Prince Charles in northern Greece for visit to monastic sanctuary
THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) _ Britain's Prince Charles arrived in northern Greece on Thursday before a planned visit to the 1,000-year-old monastic community of Mount Athos, officials said.
The heir to the British throne landed at an airport near Kavala, about 173 kilometers (107 miles) east of the northern city of Thessaloniki, accompanied only by members of his guard.
A private yacht later Thursday was to take him to the sanctuary, an important site for Orthodox Christianity that is only open to male visitors.
Charles has made several trips to the self-governing community, and is due to stay at the Vatopedi Monastery.
Both Charles and his father, Prince Philip, are members of the Friends of Mount Athos, a group that supports the community, which has 20 monasteries.
Mount Athos, about 110 kilometers (70 miles) east of Thessaloniki, has been an autonomous monastic state since Byzantine times.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/5/11/apworld/20060511215551&sec=apworld
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