Sixty years after the forced expulsion of thousands of Greeks from Constantinople in 1964, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew opened a conference dedicated to remembering this painful chapter of history.
The event, held on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, was organized by the Hrant Dink Foundation and Istos Publications and also served as a tribute to the late Greek-American historian and diplomat Alexis Alexandris.Patriarch Bartholomew characterized the 1964 expulsions as an “unhealed wound,” describing how thousands of ethnic Greeks, many born and raised in the city, were unjustly stripped of their rights and livelihoods and deported simply for their Greek nationality. The impact on the Hellenic community and the Ecumenical Patriarchate was devastating, leading to a dramatic population decline and the expulsion of even hierarchs, along with the closure of diaspora schools.
The Patriarch spoke of the enduring nostalgia felt by those forced to leave their homeland and the unwavering love for Constantinople maintained by those who remained. He reaffirmed the Patriarchate’s commitment to dialogue and reconciliation, thanking organizers İlay Romain Örs, university professor and Archon of the Great Church of Christ, and Panteleimon Vigas, a prominent member of the Greek Diaspora.Journalist and author Rıdvan Akar, whose book “20 Dollars, 20 Kilos” brought the 1964 expulsions to a wider Turkish audience, received special recognition.
The Patriarch also commended Nikos Ouzounoglou, President of the Ecumenical Federation of Constantinopolitans, for his tireless advocacy on behalf of the deportees. The dedication of the conference to Alexis Alexandris, whose scholarship extensively explored the deportations, was noted with appreciation.Concluding his address, Patriarch Bartholomew connected the 1964 expulsions to the ongoing displacement of people in modern conflicts, such as in Ukraine and the Middle East. He lamented, “Sadly, despite the passage of years, the world insists on not changing,” highlighting the enduring tragedy of refugees worldwide.
Photo Credit: Nikos Papachristou