Helicopter Carrying Orthodox Patriarch Of Alexandria Disappears: Authorities

ATHENS, Sept 11 (AFP) - A helicopter carrying the Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria, Peter VII, disappeared from radar screens Saturday after taking off from Athens on its way to Mount Athos, one of Orthodox Christianity`s holiest sites, airport officials said.
The helicopter took off from Athens at 9:30 am (0630GMT) and was supposed to land at noon (0900 GMT) on Mount Athos in northern Greece, air force spokesman Constantinos Prionas told AFP.
He said the military had dispatched a helicopter and an air force aircraft to search the area.
Apart from the patriarch, 16 other people were on board the craft that disappeared, five of them crew members, Greek television reported.
Peter VII, who was born in Cyprus, has been patriarch since March 1997.