The Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Pontic Greek Genocide is celebrated on 19 May and is a significant date for Greeks of Pontic origin throughout the world.
The Pan-Pontic Federation of Greece organizes events in connection with the genocide, emphasizing that “this day is the culmination of our desire for international recognition of the genocide of the Greeks of the East”, writes iefimerida.gr.
“The ultimate goal of our struggle for international recognition of the genocide is to prevent and deter such crimes, which, unfortunately, continue to haunt humanity,” the statement said.
The main commemorative event in Athens will take place on Thursday afternoon, May 19, at Syntagma Square, with the official Changing of the Guard of the Presidential Guard at the monument to the Unknown Soldier, with representatives dressed in Pontic warrior costumes. This will be followed by a memorial prayer. Further, the president of the federation, Georgios Varithimiadis, will deliver a speech on the memory of the victims of the Greek genocide in Pontus.
The event will be attended by representatives of various official bodies and organizations, as well as His Eminence Metropolitan of Paphos. At the end, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony and a procession to the Turkish Embassy with the presentation of the resolution.
On Sunday, May 22, the official hoisting of the State Flag and a memorial service for the victims of the genocide of Pontic Hellenism in the Holy Metropolis of Athens will take place on the Acropolis.
Activities in Thessaloniki
The main event to commemorate the Greek Genocide of Pontus will take place on Thursday afternoon in Hagia Sophia, with a memorial prayer and wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial.
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