The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-04-02

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Culmination of Christ's Passion

On Holy Friday millions of Christians commemorate the death of Christ on the Cross. This is the culmination of the observance of His Passion. This commemoration begins with the Matins of Holy Friday and concludes with a Vespers that observes the unnailing of Christ from the Cross and the placement of His body in the tomb. Christian Orthodox and Catholics celebrate Easter on the same day this year and church bells toll all day in a slow mournful tone from the Vatican to Jerusalem. Many Christians worldwide revive Our Lord's Passion with a most characteristic example the Philippines where Christ crucification is enacted.

Deposition from the Cross & Lamentation at the Tomb

Millions of Christians worldwide commemorate the culmination of the observance of Christ's Passion. The body of our Lord is unnailed from the cross and his body is placed on the tomb.

Thousands of Christians crowded the churches on Holy Friday morning while they will attend the procession of Epitafios (holy tomb) in the afternoon.

Holy Friday Worldwide

Jerusalem

Thousands of Christian pilgrims today pressed through the narrow Jerusalem street called the Via Dolorosa ( the "Way of Suffering) tracing Jesus' final steps

Via Dolorosa is held to be the path that Jesus walked, carrying his cross, on the way to his crucification and is based on a 14 stations route organized by Franciscan monks in the 14th century.

An Israeli police spokesman said around 2,500 policemen had spread out in and around the Old City to keep order and enable all three faiths to observe their rituals

Rome

Pope Benedict will head Holy Tomb liturgy in Rome in the mid of difficult times for the Roman catholic Church after continuous revelations of sexual assault of under-aged by Catholic priests Philippines

In the Philippines hundreds of Christians enacted Jesus Passion again this year. Streets in northern provinces smelled blood and sweat as groups of people cut their backs with blades, beat themselves and carried crosses. People from all classes participate in Lenten sacrifice. Some volunteers nail themselves to the cross. Lenten rites in the Philippines attract hundreds of tourists.

Sources: ÍÅÔ-ÍÅÔ 105.8-ÁNA/ÌPA

News item: 35055

[02] Spreads Remain High

Inefficiency in world market rules as well as generality in EU bail out mechanism are most likely the reasons why spreads remain high and Greece continues borrowing at high interest rates according to economic analysts. Nevertheless, the economic staff believe that interest rates will start gradually going down after the end of May. IMF executives discussed developments in Greece and stated prepared to assist the country if it asked. But Finance Minister George Papakonstantinou repeated that the government's target is to avoid activation of bail out mechanism. ECB chief Jean Claude Trichet strongly criticized world rating agencies.

IMF: "We Are Prepared if Requested"

IMF spokesman Gerry Rice told a regular briefing for reporters earlier on Thursday that when a member country sought an IMF loan, the Fund would dispatch a mission for discussions to reach an agreement on a program. "In that sense, the Fund has an advisory and consultative role in supporting the most viable economic program possible," Rice said. Once a program had been mapped out with the country, it would need the approval of the IMF management and board, he said. "In our discussions on euro zone countries, generally we consult not only the authorities but also European institutions," he added.

Papakonstantinou : "Aim to Avert Activation of Bail out Mechanism"

The government's target is to avert activation of bail out mechanism stresses Finance Minister in an interview with newspaper "Himerisia" describing EU leaders accord as a big victory of Greece and euro region member states. He also said that priority would be placed on privatizations and opening of closed professions after Easter.

Sources: ÍÅÔ-ÍÅÔ 105.8-ÁNA/ÌPA News item: 35051

[03] Tzanis Tzanetakis Passed away

Former prime-minister Tzanis Tzanetakis, 83, passed away on Holy Thursday. He served as Prime-minister during Coalition government of ND and Coalition of the Left and Progress parties from 2-7-1989 till 12-10-1989. His funeral service will take place at 15:00, on Wednesday, April, 7 ,at Metamorfoseos Sotiros Church in Kefalari, Kifissia.

Tzanis Tzanetakis was born in Gytheio on 13.9.1927. He was married and had two children, a son and a daughter. He was a Navy officer.

Sources: ANA/ÌPA News item: 35048

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