Greek President: Turkey can ban liturgy but it can’t ban Panayia Soumela herself!

The Greek President once against called for Turkey to apologise and recognise the genocide of the Pontian people during services held this week at Panayia Soumela, Vermio, Greece.

The President promised that Greece will never forget the genocide of the Pontian Greeks nor their sacrifices and will persist in vindicating their memories by the recognition of the genocide by Turkey and with an eventual apology for this tragic historic event.

The Turkish foreign ministry responded to the Greek President’s statements saying they have no historical or legal consistency.

The Greek President’s statements follow the recent decision by the Turkish government to prohibit the annual liturgy at Panayia Soumela, Trabzon in Turkey on August 15, further adding insult to injury. Turkish authorities claimed the cancellation of the liturgy was made on the basis of safety concerns due to restoration and maintenance work.

‘’ Since the arbitrary decision of the Turkish authorities did not allow for the Patriarchal liturgy to take place at the holiest sites of the Pontian people, at Panayia Soumela, Trebzon, I assure you with today’s liturgy here in Vermio, Panayia Soumela has also celebrated  and travelled  to her monastery in Turkey! Because no bans nor cancellations will ever dampen the religious sentiment and historic memory of the Greek nation’’ said Pavlopoulos.

Following the recent ban on the performing of mass at Panayia Soumela Monastery in Trabzon, the decision of Turkish authorities to allow readings of the Quran in Ayia Sofia in Istanbul and the change of stance towards the Kurds has alarmed the Greek Foreign Ministry and human rights groups, fearing that Erdogan will toughen his policy towards minorities in the country.