Icons, relics burnt

The Fire Service was yesterday investigating the cause of a blaze that broke out on Sunday in an 11th-century monastery in Fokida, central Greece, destroying a religious icon and several relics. According to the fire service, the blaze started shortly after 11 p.m. from the roof of the Byzantine Monastery of Panagia Varnakova and quickly spread to the interior. Firemen evacuated the nuns from the premises and no injuries were reported. The mayor of Dorida, Giorgos Kapetsonis, said the swift intervention of the firefighters stopped the blaze from spreading into surrounding forestland. It is the second such fire at the monastery following one in January 2017 when a blaze destroyed several rooms, including the library. Situated on Mount Vardoussia some 25 kilometers northeast of Nafpaktos, the monastery was built in 1077.