Pontic Greeks question Soumela ceremony cancellation
[File photo]
There will be no religious ceremony to mark this year's August 15 feast day of the Greek Orthodox Church at the historic Monastery of Panaghia Soumela in the mountainous Trabzon region – known to Greeks as Trapezounta – of Turkey because local authorities refused to grant it permission for the event citing building repair works.
However, Pontic Greek associations have expressed doubt over the intentions of Turkish authorities and have linked the suspension of the religious ceremony to the conservative wave enveloping Turkey following last month’s failed coup.
