RAW: IDF massive bombing in Gaza minutes before 12hr ceasefire

May 26, 2014: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Concludes Meetings With Pope Francis In Jerusalem

Broadcasting from Rome: A Scrapbook

Recently during the historic pilgrimage of the successors to the Brothers of Galilee, Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, viewers around the world were treated to a broadcast of equally historic proportions when clergy and laymen who were part of the Patriarchal Support Team traveled to Rome and were heard on the television station EWTN. The broadcast was offered in five languages.

The team of commentators were coordinated and spearheaded by Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis. The English commentary was provided by Rev. Dr. Christopher T. Metropulos, Pastor of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Ft. Lauderdale and Executive Director of the OCN (Orthodox Christian Network, myocn.net). Extensive internet coverage of the event was provided on a special website established for the purpose, at ApostolicPilgrimage.org as well as on the OCN website.

The Support Team had informed the faithful, through a series of very effective bulletin inserts and press releases, that the live telecast would take place, and clearly thousands of faithful all over the world were witness to an event that reenacted the dialogue of love and truth that began 50 years ago when Pope Paul IV met with Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras to lift the Excommunications of the two churches and begin something that will eventually correct a schism that has affected all of Christendom.

Pictured here are the commentators selected as part of the Patriarchal Support Staff who participated in the worldwide broadcast at Radio Vaticanna in Rome. Not pictured but listed are their counterparts from the Vatican. Also not pictured is Archdeacon John Chryssavgis, who was in Jerusalem with the Ecumenical Patriarch.

Portugese: Marciano Schaeffer, Vatican: Luis Jackson Erpen. Celebrant of the Divine Liturgy at St. Theodore Church in Rome on the Sunday before the telecast: V. Rev. Nikodimos Kabarnos. Italian: V. Rev. Evangelos Yfantidis, Vatican: Rosario Tronnolone. Spanish: His Grace Bishop Iosif of Patara, Vatican: Raul Cabrera. German: Rev. Constantin Miron, Vatican: Fr. Max Cappabianca. French: Dr. Nicolas Kazarian, Vatican: Xavier Sartre. English: Rev. Dr. Christopher T. Metropulos, Vatican: Tracey McClure.

Standing in St. Peter’s Square at Vatican City, Rome

Standing in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City, Rome

Document permitting entrance to the Vatican for the broadcast

Hallway inside the Vatican

Tracy from EWTN and Fr. Chris, preparing to broadcast

Tracy McClure and Fr. Chris, ready to broadcast

Journalist Charlie Rose addressing the final gathering in Jerusalem

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America addressing a delegation from around the world on the night in Jerusalem

His All-Holiness planting an olive tree in Jerusalem, the only non-head-of-state asked to do so

His All-Holiness talking with school children during his visit to the National Museum

China’s Atlantis of the East

Often called the “Atlantis of the East” by travellers, the underwater city of Shicheng is a magnificent, mysterious time capsule of Imperial China. Stone architecture dating to the Ming and Qing dynasties (which ruled from 1368 to 1912) stands perfectly preserved 40m under Qiandao Lake in Zhejiang province, 400km south of Shanghai.

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Unlike the mythical Atlantis, Shicheng – which means Lion City in Mandarin – was purposely flooded in 1959 to make way for the Xin’an Dam and its adjoining hydroelectric station. Nearly 300,000 people were relocated for the project, some of whom had families that had lived in the city for centuries.

The city was “rediscovered” in 2001 when the Chinese government organised an expedition to see what might remain of the lost metropolis. Interest and exploration increased further in 2011, when the Chinese National Geographypublished some never-before-seen photographs and illustrations hypothesising what the small city, which measured about half a square kilometre, might have looked like in its heyday.

Expeditions and underwater photographs have revealed that the city had five entrance gates, as opposed to the traditional four – with two western-facing gates as well as gates in the other cardinal directions. The city’s wide streets also have 265 archways, featuring preserved stonework of lions, dragons, phoenixes and historical inscriptions, some of which date back as far as 1777; the city walls are believed to date back to the 16th Century.

Despite being underwater, Shicheng has remained well preserved; the water actually protects it from wind, rain and sun erosion. Today, advanced divers can get up close to the ruins with dive operators such as Big Blue and Zi Ao Diving Club, which run regular dives between April and November. Since the ruins have yet to be fully mapped, the dive is still considered “Exploratory” and is limited to divers with deep water, night and buoyancy experience.  

ΚΑΤΑΣΤΡΕΨΑΝ ΤΟΝ ΤΑΦΟ ΤΟΥ ΠΡΟΦΗΤΗ ΙΩΝΑ!Video: Massive explosion as ISIS destroys Jonah's Tomb in Mosul

Δημοσιεύτηκε στις 25 Ιουλ 2014

Militants from Islamic State (formerly ISIS) destroyed the Shrine of Yunus (Tomb of Jonah) Mosque in Mosul on Thursday, July 24, residents of the Iraqi city said. News reports quoting residents said that they were first barred from entering the mosque to pray and that militants laid out explosives around the structure and detonated them. This video shows the explosion.

New 2015 Porsche Cayenne reveal promo

Δημοσιεύτηκε στις 24 Ιουλ 2014

The new generation of the Cayenne will launch on the market in five versions: Cayenne S (420 hp), Cayenne Turbo (520 hp), Cayenne Diesel (262 hp), Cayenne S Diesel (385 hp) and – in a world premiere – the Cayenne S E-Hybrid (416 hp), which is the first plug-in hybrid in the premium SUV segment.
All Cayenne engine versions show improved performance figures as well as better fuel economy than comparable previous versions. A new engine is the 3.6-litre V6 biturbo of the Cayenne S that was fully developed by Porsche.

In its latest version, Porsche designers have given the Cayenne an even sharper design with precise lines and purposefully placed light refracting edges. Entirely new are the design of the front body, the front wings and the bonnet. Also new are the airblades: These air fins on the right and left of the vehicle's front end efficiently guide cooling air to the intercoolers and also make a strong visual statement.

At first glance, the new Cayenne can be clearly made out as a Porsche by its bi-xenon headlights, which are standard in the base and S models, with "hovering" four-point LED daytime running lights that are typical of Porsche. The high performance standard of the top model, the Cayenne Turbo, is emphasised by standard LED headlights with the Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS).

The rear section of the new Cayenne was also thoroughly updated: the layout of the rear lights creates a three-dimensional effect; the brake lights – like the LED daytime running lights in front – are designed in four elements. The license plate recess, boot handle and lights are now integrated more elegantly into the boot lid. Designers also re-designed the car's horizontal lines, giving the vehicle an even fuller stance on the road. The newly designed exhaust tailpipes are now integrated in the lower rear section. An automatically activating boot lid is a standard feature.

In the interior, designers devoted much of their effort to the driver's space – the driver now gets a new multifunction sport steering wheel with shift paddles as standard; its look and functions are based on the steering wheel of the 918 Spyder. They also made the rear seating system even more comfortable, and seat ventilation can now be ordered as an option for the rear seats.

The new Cayenne models will launch on the market starting October 11, 2014. In Germany, the Cayenne Diesel will cost € 66,260, the Cayenne S € 80,183, the Cay-enne S Diesel € 82,087 and the Cayenne Turbo € 128,378. The Cayenne S E-Hybrid will cost € 82,087, which is exactly the price of a Cayenne S Diesel – and is around € 1,000 less than the price of the previous Cayenne S Hybrid. This was made possible by synergistic effects realised by Porsche in the area of hybrid technology. Therefore, effective immediately the price of the Panamera S E-Hybrid is being lowered by over € 6,000 to € 104,221. Cited prices include VAT and country-specific features.

ΤΟ ΡΩΣΙΚΟ ΥΠΟΥΡΓΕΙΟ ΑΜΥΝΑΣ ΑΠΟΚΑΛΥΠΤΗ- Malaysian Airlines plane crash: Russian military unveil data on MH17 inc...

The Russian Defense Ministry holds a press conference on the details of MH17 crash in eastern Ukraine. Defense Ministry reports that on the day of the catastrophe, a Ukrainian SU-25 fighter jet gaining height towards the Boeing 777. Calling for Kiev to explain why the fighter jet was tracking the airplane.

Whales Team Up in Amazing Bubble-Net Hunt

Δημοσιεύτηκε στις 21 Ιουλ 2014

In the summer, southeastern Alaska's waters teem with humpback whales that have migrated north to feed on herring and other fish. One of their most fascinating behaviors is bubble-net feeding, a complex and coordinated tactic for capturing many fish at once. Andy Szabo, director of the Alaska Whale Foundation, and naturalist Steve Maclean explain the phenomenon while aboard the National Geographic fleet on a recent voyage to Alaska's Inside Passage.