Greece's military rulers today (Sunday) attended a service in Athens Cathedral to celebrate the name day of King Constantine.

Premier George Papadopoulos, accompanied by his cabinet and the Mayor of Athens, Demetrius Ritsos, and escorted by police motor-cycle outriders, drove to the cathedral this morning where they attended a Te Doum (Thanks-giving Service) conducted by the Archbishop of Athens Monsignor Isronymos.

King Constantine fled into self-exile on December 14th 1967 after the coup by the military junta. He is still the King of Greece, but his powers are new exercised by a Regent -- Premier Papadopoulos himself, who assumed the ???egency last March to replace General George Zoitakis.

Sunday's celebrations were, for the first time in many years, held only in Athena -- a move seen in Greece as an attempt by the military government to play down the event.

SYNOPSIS: The Mayor of Athens, Demetrius Ritsos, was among leading Greek government dignitaries who arrived at Athens Cathedral on Sunday morning to attend a service celebrating King Constantine's name day.

Before he went into exile five years age under pressure from the military government of Premier George Papadopoulos, King Constantine himself would have attended the celebrations commemorating, the anniversary of the patron-saint after whom he was named. Now it is Premier Papadopoulos, in his capacity as Regent, who takes the King's place in leading the festivities.

The thanksgiving service over, Premier Papadopoulos returned to his car, saluted by the honour-guard of cadets from three armed forces.