IOANNINA, Greece - It's a special day for five cities Messologi, Agrinio, Amfilochia, Menidi, Arta and Ioannina on Tuesday for they were honored to witness the Olympic flame on the Greece national holiday on Tuesday.

Greek actress Maria Nafpliotou (R, front), lights the Olympic flame for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece March 24, 2008. [Xinhua]  Clicke for more photos

In the historic city of Messologi and under a heavy rain, Takis Papachristos was previleged to be the first torchbearer, starting the second day relay in Hero's Tomb.

Messologi was recognized as a major battlefield of 1821-1826 war between Greece and Turkey. The Hero's Tomb was built in memory of war dead and Great English peot George Gordon Byron who had come to the city and died in fighting for Greece's independence in 1824.

Byron's masterpiece "Statues of Liberty" prevailed after his death. Takis runs a hotel in the opposite side of the Tomb, which is named "Liberty Hotel".

Leaving Messologi, the torch visited Agrinio, Amfilochia, Menidi, Arta and Ioannina. All the cities welcomed the flame with impressive ceremonies.

In Amfilochia with a population of 5,000, four torchbearers won the opportunities to hold the torch including Kantza Paraskevi, the women's 100meters bronze medallist in Athens Paralympics.

The blind athlete stepped on the ceremony stage with the help of a torch guard full of smile and pride. Paraskevi is busy with her training towards the Beijing's Paralympics in September. As a local celebrity, she was invited home to be a torchbearer from Athens. It's the second time for Olympic flame going through Amfilochia after 2004 debut.

"It was a great honor for me. I have never been a torchbearer, the feelings are completely different from others," said Paraskevi.

"The moment was unique because the flame symbolizes the peace and the friendship between people from all over the world. These are messages that must be spread throughout the world."

Ioannina celebrated the arrival of flame in festivity. A large crowd gathered around the ceremony site and classic traditional dancing performance was given.

Stavros Anifautis was among the torchbearers. He was well known in Greece as a top sprinter after winning 400 meters gold medals in World Youth Championships of Athletics 2006. His teammate Ilias Grivas and sister Diwifra Auifanti acted as his torch guards.

The flame is going to come across Metsovo, Grevena, Kozani, Veria after leaving Ioannina Wednesday morning, carrying through its third-day journey.