The mayor of Smyrna (Σμύρνα, Turkish: İzmir) proceeded to fold, after the incredible challenge with the party organised in the historical Saint Voukolos Church, with the permission of the municipal authority.
The president of the Greek Community of Smyrna, Yorgo Teodoridis, said in a post on Twitter that the mayor of Smyrna Tunç Soyer called him and apologised.
“The mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality of Smyrna, Tunç Soyer, called me on the phone and expressed his sincere regret and apologised,” he wrote on Twitter, adding that he also received a phone call from the provincial chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on the issue. who expressed his deep sadness but also that he is on the side of the community, as well as that he will take the issue to Ankara.
At the same time, according to Teodoridis, the deputy president of the Justice and Development Party stated in his statement that what happened was unacceptable.
“It was an unfortunate event, now it’s time to look to the future. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Hellenic Foundations Support Association, the presidents and members of our Community Foundations and all our dear friends who shared our grief”, Teodoridis concluded.
Yaşanan talihsiz bir olaydı, şimdi geleceğe bakma zamanıdır.
Bu süreçte desteğini esirgemeyen @Rumvader Rum Vakıflarını Destekleme Derneğine, Cemaat Vakıflarımızın başkan ve mensuplarına ve hüznümüzü paylaşan tüm can dostlarımıza en kalbi duygularla şükranlarımızı sunarız.
— Yorgo Teodoridis (@YorgoTeodoridis) July 9, 2023
Strong reactions to the party
The reactions are due to the historical value of the church, the property of which belongs to the municipality.
Many times in the past, the temple was granted to the Diocese of Smyrna for services. At the same time, serious exhibitions have taken place inside the church.
Instead, on Friday night, the historic temple was transformed into a place of entertainment.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke of “desecration of a historical monument”.
The statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the party also took a stern tone, speaking of “insulting and desecrating a historical monument that was once a place of religious worship”.
And he adds: “We call on the Turkish government to do the right thing so that the required respect is paid to the cultural, historical and religious heritage of all religions in its territory.”
The announcement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in detail
“We unequivocally condemn the organization of parties with electronic music inside the historic Greek Orthodox Church of Agios Voukolos in Smyrna, which is used by the Turkish authorities as a venue for cultural events.
“The organisation of a party constitutes an insult and desecration of a historical monument which in the past was a place of religious worship.
“We call on the Turkish government to do what is necessary to give due respect to the cultural, historical and religious heritage of all religions in its territory.”
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