Each year, the Greek Patriarch of Jerusalem leads the Holy Fire ceremony. He enters the Edicule, a small shrine within the Holy Sepulchre encasing Christ’s tomb, alone.
The exhibition will then be transferred to Santorini to inaugurate the recently renovated museum, opening on June 13, 2025.
Dr. Bodo Winter, a linguist from the University of Birmingham, led a study that had participants listen to the pronunciation of 100 names. By analyzing their responses, researchers pinpointed which name resonated most as beautiful.
Accompanied by representatives of the European Centre for Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments, Mendoni is focusing on key historical and religious sites in Jerusalem and Ramallah, particularly those under the care of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Reports from Turkish media indicate that following public complaints, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, along with the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, initiated legal proceedings against the spa operators in 2023. The authorities argued that the use of this significant historical site as a commercial spa violated cultural preservation standards.
Adorned with lights, ornaments, and Santas, it has become an integral part of the holiday tradition. But when did this custom take root in Greece, and how does it connect to the tree’s ancient and international origins?
