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Pontian Greek genocide commemorated across Greece

Events marking the Pontian Greek genocide in Asia Minor are to be held in Athens and Thessaloniki on May 19. Hellenism all across the world will commemorate the tragic historical event. 


The date has been chosen by Parliament as a national memorial day to commemorate the massacre of some 353,000 ethnic Pontian Greeks (Black Sea coast) in 1919 by Ottoman forces. 

Evzoni of the Presidential Guard appeared, for the second year in a row, in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier wearing traditional Pontian costumes carrying the typical black head band, known as “Paslik” or “Paslouk,” on the occasion of the May 19 Commemorating day. 

The Pontian Genocide was the systematic killing of the Greek population of the Ottoman Empire during World War I and its aftermath (1914–1923). It was instigated by the government of the Ottoman Empire against the Greek population and it included massacres, forced deportations involving death marches, summary expulsions, arbitrary executions, and destruction of Christian Orthodox cultural, historical and religious monuments. 

Photo taken after the Smyrna fire. The text inside indicates that the photo had been taken by representatives of the Red Cross in Smyrna [Credit: Wiki Commons]
POE (Pontian Federation in Greece) has organized a commemorative concert in Athens that will be held at 6:30pm in Syntagma Square. Pontian artists will perform for the audience and a march towards the Turkish Embassy will mark the ending of the event. POE representatives will once again demand the Pontian Genocide to be internationally acknowledged. 

Events also took place this morning in the central Saint Sofia Square of Thessaloniki. POE took place in the ceremony of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, attended by Mayor Giannis Boutaris, Deputy President of POPS (Panhellenic Federation of Pontian Associations) Christina Sachinidou and Pnagia Soumela Federation President Giorgos Tanimanides. A memorial service was held for the 353.000 Pontian victims followed by a moment of silence in honor of the dead. 

Author: Areti Kotseli | Source: Greek Reporter [May 19, 2012]