19/05/2026
Today, we stand in solemn remembrance of our ancestors, the resilient and courageous Greeks of Pontos, who endured genocide, persecution, displacement, and unimaginable suffering during one of the most devastating tragedies experienced by Hellenism in the twentieth century.
Between 1914 to 1923, hundreds of thousands of innocent Pontic Greeks suffered persecution, deportation, death marches, exile, and the destruction of their ancestral homeland. More than 353,000 Pontic Greeks perished through unimaginable violence and cruelty, while countless families were displaced, separated, and forever scarred by the atrocities committed against them.
The pain and trauma carried by the survivors did not end there. These wounds remain etched into the collective memory of Pontic Greeks across the world and continue to live through generations as a reminder of both profound loss and extraordinary endurance.
For Pontic Greeks everywhere, this is not a day of celebration, dancing, or festivities. It is a day of mourning, reflection, and honour. A day to stand in remembrance of the lives stolen, the communities destroyed, and the culture that so many tried to erase.
Yet despite everything, the Pontian spirit did not falter.
It survived through grief and exile. It lived on through our language, our songs, our lyra, our dancing, our traditions, and our unwavering sense of identity. Today, we honour not only the suffering of our ancestors, but also their resilience, strength, and the legacy they carried forward against all odds.
Across the world, Pontic Greeks unite in remembrance and in truth, ensuring that the voices of our ancestors are never silenced and that history is never forgotten.
We remember their suffering.
We grieve for the innocent lives lost.
We honour their memory.
We will never forget.
Η Ρωμανία κι αν πέρασεν, ανθεί καί φέρει κι άλλο.
#Πόντος #ΔενΞεχνώ
