It was a great pleasure for me to be able to attend this important global Panimvrian Conference bringing together the Hellenic Diasporas with links to Imbros and Tenedos as well as those from these northern Aegean Islands. I attended the conference with Vicki Kyritsis, a Board Director of the Greek Community of Melbourne.
The Conference was held at the Foundation of the Hellenic World’s iconic cultural centre “Hellenic Cosmos”. The first such conference held since 1993, this year’s event was organised by the Imvrian Association of Greece, with the cooperation of the Imvrian Association of Macedonia and Thrace, supported by many Imvrian and Tenedian institutions. The conference was held under the patronage of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who travelled from Turkey for the occasion.
The Turkish Islands of Imbros (now known as Gokzeada) and Tenedos (now known as Bokzaada) are northern Aegean islands located to the east of Lemnos and off the Gallipoli Peninsula. They both have a continuing Greek Orthodox community, which expands during the panyiri season when hundreds of its former Greek residents and those of Imvrian-Tenedian heritage return to celebrate the Island’s Saints Days. Many will be aware that the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church, Bartholomew, was born and maintains his residence on Imbros, in the village of Agioi Theodoroi. I have been fortunate to have visited his home during my previous travels to the Imvros.
The purpose of the Conference was to discuss measures to improve the local development of the Greek community of both islands, with a key focus on supporting its young people, through education and employment as key drivers for community regeneration and economic growth. The title of the conference was appropriately “Nostos and Perspective.”
It was heartening to see the hundreds of people who came to attend the conference, travelling from far and wide, including Australia. It was lovely to meet up with some of my Imvrian friends from Sydney as well as Kali Kanaki from Thessalonki who had attended our recent Imbros and Gallipoli Exhibition in Sydney. Along with the Patriarch, dignitaries attending the Conference included the President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou.
The Conference entrance foyer featured excellent displays of each of the main villages of Imvros, with offerings of food and delicacies from their regions. The bookstall offered many unique publications on both Imvros and Tenedos for sale.
The sessions included addresses by a number of speakers representing Imvrian and Tenedian representatives from Greece as well as those from Imbros itself. Recorded video presentations and live crosses were made from Australian Imvrian and Tenedian communities, including those in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne. On a personal level it was lovely to see the video message from my friends in the Imvrian Society of Melbourne played to the conference participants. The Society has done so much to raise awareness of the Greek community of Imvros as well as supporting various initiatives to encourage economic growth and social supports on the island.
One of the most moving addresses was made by Konstantina Mpakali, a young woman from Imvros and a graduate of its Greek minority schools. She made an impassioned speech, an appeal for enlightened cooperation between all with an interest in supporting Imvros and its Greek community. She expressed the desire for Greece and Turkey to work collaboratively together in this regard. One comment she made is for those who come to the Island as teachers to teach at its Greek minority schools should do so willingly and with joy in their hearts. Her heartfelt address was warmly received by the audience with much applause at its conclusion.
Some talked of their return to Imvros after many decades apart and purchasing their grandfathers’ former home to make a new beginning for themselves, regenerating the Greek community on the island. Others talked of the need to share common learnings and to put personal ego aside. I thank Ms Kyritsis for her facilitation in translating the addresses for me. These addresses were followed by an interactive session, with discussion between participants on how the aims of the Conference might be progressed and achieved.
Overall the spirit of the conference was one of optimism for the future, of building on the new spirit of cooperation both on Imvros itself and amongst the Imvrian and Tenedian Disaporas. On the Island this has witnessed the re-opening of the Greek minority schools by the Turkish authorities after many years. This is a direct result of the doubling of the local Greek population and its young population, with many of heritage returning to the land of their forebears. Many of the young from the Greek community on Imvros were present at the Conference.
Through the efforts of my friend Imvrian Kali Kanaki I was able to meet a number of Imvrian dignitaries including Mr Georgios Papatheodorou (President of the Imvrian Association of Athens) and Pavlos Stamatidis (President of the Imbros Union of Macedonia and Thrace). While Kyritsis was able to raise the current visit of Hellenic youth to Attica organised by the Greek Community of Melbourne and the Attica Region, I was able to explain the important role and potential of commemorative tourism to the economic life of all on both Imvros and Tenedos. In this regard I explained the part that these Islands played in the Gallipoli campaign – along with nearby Lemnos – and combined with the fact that tens of thousands of Australian tourists visit the commemorative sites at Gallipoli each year (not to mention New Zealanders, British and French visitors), the potential is obvious.
Both islands are a relatively short trip from Gallipoli. All that is need is small additions to the existing tourism infrastructure of the islands, appropriate guidance and active promotion. Both Islands are already tourist destinations for visitors from both Turkey and further afield. They would both be perfect additions to a visitor’s commemorative tour of Gallipoli. Recent years has seen the UK Gallipoli Association organise just such a commemorative tour to Imvros. Many more would certainly boost the economy of the Islands, to the benefit of all its residents, Greek Orthodox and non-Greek Orthodox.
It was my pleasure on behalf of the Imvrian Society of Melbourne to present a number of dignitaries attending the Conference with complementary copies of my book From Imbros Over The Sea, including to Patriarch Bartholomew, Papatheodorou, Stamatidis and of course Mpakali. The presentations were most welcome.
The conference was followed by a major fundraising event in support of the youth of Imbros and the Greek minority schools. This concert held at the historic Odeon beneath the Acropolis brought together George Dalaras, Glykeria and many more important musical performers, all supported by the ERT choir and orchestra. It was such a privilege to attend this sold out event, with over 5,000 attendees joining the many dignitaries – including the Hellenic President and Patriarch – in support of Imbros youth. It was great that the Greek Community of Melbourne’s Hellenic Youth tour were also able to come to the concert.
The program comprised musical performances by each of the artists, interspersed by moving readings, all concerning themes of loss and survival, of the sadness of leaving home and the joys of return. There were songs of Imvros and Tenedos but also Constantinople and Smyrne. One of the most moving performances was of the theme from A Touch of Spice.
But the highlight for the audience was clearly the performances of Dalaras and Glykeria, which were regularly interrupted by the cheers and singing of the audience. The latter talked of her two previous performances on Imbros, while Dalaras explained his personal attachment to Imvros. He talked of his performances on the Island, of his walks amongst its villages including Shinoudi, listening to the personal stories of the Greek islanders. He sings of Imbros because he wants these stories to be heard. And he wants us all to help them. If the attendance at the concert is any indication, it looks like Dalaras’ appeal has definitely been heard.
Readers interested in contributing to the Imvrian youth fundraising effort should contact the Imvrian Society of Melbourne’s Mr George Xinos for more information – georgexinos@gmail.com
Jim Claven OAM is a trained historian, freelance writer, regular contributor to Neos Kosmos and published author. His recent books include Lemnos & Gallipoli Revealed, Grecian Adventure and From Imbros Over The Sea. He was also Associate Producer of the new WW2 Greek Campaign documentary Anzac The Greek Chapter. He has worked closely with the Imvrian Society of Melbourne to create the Imros & Gallipoli Exhibition which to date has been shown in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, as well as producing the associated exhibition book. He attended the Conference with the encouragement of the Society. He was awarded the OAM in 2024 for services to veterans and community history. He can be contacted via email – jimclaven@yahoo.com.au
