Entering the Old City at the historic Jaffa Gate, Demetrios was ceremonially
welcomed by the bishops and priests of the Greek Orthodox Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, Israeli government and municipal officials, a police honor guard, six bemedaled consuls - general, representatives of the Roman Catholic, Armenian, Syrian Orthodox and Ethiopian churches, two uniformed Dragomen, a baton tossing drum - major, the Arab Orthodox Boy Scout drum and bugle corps, uniformed schoolgirls, scores of monks, nuns,
reporters, cameramen and a smattering of curious tourists.
Luckily for me, I was
welcomed by a calm and sympathetic member of staff who plied me with a much - needed glass of water in the waiting area while the on - the - hour news report ran its course, and one of the station's
reporters, Joanna Durrant, stopped to catch up on each other's news.
The storks, now celebrities in their village, are celebrated
by local residents and
reporters who
welcome Rodan home every year and keep a close eye on their activities.