespan. It may also help with weight loss, another preventable factor increasing your risk of a range of mortality causes. A 2016 review found people that ate 255grams, around nine ounces, of beans each day for six weeks lost more weight than people who didn't eat beans. Read More Assisted dying plans for terminally-ill approved on Jersey Diane further explained: 'Bean consumption aids heart health by lowering cholesterol because beans are rich in soluble fibre. This attaches to cholesterol particles and flushes them out of the body.'
