1.
GV. Church of St. Mary.
0.03

2.
SV. Sick person of stretcher is taken in front of the church.
0.08

3.
SV. Premier Karamanlis arrives for ceremony.
0.13

4.
SV. Crowd wave.
0.15

5.
SV. Towards...Karamanlis arrives at church.
0.20

6.
SV. Holy Icon is carried from Church.
0.25

7.
CU.PAN. Up line of sick persons.
0.33

8.
SV. Icon carried over sick persons.
0.37

9.
CU. Mother and child.
0.40

10.
SV. Icon over sick.
0.45

11.
SCU. Man kneels.
0.48

12.
SV. People watch.
0.51

13.
GV. Icon arrives on quayside.
0.55

14.
LV. Ship laden with pilgrims.
0.59

15.
LV Another ship.
1.03

16.
SV. Icon.
1.06

17.
TRAVEL SHOT. Karamanlis on launch passes by ships laden with pilgrims.
1.09

18.
SCU. Karamanlis.
1.11

19.
ANGLEV. Pilgrims crowd ship's rails.
1.13

20.
TOP V. Karamanlis tosses wreath on to waters.
1.16



Initials PC/S/MR/MG



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Tinos Island in the Aegean was a mass of pilgrims August 15 as some 30,000 people - from all over Greece and the eastern Mediterranean- gathered to celebrate the annual Feast of the Assumption at the Church of the Virgin Mary. Greek Premier Karamanlis was present as the Holy Icon of the Virgin Mary was passed over the heads of the sick and invalid on its procession through the tiny fishing village.

A boat-load of pilgrims in the harbour - with the worshippers all gathered at one side - nearly keeled over as they crowded to watch Prime Minister Karamanlis drop a wreath in the waters of Tinos in memory of those who died during the torpedoing of the Greek cruiser "Helle" in 1940.

The feast is observed by the Greek Orthodox Church, as in the West in honour of the Assumption of Mary. The devout are not obliged to believe the doctrine of the Corporal Assumption, but they celebrate the feast in a great way nevertheless, preceding it with a two-week fast. This year, the declaration of independence for Cyprus added special significance to the feast.