The press release and the message of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia on the Day of Remembrance of the Genocide of the Greeks of Pontus are the following:
“It is important that we do not forget anything,” Archbishop Makarios of Australia said in his message on the Day of Remembrance of the Genocide of the Greeks of Pontus. “When we do not forget, we know who we are. When we do not forget we have the strength to continue our journey through history toward the Kingdom of God,” he added.
The Archbishop said that the Pontian Genocide marked an unspeakable trauma for the Greek Orthodox throughout the world. He added, “The Greeks of Pontus were the first who were able, through their Christian faith, to turn the trauma into a challenge that was life-changing. As a result, they managed to overcome the difficulties of modern history and offer all Greeks around the world the flame that keeps warm their souls.
These remarks are intended to “make the assuming of the responsibility of the Genocide even more urgent, which would lead, on the one hand, to the recognition of the Genocide and, on the other hand, to a sincere reconciliation. However, it will only be possible by building tolerance, consolidating mutual respect and cultivating historical memory,” he added.
That is why Archbishop Makarios welcomed in his message the actions organised and carried out by the Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia, noting that they served as a way to preserve historical memory and to honour the dead whose lives were unjustly lost during the Genocide. Ahead of this year’s commemorative events of the Genocide of the Greeks of Pontus, Asia Minor and Eastern Thrace, he also congratulated the organisers, the participants and the states. “I am sure that you will fulfil your duty once again by commemorating your dead ancestors and that you will pave the way for the unborn children, who will be able to seek hope, as well as the meaning of their life, in the future,” he said.
The full message of Archbishop Makarios of Australia is the following:
MESSAGE ON THE PONTIAN GENOCIDE
Dear brethren in Christ, Christ is Risen!
I address to you with great emotion a message on the occasion of the commemorative events of the Genocide of the Greeks of Pontus, Asia Minor and Eastern Thrace.
The Greeks of Pontus are an important part of Greek history and a valuable living memory of Greater Hellenism. The tragedy of the Genocide they suffered together with the Christian Armenians and Assyrians in the early 20th century marks an unspeakable trauma for the Greek Orthodox throughout the world. But the Greeks of Pontus were the first who were able, through their Christian faith, to turn the trauma into a challenge that was life-changing. It was a gift from the Trinity, who gave them the will to live and begin a new life. As a result, they managed to overcome the difficulties of modern history and offer all Greeks around the world the flame that keeps warm their souls.
These remarks are intended to make the assuming of the responsibility of the Genocide even more urgent, which would lead, on the one hand, to the recognition of the Genocide and, on the other hand, to a sincere reconciliation. However, it will only be possible by building tolerance, consolidating mutual respect and cultivating historical memory. That is why the actions organised and carried out by the Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia serve as the best way to preserve historical memory and to honour our dead ancestors whose lives were unjustly lost during the Genocide.
It is important that we do not forget anything. We must not forget the deadly marches, the labour camps, the Great Fire of Smyrna, the displacement, the expropriation, Bishops Chrysostomos of Smyrna, Gregory of Cydoniae, Ambrosios of Moschonisia, Prokopios of Iconium, Saint Euthymios of Zela, and the blood which had been shed for the sake of our faith and our homeland. When we do not forget, we know who we are. When we do not forget we have the strength to continue our journey through history toward the Kingdom of God. When we do not forget we become an example for all nations.
I am sure that you will fulfil your duty once again by commemorating your dead ancestors and that you will pave the way for the unborn children, who will be able to seek hope, as well as the meaning of their life, in the future.
I would like to congratulate once more the organisers and participants on their initiatives. I wish you all the best!
Archbishop Makarios of Australia