The Olympic Flame for the Beijing Games will be lit in Ancient Olympia, in the presence of President Karolos Papoulias and other dignitaries.

Student parades will be held to mark Greek Independence Day.

Greek Independence Day. A public holiday. A military parade will be held in Athens to mark the occasion.

The US Embassy’s consular section in Athens will be closed for internal administrative reasons, as is normal on the last Wednesday of every month.

The sixth forum of the World Alliance of Cities against Poverty, titled “Deepening Local Democratic Governance to Eradicate Poverty and Achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),” begins at 9 a.m. at the Athens International Conference Center. The forum is organized by the United Nations Development Program in collaboration with the City of Athens. Development Minister Christos Folias, Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis and Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis will be among the speakers. To Friday. For details, log on to www.cityofathens.gr.

The University of Patras hosts the ninth international conference on “Medical Chemistry: Drug Discovery and Design,” starting at noon at the university’s cultural center. To Friday. For details, tel 2147.483.647 or log on to www.upatras.gr.

A two-week American studies seminar titled “American Politics at a Crossroads: Roosevelt, Reagan and the 2008 Presidential Election” begins at the campus of Deree College in Ambelokipi, through April 7. For further details, contact Institute of International Relations (IDIS) 210.331.2325-7 or log on to www.idis.gr.

The Hellenic Society for the Protection of the Environment and Cultural Heritage is hosting a conference on “Heat Wave: The Major New Threat for Greece,” starting at 3 p.m. at its premises in Plaka. Tel. 210.322.5245 or log on to www.ellinikietairia.gr.

Archbishop Ieronymos begins a five-day visit to Istanbul. He will meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios.

Citizen in Deed, the State Organization for Volunteerism, holds a two-day international conference on “Public Ethics and Civil Society” starting at 10 a.m. at the Park Hotel in Athens. Finance Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis will make the opening address. To Saturday. For details, call 210.748.7431 or log on to www.ergopoliton.gr.

Clocks go forward one hour – from 3 a.m. to 4 a.m. – as summertime begins.