The Pontian Greeks this week marked the commemoration of the Pontian genocide with a sombre start on Saturday at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance. They honoured their ancestors, who were massacred in the genocide, with events held all week in the community and continuing this weekend.
On Saturday, a wreath was laid at the Australian War Memorial with a number of dignitaries in attendance such as the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Eleni Lianidou, and the president of the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association John Pandazopoulos. On Sunday, there was a memorial at St Efstathios Greek Orthodox Church in South Melbourne. In the afternoon, Mr Stathis Tsomidis gave a lecture on ‘The Genocide of Pontian Hellenism – From the destruction of the Renaissance’ in the Pontian Community of Melbourne and Victoria.
Today at 2.00 pm, Mr Stathis Tsomidis will present a lecture in English to the youth and the second and third generations of Greek Australians on the subject of Pontian Hellenism at the Pontian Community of Melbourne and Victoria, 345 Victoria Street, Brunswick.
Three days of cultural events have been organised and will be hosted by Pontiaki Estia. The events start tonight and will finish on Sunday.
Most of the events were organised by the Coordinating Committee for Pontian Assocations Melbourne.