Emotion in Honor and Memory Event for the 106th anniversary of the Genocide of Pontic Greeks

In a climate of excitement and historical consciousness, yesterday, at the Genocide Monument « Pyrrhic Fly » in Alexandra Square, the established event of honor and memory for the 106th anniversary of the Genocide of the 353,000 Greeks of Pontus.

The event was held by the Municipality of Piraeus and the Association of Pontic Associations of Southern Greece and the Islands of the Pampontian Federation of Greece and was a reference point for preserving historical memory and paying tribute to the victims of genocide.

The ceremony was preceded by the entrance to the monument to the « Pontos – Memory Road » group, which lit the flame of the monument. The runners were launched by the Kallithea’s « Pontus Heroes » monument, one of the first monuments created in Greece.

A memorial service was followed by the Metropolitan of Piraeus. Seraphim. Subsequently, speeches were held, emphasizing the importance of unity, historical justification and preservation of collective memory, as well as wreath laying.

The ceremony continued in a musical – narrative event, where the ode was heard to the unknown soldier « Aendecean » by lyricist Elias Yfantidis. It was followed by a highly charged artistic tribute entitled « I hear … silence! », A work of memory and meditation, with narratives by Mrs. Sultana Varitimiadis and Anna Kalaitzoglou and with the participation of the Chorus Choirs and Children’s Choir.

The event was closed by the fires of the Association of Pontic Associations of Southern Greece and the Islands of the Pampontian Federation of Greece, who danced the Pyrrhic dance under the direction of Homer Pachatouridis.

The ceremony ended with the observance of a minute’s silence and the recoil of the National Anthem.

The event was musically accompanied by the Piraeus Municipality Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Genocide Monument to the Greeks of Pontus « Pyrrhio Flight », a work by the artist Panagiotis Tanimanidis, was erected at Alexandra Square in 2017, donated by PAE President Evangelos Marinakis.

The Metropolitan of Piraeus Seraphim, in his statement, stressed, among other things:

« We are in Alexandra Square to honor the memory of our 353,000 of our Pontian brothers, who passed » by fire and iron « in Athanasia by the martyrs of the young Turks.

We are here, in this magnificent monument that has been frightened by the great Euphrates and the love of the city of Piraeus, Mr. Vangelis Marinakis to pay tribute, but also to declare our hearts and our hearts, that we do not say that our hearts, We call for the recognition of the genocide of our Pontian brothers and that is the purpose of our present presence. « 

Piraeus Mayor Yiannis Moralis, in his address, stressed:

« With deep emotion we honor tonight in Piraeus on the day of remembrance of the Genocide of the Greeks of Pontus. May 19, the day on which Kemal Ataturk landed in Samsun in 1919, it was established by a decision of the Hellenic Parliament as a day of remembrance in honor of the 353,000 Greeks of Pontus, who were destroyed in one of the most criminal acts against humanity in modern history. At this point, above the sea of ​​Piraeus, the Municipality of Piraeus in collaboration with the Pamptian Federation of Greece and all of you, we send for another year the message that we have not forgotten and will not forget the hundreds of thousands of innocents who were slaughtered or displaced.

As a Municipal Authority, we are particularly proud of the fact that this monument, the « Pyrrhic Flying », which was erected in our city 8 years ago, is now a reference point for the ubiquitous Pontians.

Once again, we must publicly thank the donor of the monument, Mr. Vangelis Marinakis, thanks to which one of the most important monuments of Pontian Hellenism in the country was possible. After all, he himself draws his origin from Pontus. A monument in which Piraeus and Piraeus can honor the way in the history of this city is the victims of the genocide. This is because Piraeus has always been, thanks to the sea and the port, a place of reception and hospitality of thousands of refugees, not only from Pontus and Asia Minor, but also from other homelands.

Your ancestors have managed to grow in their new homelands and contribute to the economic and spiritual development of the country, with Pontian Hellenism being a creative power to our country to this day. The Municipality of Piraeus, institutionally, where necessary, but I will personally continue to support the effort of the Pontian community and the Pontian associations for international recognition of genocide. And at the same time we will continue to honor this day and keep historical memory alive so that there will never be similar crimes in the future. « 

The president of the Pontic Associations of Southern Greece and the Islands of the Greek Federation of Greece Christos Dimopoulos, in his address, said, among other things, that the « Pyrrhic Flying » monument is a « gateway » to communication with the past, a medium of the past,

« He travels us every time in the black period of 1915-1922, when our ancestors lived the ruthless slaughter, extermination, abuse and uproar. It is the period of the genocide of our 353,000 civilians from the ruthless and inhumane fury of the Turkish Kemalists.

Those of our ancestors survived and managed to return to their homeland were able to light the flame of creation again. They worked hard, fought the enemies of the homeland, like the Ypsilants in the struggle of 1821 and created the new face of Pontian Hellenism, an important part of Greece. « 

Mr Dimopoulos then referred to the goals of the Pamptian Federation of Greece, dominated by international recognition of the genocide, noting that their struggle is a struggle for human life, history, culture and human values. He then thanked the Municipality of Piraeus for organizing the event, Mr. Vangelis Marinakis for the creation of the monument « Pyrrhic Fly », Mr. Elias Ifantidis for the artistic curator, the musicians and the dancers, the runners who lit him. In closing, he stressed: « Our unjust and unforgettable ancestors, your eternal memory. »

Piraeus Vice -Mayor Stavroula Antonakou, in her statement, pointed out:

« Day of memory and honor for the Greek Pontians, who were slaughtered.

The Municipality of Piraeus, for another year, honors the memory of our fellow humans, honors the Pontians, in this flagship monument, a landmark for our Piraeus, which was erected by the donation of Mr. Evangelos Marinakis.

Warmest congratulations to the organizers and co -organizers of the event. We must not forget our story, we must remember and above all to honor. « 

On behalf of the donor of the Evangelos Marinakis Monument, former Alter Ego Media President Fotini Ypsilantis addressed:

‘Respectful,

Ladies and gentlemen,

May 19th again. It was dawned once again, that day, when the sun rises not only to illuminate, but also to remind you. Because Pontus was not just a homeland.

Pontus was a culture. It was light. It was a prayer, a psalm in the churches, a song in the courtyards, schools that taught the letters, families who lived with labors and honor.

And that time has come when this world was torn in two by the fire and the ax – and the roads were painted with blood.

And then screams.

Screams in the marches of death.

Screams in full of mud exiles.

Screams when children were uprooted by the hugs of mothers.

Screams When the temples were deserted, the libraries were burned, the people turned into shadows.

It wasn’t a war! It was organized extermination. It was genocide.

And yet, in this horror, the unmistakable Pontian soul was not bent. The lyre never mute.

The stones were cried, but the souls did not bow.

People left, but the point remained in the hearts.

And then our grandparents arrived here in Mother Greece. And they didn’t get here as beggars. They came as carriers of a centuries -old culture. They sought everywhere where they pressed. They resurrected language, faith, music, morality.

So May 19 is not just a date. It’s a cry. It is a flag that keeps the light alive in the dark of history. It’s an oath.

Oath that we will not allow obligations to beat the memory.

Oath that we will not let our children grow up without knowing what a point means.

Oath that the word « genocide » is not negotiable, oath that the struggle for international recognition of the Genocide of the Greeks of Pontus will continue!

We ask justification. We ask for recognition. Because the dead ask us not to be forgotten.

Let us think: What is a nation if it does not honor its dead?

What is a culture if it does not lean in front of pain?

What is a human being if he does not resist the oblivion?

Today, I don’t just call you to remember.

I invite you to continue.

To talk.

To teach.

To write, to sing, to sing the point – not as a lost homeland, but as eternal.

Because the homelands are not lost as long as there is someone who remembers them.

And we remember. And we will remember.

Let’s stand up. Let’s become a wall against oblivion.

That’s why today, we’re here. To stand in front of the memory body itself. In the shadow of the « Pyrrhic Flower », this living monument that since 2017 is struck, here in Alexandra Square, as a watchful guardian of truth, as a silent representative of our historical responsibility.

If you look at the monument, you will see that it is not another work of art. Inside the entire load of uprooting: the lyres, the keys of the lost houses, which the refugees kept tightly in their palms – symbols of hope and the untold mourning. And a pen. The pen with which we wrote – and continue to write – our story, so as not to be forgotten.

Pontus was not lost. He lives. In the lyres. To dances. In the testimonies. In our souls.

The memory of the Pontian Witnesses is eternal.

Their silence, our own voice. « 

Wreaths deposited:

• The Mayor of Piraeus Giannis Moralis
• On behalf of the donor of the Evangelos Marinakis Monument, former President of Alter Ego Media Fotini Ypsilantis
• The Secretary General of the Pontian Piraeus – Keratsini – Drapetsona Union, Christina Hafousidou
• Spyros Spyros Spyridon Officers Association of Piraeus Prefecture Officers
• The President of the Pamptian Federation of Greece George Varithythiadis

The event was also attended by the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Costas Katsafados, the Vice -Mayor of Civil Protection Leonidas Manolakos, the President of the Agri -Food Partnership (AMKE) Stavros Voidonikolas, Deputy Mayors, Deputy Mayors and crowds of people