Church leader leaves hospital
Archbishop Ieronymos was discharged from Athens’ Evangelismos Hospital yesterday, where he underwent treatment for Covid-19. The 82-year-old church leader was admitted to hospital on November 19, a few days after testing positive for the novel coronavirus and coming down with a fever. His condition was reportedly stable throughout his stay at the hospital. “I do not want to hide from you that during my own ordeal I was very scared and in a lot of pain, like all people,” he said in a message after leaving the hospital. “I warmly ask you all once again: Respect the rules and measures of the competent health authorities,” he added.
Singer arrested. An Athens court yesterday gave pop singer Notis Sfakianakis until tomorrow to prepare his defense after he was arrested on Sunday evening on charges of possessing a small quantity of cocaine and an unlicensed pistol. He was arrested in the southern Athens suburb of Elliniko during a routine check of his car for compliance with coronavirus restrictions by motorists. Officers also found a taser in his car. His lawyer said the license for his pistol had not been renewed due to the coronavirus. “He owned this weapon for decades for his personal safety,” he said.
Ancient tombs.
Eight tombs of various types were discovered during recent excavation works by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia in southern Greece on a privately owned plot of land. The Culture Ministry said the tombs date from the end of the 4th to the 2nd century BC and are part of the western necropolis of the ancient city of Elis, from which more than 200 tombs dating to the late Classical and Hellenistic period have been excavated to date. Of particular importance are the findings in one of the tombs, including a bronze urn with its base, which has a floral decoration on the handles and lion heads where the handles meet the rim and a bronze folded mirror.
Illegal travel.
Five foreign nationals, as well as their 39-year-old trafficker, were arrested by the port authorities in Igoumenitsa, western Greece early yesterday morning before they were about to board a ship. The five men, who did not have travel documents, were found in a refrigerator truck by officials of the port authority’s mobile X-ray detection team.