Members of three Pontian associations in New South Wales gathered in Sydney on Tuesday, May 19 to commemorate the victims of the Greek Genocide through a memorial service, procession and cultural tribute led by younger generations of the community.
The commemoration was jointly organised by Greek Pontian Society of Wollongong Diogenes, Panagia Soumela Sydney and Pontoxeniteas NSW.
The evening began with a memorial service at St Catherine Greek Orthodox Church in Mascot, Sydney led by parish priest Father Peter Mavrommatis, who welcomed associations, parishioners and guests to the church for the commemorations.
A highlight of the evening was a photo and art exhibition by Evangeleah Plakias, whose drawings depicting stories of Pontic Hellenism and genocide were displayed throughout the church. Guests moved through the exhibition reflecting on the stories represented in the artworks and the emotional atmosphere created within the church setting.
The programme was led by youth participants, with Eleni Lambousis serving as MC and participating in a Q&A session alongside Kosta Papoulidis, who also translated portions into Greek.
Students from Panagia Soumela Sydney — Zoe, Eva and Mariah — recited a poem “Η Ρίζα Μας” in Greek, while Pontoxeniteas student Anastasia delivered a recitation in the Pontian dialect. Fellow student Paris presented “Η Καμπάνια του Πόντου,” with English translations helping younger attendees and non-Greek speakers connect with the meaning of the works.
Students dressed in traditional Pontian attire also took part in the memorial procession to Mascot Memorial Park, where a wreath was laid in honour of the victims of the genocide.
The procession included representatives from the Greek Consulate in Sydney, including Consul General George Skemperis, as well as the presidents of the three Pontian associations — Nick Chrissostomidis, Chris Klazidis and Maria Anthony — who carried the icon of Panagia Soumela during the commemorative walk.
The May 19 event form part of a broader series of commemorations taking place across Sydney this month.
A second day of commemorations will be held on Sunday, May 24, beginning with a Divine Liturgy at 9am at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia headquarters on Cleveland Street, Redfern.
A wreath-laying ceremony will follow at the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park at 11.30am, before keynote speaker Themistocles Kritikakos presents a book launch and lecture on the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocides.
Organisers said the commemorations aim to preserve the memory of those who perished and educate future generations about one of the darkest chapters in Hellenic history.
