The Presidential Guard of Greece paid a moving tribute to the victims of the Greek Genocide on Sunday, May 19, by donning traditional Pontian costumes during the ceremonial changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens.
Marking 106 years since the genocide, large crowds gathered in Syntagma Square to witness the Evzones perform three ceremonial changes, symbolically guarding the monument in honour of the 353,000 Pontian Greeks who were killed or displaced during the Ottoman campaigns between 1914 and 1923.
The emotional display was part of wider commemorations organised by Pontian associations and organisations, which also included wreath-laying and a march towards the Turkish Embassy.
May 19 is observed annually as the official Day of Remembrance for the Genocide of the Pontic Greeks. It marks the date in 1919 when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk landed in Samsun, initiating the second and deadliest phase of a genocide that had already claimed countless lives across the Black Sea region.
Photos and videos from the ceremony captured poignant moments of reflection and pride, as the Evzones’ Pontian attire served as a visual reminder of historical memory and justice.
Source: Protothema.gr
