The tragic aspects of the genocide of Pontic Hellenism are revived in event commemorating the unfortunate Greeks of Pontus, organized yesterday, Tuesday, May 12, 2026, by State Minister of Interior-Macedonia and Thrace Konstantinos Gioulekas at the Thessaloniki.

Acclaimed artists of Pontian – and non-Pontian – origin performed with unique sensitivity and emotion traditional Pontian tunes and narratives about the Genocide of the 353.000 Greeks of Pontos.

“We must not let national memory fade,” the State Minister of the Interior-Macedonia and Thrace said: “As long as the perpetrators do not recognize the Genocide, the new generations in Greece will not forget their duty, the struggle for the vindication of the souls of the 353,000 victims of Pontian Hellenism.” He also referred to the huge contribution of the Pontian refugees to the development and prosperity of the country.

The event, which was entitled “N’ Anaspalo ‘ki epoch'”was coordinated and presented by Melina Yalama and Philip Tsaouselis, who also supervised the direction, the narration was supervised by George Simeonidis and the musicians participated:

Jiorgos Stefanidis – Song

Fanis Kourouklidis – Lyra

Polyas Efraimidis – Song

Kostas Zois – Dulcimer

Nikos Nerantzakis – Lute

Georgia Neokleous – Vocals

Edoxia Kokkinasidou – Lyra

Elpida Katsavounidou – Percussion

Dimitra Sitsa – Gunnel