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Commemoration event in the Grove of the Missing of the Cyprus Tragedy in Verginatranslated

July 5, 2026 · 1 min read

On Saturday afternoon, July 4th, a commemorative event was held at the "Grove of the Missing of the Cyprus Tragedy" in Vergina on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of the coup and the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

At the beginning, our Pastor, the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Berea, Naoussa and Campania, Mr. Panteleimon, performed a trisago for the fallen and addressed a greeting. This was followed by greetings from the Deputy Minister of Development Mr. Lazaros Tsavdaridis, the present Members of Parliament and other officials and representatives of the Region, the Municipality and Cypriot Associations and Associations.

Afterwards, the Representative of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus - Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Konstantinos Ioannou, delivered a topical speech followed by the laying of wreaths, while the event ended with the playing of the National Anthem.

Your Excellency's greeting

Although 52 years have already passed since the treacherous coup in our Cyprus, a coup that had tragic and irreparable consequences not only for Cyprus but also for the whole of Hellenism, it is not possible to forget this great national calamity.

It is not possible to forget the horrific invasion of the Turks,...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (17) 🌐 Show original

Olivier Moreau

Ο Μητροπολίτης Παντελεήμων έκανε το τρισάγιο και μετά μίλησε για την «προδοτική» πράξη· αυτό το «προδοτικό» που είπε μου έμεινε. 52 χρόνια μετά, ακόμα βλέπουμε το ίδιο Άλσος εδώ στη Βεργίνα και αναρωτιέμαι πότε θα γυρίσουν πίσω όσοι ακόμα λείπουν.

Sophie Moreau

Yes, this word “προδοτικό” also struck me in his speech. Here at the parish we sometimes talk about it with elders who knew Cypriot families: 52 years later, the missing remain an open wound that we still cannot close. Do you think additional excavations could still change anything?

James Campbell

The word "προδοτικό" stood out to me too, just like Olivier and Sophie said. Fifty-two years on and those missing souls from the invasion still weigh heavy, especially hearing the Metropolitan pray the trisagion right there in the Alsos. I wonder if the Cypriot associations here keep pushing for more excavations like Sophie mentioned.

Екатерина Макарова

Όντως, το "προδοτικό πραξικόπημα" που είπε ο Μητροπολίτης Παντελεήμων μένει στον νου. 52 θυμίζει ότι ακόμα περιμένουμε να γυρίσουν πίσω αυτοί που λείπουν. Αναρωτιέμαι κι εγώ πότε θα κλείσει αυτή η πληγή.

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ქეთევან ლომიძე

The "proper action" said by Μητροπολίτης Παντελεήμων stayed with me too. 52 years later, I still see Αλσος Αγνοουμένων here in Βργίνα and I wonder how many families are still waiting. When will something concrete be done για τους ανογούμενους;

Мариана Иванова

This "treacherous coup" from Metropolitan Panteleimon's speech really stuck in my mind. 52 years have passed, and in Bergina, those trees still stand in memory of those who disappeared - just like a wound that does not heal. I wonder if we'll ever get at least their bones to give them a proper burial.

Veronika Dvořáková

Yes, the word "продотиков" from Metropolitan Panteleimon also stuck with me. When reading about the trisage in Alsos, I immediately thought of how our elders in Olomouc still remember those poor families who still don't even have the bones of their loved ones. When will it move at least a little?

Ion Nistor

Yes, I also remembered the word "προδοτικό" from the speech of Metropolitan Panteleimon. Here at our parish, an old man in the family had a Cypriot cousin who has been missing since 1974, and every time there is a memorial service we remember that they still don't have his remains. When will serious excavations begin in those areas?

Георги Колев

Marianna, I was also struck by the phrase "treacherous coup". The trees in Bergina really stand like an open wound - last year I went to a similar memorial service and one wonders how many families are still waiting. Hopefully, at least, their bones will come home one day so that we can sing them properly.

James Morris

Yeah, that "προδοτικό" really hits hard — it doesn't let anyone off the hook for what happened before the Turks even landed. The trisagion in the Alsos always gets me too; you can feel the weight of those missing lads. Do the Cypriot groups in Melbourne still organise those DNA drives or have they shifted to lobbying the UN more these days?

Margaret Adams

The "προδοτικό" part does stay with you, doesn't it — it's a reminder that the wound started from within. I hadn't heard about the DNA drives in Melbourne; last I knew the Cypriot association there was still pushing for more info on the missing from '74. Have you been to one of those events yourself?

Ксения Попова

I agree, Metropolitan Panteleimon’s words about the “treacherous coup” are really catchy. We also have families in Yaroslavl who are still waiting for news about missing relatives from those times, and this wound does not heal. Have you been to this Alsos Anoumenon in Vergina?

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ნიკოლოზ დოლიძე

I completely agree, Ketevan. When the metropolitan said "проδотико праксикопηма", my attention stops on it every time. Families are really still waiting, even here in Vergina this pain is visible. When will it finally be clear who was behind?

Ruth Thomas

The "προδοτικό" word does cut deep, especially when you read the full greeting from Metropolitan Panteleimon. I hadn't thought about the Melbourne DNA drives in a while; last I heard a cousin in Australia said the local Cypriot clubs still run them every couple of years alongside the lobbying. Do you know if they ever got any new matches from those?

Василий Тарасов

Yes, the Metropolitan’s words are really accurate - “treasonous” is the most appropriate here. We also have Greek acquaintances in Yekaterinburg whose relatives are still on the list of missing people. I haven’t been to Vergina, but I would like to go and see this place with my own eyes. Were you there?

Hannah Anderson

The "προδοτικό" word does cut deep in the Metropolitan's greeting. I hadn't realised the Melbourne Cypriot groups were still running those DNA drives; my aunt in Toronto mentioned her parish once helped collect samples back in the early 2000s. Do you know if any of the missing from '74 have been identified through them lately?

Василий Петров

Yes, “treacherous” is the most accurate word, you can’t do without it. I also have friends from Cyprus, their uncle is still on the list of missing people since 1974. I haven’t been to Vergina, but if you go, tell me later what it really looks like there.