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Asia Minor Disaster Remembrance Day in New Ioniatranslated

September 7, 2026 · 1 min read

With due solemnity, the refugee Holy Metropolis of Nea Ionia, Philadelphia, Heraklion and Chalcedon honored the sacred memory of the Holy Glorious National Martyr Chrysostom of Smyrna and the Holy High Priests martyred with him and the victims of the Genocide of the Greeks of Asia Minor. On Sunday, September 6, 2026, the Divine Liturgy was held at the Holy Church of Agios Georgios in Nea Ionia, where the Holy Procession of the Hieromartyrs during the Asia Minor Catastrophe was chanted.

After the end of the Divine Liturgy, a Holy Memorial Service was held for the repose of the souls of those unjustly killed and martyred during the Asia Minor Disaster.

The Holy Liturgy was attended by the Mayor of Nea Ionia, Mr. Panagiotis Manouris, deputy mayors, members of the Municipal Council of the Municipality, the President of the Management Committee of KE.MI.PO. of the Municipality of Nea Ionia Mr. Loukas Christodoulou, presidents and representatives of refugee associations and local cultural associations.

Afterwards, wreaths were laid in front of the statue of the blessed Metropolitan of Patara Mr. Meletios in the precincts of the Holy Church, where a minute's silence was observed and the National Anthem was sung.

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Наталія Руденко

Several years ago, I was in Nicosia and saw how Greeks from Asia Minor still gather for such memorial services. Good that in New Ionia they don't forget to conduct the service, hold memorial prayers for the souls, and observe a moment of silence at the monument. The moment with the national anthem particularly left an impression on me—goosebumps.

Mihaela Tudor

I too once went to a similar service in Greece, to a parish priest with refugees from Asia Minor. It is good that the Liturgy, the reminder and the laying of wreaths at the statue of Meletius are held - simple gestures, but which keep the memory alive. Thanks for writing about it.

Тетяна Кравченко

Yes, Natalie, in Nicosia these traditions are indeed alive among the descendants of refugees. In New Cyprus as well, many come precisely because of family histories — my parishioner friend told me how his grandmother could not stop crying when mentioning that September until the end of her life from Izmir. And which church were you at in Nicosia, if you don't mind?

Тетяна Литвин

Yes, Natalia, that moment with the anthem is really piercing. Here in Nova Ionia, after a moment of silence, you can always see how people stand with wet eyes, because in many families, memories of lost homes in Smyrna are still passed on. And in which area of Nicosia were you, near which church?