#Orthodox Church of Albania

[gemsofgreece]

RIP to Anastasios, Greek Orthodox Archbishop of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania

I was lucky to see him in service in the Orthdox Cathedral in Tirana during my trip to Albania.

Anastasios was born in Piraeus, Greece. He obtained a bachelor and a master with high honours in religious studies in Greece and Germany respectively. He studied various religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, African religions, Islam.

After serving in Greece for a while as deacon and bishop, he went to Uganda. There he studied the local dialects while doing significant missionary and philanthropic work but had to leave after 10 years, after contracting a severe case of malaria.

He taught Greek language and literature in the University of Marburg, Germany. He was elected a Professor of History of Religions in the Athens University.

Once his health was restored, he returned to East Africa and continued his work there as Metropolitan Bishop of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

Ten years later he was appointed Archbishop of Albania, where he completely restored and revived the church. He actively initiated and supported multiple projects in education, public health, social services, agriculture, culture and arts, and ecology. He funded and supported the construction of schools, roads, bridges, hydroelectric dams and more.

In 2000 he was a nominee for the Nobel Prize for Peace.

He died today aged 95 after a severe case of flu that was exacerbated by his old age.

He is widely acknowledged for his work, even by non-Christians.

[travelella]

Holy Trinity Church, Berat, Albania

Vladan Raznatovic

[beardedmrbean]

Athens, Greece —  The head of the Albanian Orthodox Church, who was airlifted to a hospital in Athens due to complications from a virus, is in a critical condition, the Evangelismos hospital said Sunday.

Archbishop Anastasios, 95, was taken to the Greek capital Friday evening, four days after being admitted to hospital in Tirana with what Church officials called a "seasonal virus."

"His Beatitude's condition is assessed as critical by the attending physicians," the medical report from the hospital stated.

On Saturday, his condition was assessed as "stable despite his already complicated medical history."

Anastasios is credited with having revived the Orthodox Church in Muslim-majority Albania. He led the Church there for three decades.

He was airlifted to Athens on a C-27 Greek air force plane following a request from Greek emergency services, the defense ministry said.

Greek public television ERT reported that he was also suffering from gastric bleeding.

In November 2020, he was hospitalized in Athens for 12 days with COVID-19.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Sunday afternoon the hospital where Archbishop Anastasios of Albania is being treated and was informed for the ailing archbishop's health condition.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 12.9

Holidays

Anna's Day (Finland, Sweden)

Armed Forces Day (Peru)

Ball-Bearing Roller Skates Day

Battle of Ayacucho Day (Peru)

Christmas Card Day

Christmas Gift Memory Day

Cremation Day

Eggsmas (from “The League”)

Fatherland’s Heroes Day (Russia)

Fiesta of the Mother of Health (Mexico)

Genocide Prevention Day

Geologist Day (Tajikistan)

Grace Hopper Day

Heroes Day (Antigua and Barbuda)

Heroes of Fatherland Day (Russia)

Homecoming Day (Guernsey and Alderney)

Homemade Gift Day

International Anti-Corruption Day (UN)

International Day of Commemoration & Dignity of the Victims of the Crimes of Genocide & of the Prevention of this Crime

International Day of Veterinary Medicine

International Human Rights Defenders Day

Lady Gaga Day

Mail Your Cards Day

National Blake Day

National Heroes Day (Antigua & Barbuda)

National Llama Day

National Youth Day (Albania)

Navy Day (Sri Lanka)

Petrified Forest Day

Public Transit Day

Santa Marian Kamalen Day (Guam)

Savin Juniper Day (French Republic)

V.C. Bird Day (Antigua & Barbuda)

Weary Willie Day

World Alliance for Patient Safety Day

World Day of Computing

World Genocide Commemoration Day (UN)

World Patient Safety Day

World Smallpox Eradication Day

World SIUGR (Selective Intrauterine Growth Restriction) Awareness Day

World Techno Day

Yuri's Day in the Autumn (Russia)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Lutefisk Day (Finland; Sweden)

Mariscada Day (Spain)

National Opal Apples Day

National Pastry Day

Pepparkakans Dag (Gingerbread Cookie Day; Sweden)

Search High and Low For Your Gingerbread Recipe Day

Independence & Related Days

Rino Island (Declared; 2009) [unrecognized]

Tanzania (f.k.a. Tanganyika; from UK, 1961)

2nd Monday in December

Green Monday [2nd Monday]

Marinara Monday [2nd Monday of Each Month]

Meditation Monday [Every Monday]

Mindful Monday [2nd Monday of Each Month]

Monday Musings [Every Monday]

Motivation Monday [Every Monday]

National Tree Planting Day (Malawi) [2nd Monday]

Weekly Holidays beginning December 9 (2nd Full Week of December)

Human Rights Week [2nd Week]

National Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness Week [2nd Week]

Festivals Beginning December 9, 2024

Duhok International Film Festival (Duhok, Iraq) [thru 12.16]

NLS Food Quality Symposium (Cedar Creek, Texas) [thru 12.11]

Vermont Maple Conference (Various Locations, Vermont) [thru 12.14]

Feast Days

Ann Hood (Writerism)

Ashleigh Brilliant (Artology; Wrierism)

End of Days of Reckoning (Shamanism)

Evergreen Day (Pagan)

Feast of the Conception of the Most Holy Theotokos by St. Anne (Eastern Orthodox Church)

Fiesta of the Mother of Health (Mexico; Everyday Wicca)

Galileo (Positivist; Saint)

Hanukkah Day #2 (Judaism) [thru Dec. 15th]

Jean de Brunhoff (Artology)

John Milton (Writerism)

Juan Diego (Christian; Saint)

Leocadia (Christian; Saint)

Ljubica Sokić (Artology)

Loch Ba on Mull Island (Celtic Book of Days)

Margaret Brundage (Artology)

The Martyrdom of St. Kenny (Church of the SubGenius)

Nectarius of Auvergne (Christian; Saint)

Noodle Ring Day (Pastafarian)

Peter Fourier (Christian; Saint)

Remembrance for Egill Skallagrimsson (Troth/Asatru/Norse Pagan)

Sage Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

The Seven Martyrs at Samosata (Christian; Martyrs)

This Day Deliberately Left Blank (Pastafarian)

Tropical Grossbill (Muppetism)

Wulfhilde (Christian; Saint)

Yuri’s Day in the Autumn (Russian Orthodox Church)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Very Unlucky Day (Grafton’s Manual of 1565) [58 of 60]

Premieres

The America Minerva (Daily Newspaper; 1793) [1st U.S. Daily]

The Bishop’s Wife (Film; 1947)

Brigg’s Bad Wolf (Super Chicken Cartoon; 1967) [#14]

Brokeback Mountain (Film; 2005)

Buddy’s Show Boat (WB LT Cartoon; 1933)

Charge of the Light Brigade (Poem; 1854)

A Charlie Brown Christmas (Animated TV Special; 1965)

Chi Chi Dog (George of the Jungle Cartoon; 1967) [#14]

Christine (Film; 1983)

A Christmas Story (Hanna-Barbera Animated tV Special; 1972)

Coronation Street (UK Soap Opera; 1960)

Dark Horse, by George Harrison (Album; 1974)

Davy Jones’ Locker, featuring Willie Whopper (MGM Cartoon; 1933)

Disclosure (Film; 1994)

Fiesta Fiasco (WB LT Cartoon; 1967)

Fresh Cream, by Cream (Album; 1966)

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (Animated Film; 2022)

Hot August Nights, by Neil Diamond (Live Album; 1972)

A Job for a Gob (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1955)

La La Land (Film; 2016)

Little Saint Nick, by The Beach Boys (Song; 1963)

A Love Supreme, recorded by the John Coltrane Quartet (Album; 1964)

Memories of a Geisha (Film; 2005)

Merbabies (Silly Symphonies Disney Cartoon; 1938)

Mississippi Burning (Film; 1988)

The Night Before Christmas (Silly Symphonies Disney Cartoon; 1933)

Nutty Notes (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1929)

Office Christmas Party (Film; 2016)

Peace on Earth (MGM Cartoon; 1939)

The Peachy Cobbler (Tex Avery MGM Cartoon; 1950)

Pet Pink Pebbles (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1978)

The Pink of Bagdad (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1978)

Pink Press (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1978)

Richard II, by William Shakespeare (Play; 1595)

R is for Rocket, by Ray Bradbury (Short Stories; 1962)

Salome, by Richard Strauss (Opera; 1905)

Scarface (Film; 1983)

SOS, by SZA (Album; 2022)

Soul Man, by The Blues Brothers (Song; 1978)

The Story of Babar, by Jean de Brunhoff (Children’s Book; 1931)

Sudden Impact (Film; 1983)

Syriana (Film; 2005)

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Film; 2011)

Twins (Film; 1988)

The Whale (Film; 2022)

Words and Music (Film; 1948)

young Adult (Film; 2011)

Young at Heart, recorded by Frank Sinatra (Song; 1953)

Today’s Name Days

Liborius, Reinmar, Valerie (Austria)

Ana, Anna, Anushka, Nusha (Bulgaria)

Ciprijan, Diego, Liberan, Zdravka (Croatia)

Vratislav (Czech Republic)

Rudolph (Denmark)

Raid, Raido, Raidu, Raigo, Raigo, Raik, Raiko, Rait (Estonia)

Anna, Anne, Anneli, Anni, Annika, Annikki, Annu, Annukka, Anu (Finland)

Pierre (France)

Liborius, Reinmar, Valerie (Germany)

Ann, Anna (Greece)

Natália (Hungary)

Siro (Italy)

Joachims, Jukums, Sarmīte, Tabita (Latvia)

Gedenė, Leokadija, Vakaris, Valerija (Lithuania)

Annette, Anniken (Norway)

Delfina, Joachim, Joachima, Leokadia, Loda, Waleria, Wielisława, Wiesław (Poland)

Maria (Romania)

Izabela (Slovakia)

Diego, Juan, Leocadia (Spain)

Anna (Sweden)

Ambrose (Ukraine)

Delfina, Delfino, Delphina, Kirby, Kirk, Kirkwood (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 344 of 2024; 22 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 1 of Week 50 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ngetal (Reed) [Day 16 of 28]

Chinese: Month 11 (Bing-Zi), Day 9 (Ding-Wei)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 8 Kislev 5785

Islamic: 7 Jumada II 1446

J Cal: 14 Black; Sevenday [14 of 30]

Julian: 26 November 2024

Moon: 62%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 8 Bichat (13th Month) [Harriot / Vieta]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 3 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 78 of 90)

Week: 2nd Full Week of December

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 18 of 30)

[legend-collection]

Prende

Prende or Premte is the goddess of dawn, love, beauty, fertility, health and protector of women, in the Albanian pagan mythology. She is also called Afër-dita, an Albanian phrase meaning "near day", "the day is near", or "dawn", in association with the cult of the planet Venus, the morning and evening star. Her sacred day is Friday, named in Albanian after her: e premte, premtja (Gheg Albanian: e prende, prendja). In Albanian mythology Prende appears as the daughter of Zojz, the Albanian sky and lighning god.

Thought to have been worshiped by the Illyrians in antiquity, Prende is identified with the cult of Venus and she was worshipped in northern Albania, especially by the Albanian women, until recent times. Originally a pre-Christian deity, she was called "Saint Veneranda" (ShënePremte or Shën Prende), identified by the Catholic Church as Saint Anne, mother of Virgin Mary. She was so popular in Albania that over one in eight of the Catholic churches existing in the late 16th and the early 17th centuries were named after her. Many other historical Catholic and Orthodox churches were dedicated to her in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Dialectal variants include: Gheg Albanian P(ë)rende (def. P(ë)renda), Pren(n)e (def. Pren(n)a); Tosk Albanian: Premte (def. Premtja), Preme (def. Prema).

Prende is also called Afërdita (Afêrdita in Gheg Albanian) in association with the cult of the planet Venus, the morning and evening star, which in Albanian is referred to as (h)ylli i dritës, Afërdita "the Star of Light, Afërdita" (i.e. Venus, the morning star) and (h)ylli i mbrëmjes, Afërdita (i.e. Venus, the evening star). Afër-dita, an Albanian phrase meaning "near day", "the day is near", or "dawn", is the native Albanian name of the planet Venus. Afro-dita is its Albanian imperative form meaning "come forth the day/dawn".

The Albanian translation of "evening" is also rendered as πρέμε premë in the Albanian-Greek dictionary of Marko Boçari.

In northern Albania, Prende is referred to as Zoja Prenne or Zoja e Bukuris "Goddess/Lady Prenne" or "Goddess/Lady of Beauty".

The Albanian name Premtë or P(ë)rende is thought to correspond regularly to the Ancient Greek counterpart Περσεφάττα (Persephatta), a variant of Περσεφόνη (Persephone). The theonyms have been traced back to the Indo-European *pers-é-bʰ(h₂)n̥t-ih₂ ("she who brings the light through").

The Albanian phrase afro dita 'come forth the day/dawn' traces back to Proto-Albanian *apro dītā 'come forth brightness of the day/dawn', from Indo-European *h₂epero déh₂itis. The theonym Aprodita is attested in Messapic inscriptions in Apulia.

In the Albanian pagan mythology Prende is the goddess of dawn, love, beauty, fertility and health. She is considered the Albanian equivalent of the Roman Venus, Norse Freyja and Greek Aphrodite.

According to some Albanian traditions, Prende is the daughter of Zojz, the Albanian sky and lightning god. Associated with the dawn goddess, the epithet "daughter of the sky-god" is commonly found in Indo-European traditions.

According to folk beliefs, swallows, called Pulat e Zojës "the Lady's Birds", pull Prende across the sky in her chariot. Swallows are connected to the chariot by the rainbow (Ylberi), which the people also call Brezi or Shoka e Zojës "the Lady's Belt".

The common Albanian name nepërkë for the venomous snake adder, viper appears in the Arbëresh variety of Calabria as nepromtja, probably based on Prende / Premte.

[izumijoji49]

A FAITH THAT PROPOSES PEACE BETWEEN RELIGIONS SO THAT THE WORLD MAY BE BLESSED WITH PEACE

“If religions do not make peace, the world will not make peace”! This phrase was said by the Christian Orthodox Archbishop of Albania Anastasios Yiannoulatos, who passed away a few days ago. Archbishop Anastasios was an internationally renowned Religious Scholar who had studied other religions without prejudice. In fact, he had come into contact with ancient indigenous beliefs in Africa. Therefore, his wish and exhortation have great value.

If we consider, from very ancient times, both in Europe and in the Middle East, how much blood has been shed of innocent people, because they had a different religious faith from their perpetrators, reaching our time, then the genocide of Muslims in Srebrenica, Bosnia, by Serbian Orthodox Christians weighs on the consciences of all people of good will.

In the Middle East, Palestinian organizations, projecting an aggressive Islam, attack Jewish citizens of Israel, demonstrating their desire to “throw” the Jews into the sea. At the same time, however, fanatical Jews, who interpret their Bible (Tanakh) with shortsighted eyes and a heart steeped in hatred, occupy Palestinian lands in the West Bank, attack innocent civilians because they are Muslims, destroy olive trees and invoke the name of their “god”!

In Japan, in 1859, within the confines of traditional Shinto worship, a farmer, Kawate Bunjirō, appeared, who discovered the living Kami (in the Shinto tradition, Kami are spirits or “sacred powers”, to whom honor and worship are offered). Kawate Bunjirō called the Kami that was revealed to him Tenchi Kane no Kami and he himself was called Konko Daijin from then on. (The name Tenchi Kane no Kami means, “the Golden Kami of Heaven and Earth”. In fact, in Japanese, the phrase “of Heaven and Earth” also refers to the concept of the Universe.)

What was revealed to Konko Daijin he did not keep to himself, but without any intention of proselytizing, he began to share it with the people of his village. Thus was born a “sect” within the Shinto religion, called Konkokyo (Teachings of the Golden Light) or Konko Faith.

In the spiritual life of Japan, there is a strong element of syncretism. Shinto shrines alternate with Buddhist temples, without competition between them. The Konko Faith has fully adopted this blessed coexistence of spiritual traditions and the interaction between them, which religious scholars call syncretism. On the occasion of the words of the Christian theologian Archbishop of Albania Anastasios Yiannoulatos, about peace in the world, I came to refer to the Konkokyo religion. Because the Konko Faith, in a miraculous way, in practice, implements the peace of religions!

According to the legacy of Konko Daijin, the Prophet, let us call him that, who revealed the message of Tenchi Kane no Kami to people, God is the common Parent of all people without the slightest distinction, regardless of race and religious identity. The Konko Faith denies the practice of “aggressive” missionary work, as we know it from various Christian churches or Islam. It does not seek to add “believers” to the communities, which for practical reasons, it calls “churches”. At the same time, anyone who wants to can become a member of the Konko Faith, without having to participate in any ceremony or entry process, simply becoming a member of a local Konkokyo church.

Believers are not obliged to offer financial support.

Members of a Konkokyo community participate in worship gatherings, which have many elements in common with Shinto worship, but they can maintain their reverence for any deity they wish!

Precisely because Kami-sama, as Tenchi Kane no Kami is also called, is the common Parent of all people, of all faiths, Konkokyo is open to any kind of cooperation with any religious community! From the official statement of the Konko Faith: “Konkokyo seeks to help solve people’s problems and address human suffering and to pave the way for peace and happiness. These problems can range from physical illness to war and environmental destruction. It is willing to cooperate with other religions and organizations to achieve these goals. Konkokyo has no desire to exert political or economic influence.”

In Konkōkyō theology, the relationship between Kami (God) and humanity is one of interdependence. Tenchi Kane no Kami has no gender, neither male nor female.

In terms that are understandable to people who are not Japanese, the Kami of the Konko Faith is the “Divine Parent of the Universe.” In the Konkōkyō worldview, everything is seen as being in deep interaction between them.

Kami-Sama does not reside in a distant or remote paradise, but is present in this world. The Universe is the body of Tenchi Kane no Kami.

An extremely interesting theology of Konkōkyo is the teaching that between Tenchi Kane No Kami and humans, there is a deep mutual interdependence (in Japanese it is called aiyo kakeyo). Humans cannot exist without Tenchi Kane No Kami, and Tenchi Kane No Kami cannot exist without humans! With air, water, food, and a host of other blessings of the Universe in the body of Tenchi Kane No Kami, humans can live and work.

Konkōkyō beliefs focus on improving human life in this world, showing appreciation for all things, living in a way that is ethical, with empathy, and acts of solidarity and prayer for others.

Any man or woman who embodies the above virtues in his life can become an ikigami, or felt Kami, a human being who helps others unconditionally and has inner peace. The ikigami in the Konko Faith, brings to mind the boddhisatva of Mahayana Buddhism. An ikigami is not a “supernatural” being, with mysterious, spiritual powers. He or she is the ideal human being, with flesh and blood, who shares everyday life without having abandoned the world in a monastery or a cave, but desires and tries to save his or her fellow human beings from suffering and problems and to make the world a happier place to live. It is believed that after death, the spirits or souls of those who have passed on to the afterlife remain in the universe, as mitama-no-kami (divine ancestral spirits), in a close communion with Tenchi Kane No Kami.

Bunjirō, the founder of the Konko Faith, has taught that anyone can receive the help of Tenchi Kane no Kami by “having faith in the Kami with a sincere mind” (in Japanese, the phrase is Jitsui Teinei Shinjin).

The photo is of Olivia Bernkastel, a Canadian living in Japan and is a priestess of the Konko Faith.

[andijaart]

+++🙏🏻God Bless🕊️+++ The Church of St. Elisha is an ancient Albanian (Caucasian Albania) temple dedicated to St. Elisha, a disciple of the Apostle Thaddeus, whom the Albanians revered as their enlightener. The church is located in the village of Nij in the Gabala region of Azerbaijan Author: prot. Dionysius Svechnikov 💫International Orthodox Art Corporation Andcross May the blessing of the Lord be upon you!

[katoktm8]

Chicken Bus Airplane

Excuse the exhaustion and the illiterate thoughts in this blog post, I believe I am at 30 hours without sleeping in a bed. if you can match the pictures to my stories, that would be helpful.

One of the strangest flights I’ve ever taken. If I took a charter bus from Charlotte, North Carolina to Madrid, I was on a school bus to Albania. People squished in, up in the aisles the entire flight, groups up and laughing and chatting with the flight attendants, window shades up, music playing, loud talking, people brought their own food on board, bananas, chicken, anything that smelled… school bus interior. As opposed to my charter bus interior plane that had pink lights to wake us up and light blue lights to dim the lights for sleep. Chatting, conversing, pushing and shoving, just to get on and off the plane. And at the airport, there were no announcements of boarding or gates. You just had to know where to go and when to get on the plane.

Long traffic jam drive back into the city to our hotel. Where we dropped our bags at the oldest hotel in Tirana and went looking for lunch. Ended up with Albanian stew, Albanian specialty soup, and Greek salad. (Photos) Very salty. Reminds me a lot of Romania. Actually the whole city reminds me a lot of Romania. Communist Era 1940s-1991. This dictator had his own brand of communism, and therefore Russia and Yugoslavia were the enemy.

Walking walking. Caroline and I take an online self guided walking tour of Tirana city. We ended up walking about 9 miles. Some great architectural buildings. (photos) Not the most beautiful city, still remnants of the communist era. We walked by what was once the communist dictator’s house. Enver Hoxha. As you can see from the pictures it is by no means a palace. Apparently he is so hated they closed the doors on his house and left everything inside and never looked back.

Pyramid. Apparently the dictator’s daughter built a pyramid mausoleum for her father. See photos. But he was so hated. He is no longer underneath the pyramid and now it is a tourist attraction that you can climb and see the city from above.

Doors… I swear every door is not closed, but they have this little lip on the door that’s about a half inch wide that makes it look like the door is not shut, but it’s really shut. See if you can tell what I’m talking about in the picture. It’s driving me bananas because I’m trying to slam the doors, but they are already slammed shut.

Walked to this man-made lake and had a rest and watched ducks and dogs play for a while.

Stray dogs. You can notice in a picture that one of the stray dogs we met has a blue tag on its ear. Similar to feral cats in Arizona, they round up the stray dogs vaccinate them, spay or neuter them, and if they can’t find a rescue to take the dogs, they release them back into the streets. But by seeing the tagged dog, you know it’s safe and healthy. The stray dogs seem to be very well fed.

Artist meeting. Walking along, we were looking for things that someone would normally not see. I looked down and saw an artist studio so of course we had to stick our noses in the door. Apparently this artist was very famous during communist times for his caricatures of the United States in Russia politically. Anyway we talked a while. Got some photos and went on our way. He was quite intense.

Professor meeting. As we were walking along the street, looking for coffee to give us energy a man walked up to us and said, “I am a professor. Could you tell me what the word squander means.”After a discussion about using it in context, he gave us a whole history of how dictators all are trained in France. And gave us many examples of how to use or how should he use the word squander. We finally said we had to go to the bathroom and left.

Me always looking for the spiritual salvation we went into the orthodox church and took some pictures and tomorrow will be the Great Mosque. It was cool to see this man touching up the murals on the inside of the Greek Orthodox Church

My Fluent Spanish. As one would predict my Spanish is very fluent in Albania. I’ve ordered Café con Leche, and at the restaurant said no Gatos no perros allowed. Albanians do not speak Spanish anymore than they speak English, but this is all that comes out of my mouth. As when I was in China, it’s always Spanish.

Dinner… delicious dinner in the touristy section of town. Near the castle. I had my favorite big fat sardines, big fat, feta cheese, and other appetizers. We shared a liter of wine and sat in the cool night patio.

Click on pictures to see the full view. 

In conclusion, I cannot believe how nice people are here. Everyone goes out of their way to help us. Instead of charging us a full amount they charge us less, take our phone and set up Wi-Fi, park a car, whatever that needs to be done to help. Our hotel is a wonderful, we can’t be happier, but we can’t be more exhausted.

- [ ]

[mariacallous]

Greece’s Supreme Court has ordered the Thessaloniki First Instance Prosecutor’s Office to investigate an attack on two transgender people, the attempted attack on the president of the opposition SYRIZA party, Stefanos Kasselakis, and the injury to a police officer.

The first attack happened on Saturday night in the city’s central square, when a crowd of about 150 people chased two LGBT people, hurling threats and insults. The two rushed to find shelter in a store, but a young man punched one of the victims in the face.

The prosecutor’s office must identify “and arrest the perpetrators and inform us accordingly”, the Prosecutor of the Supreme Court Georgia Adeline said.

After a protest was organised in the central square of the city against the attack on two transgender people the previous night, a group of about 50 masked men moved aggressively toward the protesters and small clashes occurred, media reported.

Kasselakis, who was in Thessaloniki for a documentary festival; accompanied by SYRIZA MPs, was verbally attacked by the masked mob on his way to the cinema. A police officer outside the cinema intervened, and was injured.

Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis condemned the violence, stating that “batmen and hoodmen have no place in the Republic.”

“Tonight’s incidents of masked men against protesters and the president of SYRIZA … which follow yesterday’s attack on two citizens for their sexual orientation, are absolutely condemnable,” said the head of the opposition PASOK party, Nikos Androulakis.

Police made 21 arrests. On Sunday, 12 of those arrested, all minors, were released after being referred to the juvenile courts. All those arrested were prosecuted for serial insults with racial characteristics, while two of the adults were additionally charged with attempted serial simple bodily harm (again with racial characteristics).

The nine defendants who were referred to trial remain in custody. According to the police, among the 21 arrested were nine Greeks and 12 foreigners, originating from Albania and Georgia.

One month ago, Greece’s parliament, despite strong opposition, legalized civil marriage and childbearing by same-sex couples. The Greek Orthodox Church criticised the law change, saying it was step towards the abolition of traditional perenting and the “disappearance” of gender roles.

[brookston]

Holidays 3.17

Holidays

Buy Women Owned Day

Camp Fire Girls Day

Children’s Day (Bangladesh)

Day of Comics & Comic Books (Spain)

Doctor-Patient Trust Day

Ennensaii (Kyoto, Japan)

Evacuation Day (Suffolk County, MA)

Glider Day

Kustonu Diena (No Planting Day; Ancient Latvia)

Mobilization Employee Day (Ukraine)

National Children Day (Bangladesh)

National Muay Thai Day

National SBCD Day

National Slime Day

Patrick Star Day (SpongeBob)

Psyche Asteroid Day

Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Day (Philippines)

Rubber Band Day

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Day (Bangladesh)

Social Care Day of Remembrance & Reflection (UK)

St. Carl’s Day (Sacrilege Brewing)

St. Patrick's Day (a.k.a. ... 

Corned Beef & Cabbage Day

Green Ribbon Day

Irish Coffee Day

Irish Stout Day

Lá Fhéile Pádraig

St. Catrick’s Day

Submarine Day [also 4.11]

317 Day (Indiana)

Vanguard I Day

Violet Day

Wood Anemone Day (French Republic)

World Maritime Day

World Shale Energy Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Irish Coffee Day

Irish Stout Day

National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day

National Irish Beer Day

National Irish Food Day

3rd Sunday in March

American Chocolate Week begins [3rd Sunday]

Buzzard Sunday (a.k.a. National Buzzard Day) [Sunday after 15th]

Root Canal Awareness Week begins [3rd Sunday]

Silly Sunday [3rd Sunday]

Weekly Holidays beginning March 17 (3rd Week)

American Chocolate Week [3rd Full Week]

Clutter Awareness Week [3rd Full Week]

Consider Christianity Week [begins 2nd Sunday before Easter]

International Goof Off Week [3rd Full Week]

Jobs for Teens Week [3rd Full Week]

National Agriculture Week [3rd Full Week]

National Animal Poison Prevention Week [3rd Full Week]

National Anonymous Giving Week [3rd Full Week]

National Bubble Week [1st Week of Spring]

National Button Week [3rd Full Week]

National Clean Out Your Closet Week [3rd Full Week]

National Fix a Leak Week [3rd Full Week]

National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week [3rd Full Week]

National Introverts Week [3rd Full Week]

National Poison Prevention Week [3rd Full Week]

National Surveyors Week [begins 3rd Sunday]

Passion Week (thru 3.23) [Week before Holy Week; Christianity]

Passiontide (thru 3.30) [Passion Week + Holy Week]

Schools Library Media Center Week [3rd Full Week]

World Folktales & Fables Week [3rd Full Week]

Independence & Related Days

North Albania (Declared; 2009) [unrecognized]

Republic of Abrus (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

Venice Republic (Declared; 1848)

Festivals Beginning March 17, 2024

Austin Fringe Festival (Austin, Texas) [thru 3.24]

Kegs & Eggs Bar Brunch Block Party (Atlanta, Georgia)

NIOP Convention (Palm Springs, California) [thru 3.19]

St. Patrick’s Day Festival (Dublin, Ireland)

St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Birmingham, UK)

St. Patrick’s Day Parade (New Orleans, Louisiana)

St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Feast Days

Agricola (Christian; Saint)

Alexius of Rome (Eastern Church)

All Snakes’ Day (Church of the SubGenius)

Damballah’s Day (a.k.a. Damballay Weddo; primordial snake of life Iwa; Vodou)

Dave the Dog (Muppetism)

Feast of the Blessed Leprechaun (Church of the SubGenius)

Gertrude of Nivelles (Christian; Saint)

Hans Namuth (Artology)

Jean Baptiste Oudry (Artology)

John Sarkander (Christian; Saint)

Joseph of Arimathea (Western Church)

Kate Greenaway (Artology)

Liberalia (Ancient Roman festival of Liber Pater)

The Martyrs of Serapeum (Christian; Martyrs)

Mikhail Vrubel (Artology)

Noah Entered the Ark Day (Middle Ages Christianity)

Patrick of Ireland (Christian; Saint) [Ireland] *

Paul of Cypress (Christian; Saint)

Shabbat HaChodesh (שַׁבָּת הַחֹדֶשׁ) [25 Adar]

St. Patrick’s Day Excuse (Pastafarian)

Tacitus (Positivist; Saint)

Trefuilnid Treochair (Feast of Triple Bearer of the Triple Key; Ireland)

Orthodox Christian Liturgical Calendar Holidays

Forgiveness Sunday (Orthodox Christian) [Last Sunday before Lent]

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Very Unlucky Day (Grafton’s Manual of 1565) [16 of 60]

Premieres

The Agony and the Ecstasy, by Irving Stone (Novel; 1958)

American Hot Wax (Film; 1978)

Batman & Mr. Freeze: Sub-Zero (WB Animated Film; 1998)

Beezus and Ramona, by Beverly Cleary (Novel; 1955)

Bound for Glory, by Woody Guthrie (Autobiography; 1943)

Bowery Bimbos (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1930)

Break Like the Wind, by Spinal Tap (Album; 1992)

Breathless (Film; 1960)

The Champion of Justice (Might Mouse Cartoon; 1944)

Circle of Friends (Film; 1995)

Dial “P” for Pink (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1965)

Erin Brockovich (Film; 2000)

Final Destination (Film; 2010)

Fletch Lives (Film; 1989)

Goofy and Wilbur (Disney Cartoon; 1939)

Gym Jam (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1950)

Iron Fist (TV Series; 2017)

iZombie (TV Series; 2015)

The Little Princess (Film; 1939)

The Magician’s Elephant (Animated Film; 2023)

Maiden Voyage, by Herbie Hancock (Album; 1965)

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (TV Series; 2017)

Minx (TV Series; 2022)

Naughty Number Nine (Multiplication Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1973)

Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, by Frederic Chopin (Piano Concerto; 1830)

Plane Crazy (Disney Cartoon; 1929)

Purple Haze, by Jimi Hendrix (UK Song; 1967)

Shazam! Fury of the Gods (Film; 2023)

Son of a Son of a Sailor, by Jimmy Buffet (Album; 1978)

The Story of Philosophy: The Lives and Opinions of the World's Greatest Philosophers, by Will Durant (Book; 1926)

Thank You for Smoking (Film; 2006)

This Year’s Model, by Elvis Costello (Album; 1978)

Traffic Troubles (Disney Cartoon; 1931)

Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky, by Patrick Hamilton (Novel; 1935)

V for Vendetta (Film; 2006)

William Gibson (Writerism)

William Tell, by Friedrich Schiller (Play; 1804)

Yakety Yak, recorded by The Coasters (Song; 1958)

Today’s Name Days

Gertraud, Gertrud, Patrick (Austria)

Domagoj, Gertruda, Hrvatin, Patricija, Patrik (Croatia)

Vlastimil (Czech Republic)

Gertrud (Denmark)

Gerda, Gertrud, Kärdi, Kärt, Kerli, Kert, Kertu, Ruta, Ruuta, Truude, Truuta (Estonia)

Kerttu, Kerttuli (Finland)

Patrice, Patrick (France)

Gertraud, Gertrud, Patrick (Germany)

Alekos, Alexios, Alexis, Gertrude (Greece)

Gertrúd, Patrik (Hungary)

Patrizio, Teodoro, Wanda, Vanda (Italy)

Gerda, Ģertrūde, Karīna (Latvia)

Gendvilas, Gertrūda, Patrikas, Varūna, Vytė (Lithuania)

Gjertrud, Trude (Norway)

Gertruda, Harasym, Jan, Patrycjusz, Patryk, Regina, Rena, Zbigniew, Zbygniew, Zbyszko (Poland)

Alexie (Romania)

Ľubica (Slovakia)

Patricio (Spain)

Gertrud (Sweden)

Oleska (Ukraine)

Paden, Pat, Patrice, Patricia, Patrick, Patsy, Patti, Patty, Trish, Trisha (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 77 of 2024; 289 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of week 11 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Fearn (Alder) [Day 1 of 28]

Chinese: Month 2 (Ding-Mao), Day 8 (Geng-Chen)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)

Hebrew: 7 Adair II 5784

Islamic: 7 Ramadan 1445

J Cal: 17 Green; Threesday [17 of 30]

Julian: 4 March 2024

Moon: 59%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 21 Aristotle (3rd Month) [Socrates]

Runic Half Month: Beore (Birch Tree) [Day 8 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 88 of 89)

Week: 3rd Week of March

Zodiac: Pisces (Day 28 of 30)

Calendar Changes

Fearn (Alder) [Celtic Tree Calendar; Month 3 of 13]

[hicginewsagency]

Honoring the Life and Legacy of the Late Archbishop Anastasios of Albania

By Anastasios Gordon Sekandi – updated at 23:43 Wednesday 29 January 2025 Archbishop Anastasios, a pivotal figure in global Orthodoxy, passed away at the age of 95. Since 1992, he led the Albanian Orthodox Church, playing a crucial role in its revival after decades of suppression under communist rule. Find Jesus at the door of your heart and you will discover paradise. St. John Chrysostom His…

[roosterjournal]

Archbishop Anastasios, the Revitalizing Force Behind Albania's Orthodox Church, Passes Away at 95

TIRANA, Albania — The Orthodox Church of Albania has announced the passing of Archbishop Anastasios, a prominent figure who played a crucial role in the revitalization of the church following the fall of the communist regime in 1990. He was 95 years old. Archbishop Anastasios, who served as the head of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania and was based in Tirana, died in Athens after…

[beardedmrbean]

Economic expert and political novice Jakov Milatovic won Montenegro's presidential runoff election Sunday, defeating the pro-Western incumbent who has been in power for more than three decades, the candidates and polls said.

Milatovic, who is backed by Montenegro's governing majority, won around 60% of the vote Sunday while President Milo Djukanovic won around 40%, according to predictions released by the usually reliable Center for Monitoring and Research and based on voting samples.

In a victory speech, Milatovic described the moment as “historic" for Montenegro and promised to help lead the small NATO member nation into the European Union during his five-year term in office.

“Tonight is the night that we waited for the past 30 years,” said Milatovic, blasting Djukanovic as the “last dictator in Europe.”

“We want to deal with issues that are of vital importance: the rule of law, economy and European integration,” said Milatovic. “We are leaving the past behind and making a decisive step into the future. This is a historic day for us."

Djukanovic conceded defeat and congratulated Milatovic on his victory. He said he was proud of the results he achieved during such a long period in power.

“Montenegro has chosen and I respect that choice,” said Djukanovic. "Elections are sometimes won — we won for a very long time — sometimes you lose. I wish [for] the new president that he be worthy of the trust he received.”

The state election authorities Sunday evening said turnout was at nearly 70%.

Analysts said that the results could shift slightly as the vote count progresses but that the gap between the two is too wide for a major change.

“This result is an indicator that the final result won't be substantially different,” said analyst Ana Nenezic.

Milatovic’s victory is believed to reflect voter fatigue with Djukanovic, who has served multiple times as both president and prime minister in the past decades, and disillusionment with established politicians. Milatovic, 36, first entered politics in 2020 after earning his education in Britain and the United States.

Djukanovic is credited with leading his country to independence from Serbia in 2006 and defying Russia to steer Montenegro into NATO in 2017. But critics say Djukanovic and his Democratic Party of Socialists, or DPS, have let crime and corruption engulf society.

The DPS was ousted from power in a 2020 parliamentary vote, but Djukanovic has remained in office until the end of his five-year mandate. His defeat Sunday means that both he and his party will be in opposition for the first time since late 1980s.

Milatovic's supporters took to the streets of Montenegrin cities as the outcome became clear, setting off fireworks and honking horns as they drove around the streets. Hundreds gathered outside the main church in Podgorica, the capital, reflecting ruling coalition's close ties with the Serbian Orthodox Church and Serbia.

The Serbian Orthodox Church played an important role in the protest movement that eventually resulted in the DPS' removal from power in 2020. Many Montenegrins identify themselves as Serbs and support improving relations with Serbia.

Sunday’s runoff was scheduled after none of the contenders won a majority in the first round of voting two weeks ago. Some 540,000 people were eligible to vote. Montenegro has a population of 620,000 and borders Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Albania, Kosovo and the Adriatic Sea.

The outcome of Sunday’s election is likely to influence an early parliamentary election set for June 11. That vote was scheduled because of a months-long government deadlock that stalled Montenegro’s pending European Union membership and alarmed the West as war rages in Ukraine.

Milatovic’s Europe Now movement could find itself in a position to dominate the next government after the June election. Milatovic’s presidential candidacy won the backing of a shaky ruling coalition — which Europe Now is not a part of — that includes parties in favor of closer ties with neighboring Serbia and Russia.

Milatovic has denied Djukanovic’s accusations that the ruling coalition is pushing Montenegro back under Serbia’s influence.

Europe Now emerged after the first government that resulted from the 2020 parliamentary election collapsed. As the economy minister in that government, Milatovic gained popularity by increasing salaries, but critics say this was done at the cost of Montenegro's badly depleted health system.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 5.6

Holidays

Adhesive Postage Stamp Day

Army Day (Bulgaria)

Arrival Day (Guyana)

Condom Day (Japan)

A Day Without Homework

Emancipation Day (Cayman Islands)

Freud Day

Globeflower Day

Great Lakes Awareness Day

Hellshire Day (Eugene, Oregon)

Hıdırellez begins (Turkey)

Infantry Day (Ukraine)

Infidelity Hurts Awareness Day

International Blowing Bubbles Day

International Coaching Day

International Management Accounting Day

International No Diet Day

Jimmy Buffet Day (Mississippi)

Joseph Brackett Day

Mark A. Groh Cardiothoracic Surgeon Appreciation Day

Martyrs’ Day (Gabon, Lebanon, Syria)

National Aidan Day

National Azulejo Day (Portugal)

National Day to Prevent Teenage Pregnancy

National Hentai Day

National Meeting Planners Appreciation Day

National Nurses Day (a.k.a. National RN Recognition Day)

National Tony Day

National Tourist Appreciation Day

No Homework Day [also Last Friday in March]

Pastele Blajinilor (Memory/Parent’s Day; Moldova)

Peg Day (UK)

Phi Day (Southern Hemisphere)

Police Day (Republic of Georgia)

Prayer Day (Denmark)

Refrigerator Day

Rubber Day (Japan)

Salad Burnet Day (French Republic)

Saviour's Day

Senior Citizens’ Day (Palau)

Shepherd’s and Herdsman’s Day (Bulgaria)

Simple Gifts Day (a.k.a. Joseph Brackett Day)

Steel Plow Day

Teachers’ Day (Jamaica)

Visit Your Local Quilt Shop Day

Wishbone Day

World Accordion Day

World Kids Coloring Day

World Moyamoya Awareness Day

World Philately Day

Yale Lock Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Crepe Suzette Day

National Beverage Day

Russell Stover Candies Day

Sauvignon Blanc Day (UK; Commonwealth countries)

Independence & Related Days

Arkansas (Seceded from the U.S.; 1861)

The Kikkian Empire (Declared; 2019) [unrecognized]

First Monday in May

Bank Holiday (UK)

Great Lakes Awareness Day [Monday of 1st Full Week]

Labour Day Holiday (Many Counties outside North America) [1st Monday]

Melanoma Monday [1st Monday]

Motivation Monday [Every Monday]

National Meeting Planners Appreciation Day [Monday of 1st Full Week]

National Testing Coordinator’s Day [1st Monday]

Open Farm Day (Ireland) [1st Monday]

School Bus Drivers Appreciation Day [1st Monday]

Weekly Holidays beginning May 6 (1st Full Week)

Air Quality Awareness Week (thru 5.10)

Economic Development Week (thru 5.10)

Mental Health Week (Canada) [1st Full Week]

Mental Illness Awareness Week (Canada) [1st Full Week]

National Children’s Book Week (thru 5.12)

National Nurses Week (thru 5.12)

National Safety Stand Down Week (thru 5.12)

National Sun Safety Week (thru 5.12)

National Wildflower Week (thru 5.12)

Puppy Mill Action Week (thru 5.12)

Screen-Free Week (f.k.a. TV Turnoff Week; thru 5.12) [1st Full Week]

Teacher Appreciation Week (thru 5.12) [1st Full Week]

World Cocktail Week (thru 5.13)

Festivals Beginning May 6, 2024

Food Safety Summit (Rosemont, Illinois) [thru 5.9]

Frankfort Elberta Restaurant Week (Frankfort & Elberta, Michigan) [thru 5.12]

Melbourne Writers Festival (Melbourne, Australia) [thru 5.12]

Tartu International Literary Festival Prima Vista (Tartu, Estonia) [thru 5.12]

A Taste of Talent (Andover, New Jersey)

Trondheim Jazz Festival (Trondheim, Norway) [thru 5.11]

WasteExpo (Las Vegas, Nevada) [thru 5.9]

Feast Days

Alexander (Positivist; Saint)

Ancestor Day II (Pagan)

Beverage Day (Pastafarian)

Bruces Appreciation Day (Pastafarian)

Charles Drouet (Artology)

Connect with the Land Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Dominic Savio (Christian; Saint)

Đurđevdan (Festival for the Roma People of the former Yugoslavia)

Eadbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne (Christian; Saint)

Enlightenment of the Buddha (Buddhism)

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (Artology)

Evodius of Antioch (Roman Catholic Church)

Food (Muppetism)

François de Laval (Christian; Saint)

George (Eastern Orthodox Church) a.k.a. ... 

Đurđevdan (Gorani, Roma)

Gergyovden  (Day of Bravery or Army Day; Bulgaria)

Police Day (Georgia)

Shën Gjergji (Albania and Kosovo)

Yuri's Day in the Spring (Russian Orthodox Church)

Gerard of Lunel (Christian; Saint)

Guinness (The Stout) Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Harry Martinson (Writerism)

Jeffery Deaver (Writerism)

Long Island Church of Aphrodite (Everyday Wicca)

Lucius of Cyrene (Christian; Saint)

Petronax of Monte Cassino (Christian; Saint)

John before the Latin Gate (Christian; Saint)

John Demascen (Christian; Saint)

Munichia (a.k.a. Mounikhia; Ancient Greek Festival to Artemis)

Nestor Basterretxea (Artology)

Prudence (Christian; Virgin)

Remembrance  for Eyvind Kelve (Asatru/Norse Pagan)

The Sixth Day of May (Shamanism)

Orthodox Christian Liturgical Calendar Holidays

Easter Monday (Orthodox Christian) [Day after Orthodox Easter] (a.k.a. ... 

Memorial Day (Georgia)

Doua zi de Paste (Moldova)

Doua zi de Pasti (Romania)

Orthodox Easter Monday

Vtor den Veligden (Macedonia)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Perilous Day (13th Century England) [17 of 32]

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Unlucky Day (Grafton’s Manual of 1565) [25 of 60]

Premieres

Alias the Saint, by Leslie Charteris (Short Stories; 1940) [Saint #6]

At Folsom Prison, by Johnny Cash (Live Album; 1968)

Backstreet Boys, by Backstreet Boys (Album; 1996)

Call for the Dead, by John le Carré (Novel; 1961)

Captain America: Civil War (Film; 2016)

Chernobyl (TV Documentary Series; 2019)

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (Film; 2022)

The Double Helix, by James Watson (Memoir; 1968)

Highwayman, by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, and Willie Nelson (Album; 1985)

The Hollow Hills, by Mary Stewart (Novel; 1973) [Arthurian Saga #2]

The Good, the Bad, and Huckleberry Hound (Animated TV Special; 1988)

I Got You (I Feel Good), by James Brown (Song recorded; 1965)

Interview with the Vampire, by Anne Rice (Novel; 1976)

Into You, by Ariana Grande (Song; 2016)

Kingdom of Heaven (Film; 2005)

La Bohème, by Ruggero Leoncavallo (Opera; 1897)

The Leghorn Blows at Midnight (WB LT Cartoon; 1950)

Little Shop of Horrors (Off-Off-Broadway Musical; 1982)

Metropolis (Film; 1927)

Mickey’s Trailer (Disney Cartoon; 1938)

The Million Dollar Cat (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1944)

New York Herald Tribune (Daily Newspaper; 1835)

Paint It Black, by The Rolling Stones (Song; 1966)

Railroaded to Fame (Hector Heathcote Cartoon; 1961)

Rock and Roll Music, recorded by Chuck Berry (Song; 1957)

Rocket Man, by Elton John (Song; 1972)

Son of Batman (WB Animated Film; 2014)

The Stainless Steel Rat, by Harry Harrison (Novel; 1961)

Star Wars, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (Film; 1980)

Swooner Crooner (WB LT Cartoon; 1944)

Take This To Your Grave, by Fall Out Boy (Album; 2003)

The Thanatos Syndrome, by Percy Walker (Novel; 1987)

This for That (Money Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1996)

Thor (Film; 2011)

Thugs with Dirty Mugs (WB MM Cartoon; 1939)

Un Verano Sin Ti, by Bad Bunny (Song; 2022)

Today’s Name Days

Godehard, Jutta, Sigrid (Austria)

Irina, Mira (Bulgaria)

Anđeo, Hilarije, Maksim (Croatia)

Klaudie (Czech Republic)

Gothard (Denmark)

Loit, Loomet (Estonia)

Maini, Melina, Melissa (Finland)

Judith (France)

Gotthard, Jutta, Sigrid (Germany)

Efraim, Efrem, Eirene, Eirini, Eirinaios, Irene, Irini (Greece)

Adrián, Györgyi (Hungary)

Angelo, Massimo, Pellegrino, Penelope (Italy)

Gederts, Gerhards, Ģirts, Gothards (Latvia)

Angelas, Anielius, Barvydas, Gintaras, Pijus (Lithuania)

Guldbrand, Gullborg (Norway)

Irena, Ita, Pius, Teodor, Waldemar, Zdzibor (Poland)

Irina (Romania)

Lesana, Lesia (Slovakia)

Amador, Ángel, Hilario, Máximo (Spain)

Erhard, Gotthard (Sweden)

Irene, Myroslav, Myroslava (Ukraine)

Morna, Mya, Myah, Myrna, Orson, Prudence (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 127 of 2024; 239 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 1 of week 19 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Saille (Willow) [Day 23 of 28]

Chinese: Month 3 (Wu-Chen), Day 28 (Geng-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 28 Nisan 5784

Islamic: 27 Shawwal 1445

J Cal: 7 Magenta; Sevenday [7 of 30]

Julian: 23 April 2024

Moon: 3%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 15 Caesar (5th Month) [Junius Brutus]

Runic Half Month: Lagu (Flowing Water) [Day 12 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 49 of 92)

Week: 1st Week of May

Zodiac: Taurus (Day 17 of 31)

[rachelroams]

Europe's Hidden Gem You Need to See to Believe 👀

🌟 SAVE this post & tag the person you want to travel here with!

This country may look like Switzerland, or Italy, or Norway, or France, but — surprise! — it’s not. 🤯 This Delaware-sized nation in Southeastern Europe offers much of the same appeal as more well-known European countries at a fraction of the travel cost. >>>

🇲🇪 Montenegro is a quaint coastal country nestled between the Adriatic Sea and neighboring nations Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Albania.

With pristine coastline ⛱️, rugged mountains, and lush forests, Montenegro boasts exquisite natural beauty in which you can explore hidden coves, hike alpine trails, or sail scenic bodies of water like Kotor Bay ⛵️(which reminds me of Italy’s Lake Como — but as a FAR more affordable version).

Historic towns like Kotor, Buda, and Cetinje showcase Montenegro’s rich cultural heritage, from medieval fortresses and Orthodox churches to quaint old-town streets.

✴️ Pro Tip: for a breathtaking view of the 5th century fortified town of Kotor, hike the trail above the city, then stop for fresh pomegranate juice, bread and cheese at the family-run cheese shop next to the mid-way point of the trail. 😍

Who would you like to travel here with?!