The Pan-Pontian Federation of the U.S.A and Canada hosted a virtual commemoration of the Pontian Genocide anniversary on Facebook Live on Monday, May 19.
A prayer and memorial service began the event which will was followed by a series of welcome remarks from leaders in the Pontian community.
Opening remarks came from Gus Tsilfides as well as Haralambos Vasiliades, president of the Holy Institution Panagia Soumela, a New-Jersey based Greek Orthodox chapel which operates in affiliation with the Pan-Pontian Federation. According to the chapel’s Facebook page, its affiliation with the federation is based on the coincidence of their “common homeland, origin, history, language and culture as well as on the identity of common objectives for the preservation of our history and culture and the promotion of issues related to Pontos and Pontians.”
Anastasia Spiridis of the Asia Minor & Pontos Hellenic Research Centre also provided remarks.
Guest speakers included history professor and genocide scholar Dr. Theofanis Malkidis; Dr. Panayiotis Diamadis of the Australian Institute for Holocaust & Genocide Studies and Dr. Kyriakos Chatzikyriakides, assistant professor and chair for Pontic studies at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
The event streamed directly via the Panagia Soumela Facebook page.
Watch the full event
Is The Pappas Post worth $5 a month for all of the content you read? On any given month, we publish dozens of articles that educate, inform, entertain, inspire and enrich thousands who read The Pappas Post. I’m asking those who frequent the site to chip in and help keep the quality of our content high — and free. Click here and start your monthly or annual support today. If you choose to pay (a) $5/month or more or (b) $50/year or more then you will be able to browse our site completely ad-free!
Click here if you would like to subscribe to The Pappas Post Weekly News Update