Greeks to remember Asia Minor forebears in 2-month tribute
“Because our homeland lives on as long as we remember it,» a two-month tribute to the Greeks of Asia Minor and Constantinople/Istanbul begins tomorrow, Sunday, at the Thrakomakedones Cultural Center. The center has invited Eleni Glykatzi-Ahrweiler, eminent Byzantinist and rector of the European University, to announce the opening of the tribute tomorrow. The first event, freighted with memories, will take place on March 23 at the center. Glykatzi-Ahrweiler, whose family came from Smyrna, will be addressed by Thrakomakedones Community President Efthymios Economou, who is also the center’s president. Eleni Tsokli will make a welcome speech, and honorary professor Maria Pelekidou will present the guest of honor. Glykatzi-Ahrweiler will speak on «Byzantine Asia Minor» and the center will offer a meal in her honor. At 7.30 p.m. March 23, Takis Vezyryiannis, president of the Smyrniote Union, will give the opening address and historian Vlassis Agtzidis will provide an historical outline in his talk «From the Ionian philosophers to the destruction of Smyrna.» Smyrniote Union member Eleni Bistika-Katramopoulou will speak on three books by her late father, a first-generation refugee who passed away three months ago. His third book, «Smyrna of the Smyrniotes,» completed his account of the loss of Smyrna, city of joy and prosperity. She will read extracts that speak of the development of the middle class in the years leading up to 1922. Maria Fotinou, vice president of the Smyrna Union, will show slides related to the Greeks of Smyrna. Also on show at the center will be an exhibition of photographs and documents relating to life in Smyrna 1900-1922, provided by the Smyrniote Union.
