The Displacement of Smyrna Greeks in Greece expressed in song:ΤΙ ΣΕ ΜΕΛΕΙ ΕΣΕΝΑΝΕ

It is well-known that the Greeks of Smyrna were an eloquent people who openly expressed their feelings about life and love in general, and this was especially evident through the lyrics of the songs which they produced. This particular song, sung by renowned Greek singer Glykeria, expresses the disenchantment of Greek refugees from Smyrna with their treatment in Greece, encompassing the discrimination which the Greek Smyrnaeans faced from the Greek Hellenes, who were painted as being a people who, by and large, lacked compassion and consideration for the Greek Smyrnaeans.

The main message of the song is that the Greek Smyrnaeans sought acceptance in Greece as being equally as Greek, and were actually even more so, than the Greek Hellenes themselves in the vast majority of instances, and that their place of birth, being either Smyrna, Cordelio or elsewhere in Asia Minor, was no reason to label them as being less Greek than the Greek Hellenes. It was also no reason for them to be subjected to discrimination on the basis of where they were born.

The song also emphasises a longing on the part of the Greek Smyrnaeans for their ancestral homelands, where everything was familiar for them, and they were treated vastly differently before their forced departure. I hope you enjoy viewing this clip which says so much about the experience of Smyrnaean Greeks and other Asia Minor Greeks in a poignant, subtle, and bittersweet manner.

Christmas 1922 for the Greeks of Smyrna

At this time of year, we reflect upon the year which has just passed, and remember our relatives who have passed on, fondly recalling the good times which we spent with them. I think of my grandmother, Maria and her own grandmother, Vasiliki, my great-great grandmother, and can only imagine just how they suffered during the Asia Minor Catastrophe. Their story, though, is an example of the many millions occurring at this time in Asia Minor.

In 1922, The Greeks of Smyrna spent their Christmas in highly adverse circumstances due to the tragic events of the Asia Minor Catastrophe, the Great Fire of Smyrna, and, its horrific aftermath. Families were torn apart forever, children orphaned, countless lives lost, desperate people fled for their lives, these being just several of the life events taking place at this time for the Greeks of Smyrna. For those who managed to escape, and make their way to other countries such as Greece, it was not an easy Christmas for them in any shape, way or form. A people of dignity, poise, highly articulate and educated, the Greeks of Smyrna had to tolerate harsh conditions upon their arrival in Greece, such as living in makeshift shelters, and, being unable to provide for themselves. It was a Christmas endured in the bitter cold of a Greek winter which proved unbearable for them. Apart from this, the Greeks of Smyrna had to face other inequities upon their arrival on Greek shores, which only compounded their sufferings in Smyrna.

There was largely a lack of understanding on the part of the Greek Hellenes towards the Greeks of Smyrna, and indeed all Greeks from Asia Minor. Forms of discrimination on the part of many Greek Hellenes against Ottoman Greeks, such as labelling them a number of derogatory terms, with women not exempt from these classifications, children being treated poorly because of where they were born, and, a general air of racism towards the Ottoman Greeks did not help matters in any respect. The Greeks of Smyrna were a people made to feel like second-class citizens due to their higher knowledge of everything, which was something many Greek Hellenes misunderstood at this time in history.

This video is a vivid example of the torment which the Greeks of Smyrna experienced on their way to a country which they idolized their entire lives, and had always believed would accept them with open arms, but, which they discovered,to their astonishment, did not understand them, and, in many instances, did not wish to.

Greek Coffee, its Asia Minor origins, and how to make it!

One of the most important things which the Greek refugees from Smyrna, and indeed all of Asia Minor brought with them to Greece and countries further afar, was a love of good coffee. Greek coffee, in comparison to other types of coffee, is significant for a number of major reasons.

Unlike other kinds of coffee, the beauty of Greek coffee is that no special coffee machine is needed to make it apart from the briki where it is produced, hot plate and, of course, its ingredients. Apart from this, it is also a very versatile coffee, meaning it can be diluted with water to make it less strong for those who prefer a milder version of it, but, at the same time, still maintaining its distinctive taste and texture.

I hope you enjoy watching this video about something which is a family tradition of ours, and, I'm sure, a favourite of many other Greek families, and coffee coinnesseurs, worldwide.

A Re-Assessment of Greek History and Culture in Asia Minor by Modern-Day Turkey

There appears to be have been a change of heart in the past few years on the part of Turkey, and its attitude towards the varied minorities who have played such an important role in its history since time immemorial. This is especially poignant taking into account the country's stance towards its Greek Smyrnaean and other minorities in the past, the events of 1922, and the country's fervent pro-Turkish, anti-Greek sentiment at the time. There seems to be an awakening on the part of Turkey that other cultures apart from their own were indeed an important part of Asia Minor, and enriched the cultural fabric of the country immeasurably with their presence.

A number of notable examples come to mind from the last few years. Famous Greek singer Haris Alexiou, whose family origins are from Smyrna, had a street name in the Gaziemir district of Smyrna named in her honour in 2010, see this article for more.

Apart from this, a number of Greek church re-constructions and refurbishments have also been taking place in Turkey over the past few years. One of the most interesting is that of the renovation of the Agios Voukolos church in downtown Smyrna, see this for more. This was one of the only churches which was left largely unscathed by the fire of 1922, and, over the years, has been used for various purposes. While, unfortunately, it will not be utilized as a church in its current incarnation, but, as a cultural centre, it has been renovated almost back to its former glory.

It is also pleasing that there is a small, but important church for the present-day Greeks of Smyrna to be able to practice their religion. Once a Protestant Dutch church, the Agia Photini church in Smyrna, see this article for more, has been named in honour of the original Agia Photini Smyrna church which was lost in the fire of 1922.

These events signal a new understanding, and re-appraisal of, Greek culture by Turkey, which is heartening in the face of past turmoils between the two countries. Additionally, this can only bode well for the two countries to learn from each other's cultures, and, in turn, become richer for the experience.

Ta Smyrneika Tragoudia

In these days of remembrance of the Greeks of Smyrna, there are certain songs which stand out for their sheer sincerity, and beauty. This particular song, performed by Pantelis Thalassinos, perfectly captures the spirit of Greek Smyrna, and evokes a gamut of emotions in the viewer, from sadness, anger, hope, and, finally, to a greater understanding, and appreciation of, the Greeks of Smyrna.

14th September: National Remembrance Day for the genocide of Asia Minor Greeks by the Turkish State

Today, 14th September, is the Day of National Remembrance in commemoration of the genocide of Asia Minor Greeks by the Turkish state. This song, which is performed by famous Greek singer of Asia Minor descent, Georgos Dalaras, is a tribute to the memory of the Greeks of Smyrna who lost their lives during the Asia Minor Catastrophe in 1922. It also celebrates those Greek Smyrnaeans who were forced to leave their ancestral homelands in Asia Minor, and start new lives in Greece and other countries, under extremely difficult, and trying circumstances.

St. Chrysostomos of Smyrna - Saint Day 12th September

In memory of St. Chrysostomos of Smyrna, Metropolitan of Smyrna, who made the ultimate sacrifice for his flock and Smyrna; may his memory live on eternally.

Ελληνική Σμύρνη - Greek Smyrna

It is a well documented fact that the Greeks of Smyrna were an advanced civilization in all respects, and the following video is one example of how progressive they were, and before their time. It is also a reflection οf, and insight into, just how cosmopolitan Smyrna was in this era.

The Greeks of Smyrna were a people who published a vast array of newspapers which dealt with various topics of interest to their readers, and, apart from this, wrote invaluable literature which has survived the test of time, and, is thankfully stored at the Ένωση Σμυρναίων (The Association of Smyrnaens) which is in Athens, Greece. The role of Greek women in Smyrna society, also, is another topic explored in the video.

Women were more liberated in Smyrna than their female counterparts were in Greece, holding various employment positions outside the home but, at the same time, they were proud of, and valued their husbands and families, their families reciprocating this in return. The Greek women of Smyrna were also notable for their dignity, and the particular care they took with their appearance, wearing only the finest, most tasteful jewellery and fashions of the era.

Apart from this, the Greeks of Smyrna also partook in other cultural pursuits, and were active in sports such as soccer, hurdles, cycling, fencing, boxing, sailing, golf, tennis, and equestrian sports. Smyrna was also the birthplace of the rembetiko, and key singers of this music, such as Marika Ninou and Rita Abatzi, were born there. Finally, the video also outlines how the theatre was of paramount importance to the Greeks of Smyrna, and that Smyrna was the birthplace of noted Greek thespians, among these, Kyveli Adrianou, Mitsos Myrat, and over one hundred and fifty others. I hope you enjoy this excellent video.

Welcome to SmyrnaGreekConnection

Welcome to my blog, SmyrnaGreekConnection. It is a blog dedicated to those humane, wonderful, artistic, industrious Greek people who lived in the city of Smyrna, Asia Minor, for thousands of years, and celebrates their memory, and their tremendous contribution to Greek life in all its different spheres.

 

As the purpose of this blog is one of information, learning and sharing about the Greeks of Smyrna, it will largely be about the Greek experience in Smyrna before 1922, the year of the Great Fire of Smyrna, and the Asia Minor Catastrophe. This is not to obviate the importance of these events in history, as these have been well documented by historians and others with an interest in the Greeks of Smyrna.

With this blog I wish to cast a spotlight upon other aspects of Greek life in Smyrna, such as cultural life, cooking, theatre, religion, which many times, and for thoroughly understandable reasons, have taken a backseat to the tragic events of 1922.

I have a family connection to Smyrna, as my maternal grandmother Maria Coroneos, nee Maria Kokkinogenis, was born in the seaside city of Cordelio, Smyrna, on 14th September, 1905. My grandmother had tragically lost both of her parents, Manoli and Efthalia Kokkinogenis, at a very young age, and was raised by her loving maternal grandmother, Vasiliki, a retired school teacher, who looked after Maria after both her daughter and son-in-law passed away.

Maria was a highly talented youngster, and a specialist cook from a young age, thoroughly devoted to homemaking, which was a much admired quality of Greek women in Smyrna society. Unfortunately, events in Smyrna were becoming untenable around the early 1920s for Greek and other Christian peoples, and Vasiliki arranged for her and Maria to live closer to Vasiliki's brother, Archimandrite Porfirios, in Jerusalem.

A little after Vasiliki returned to Smyrna to take Maria to Jerusalem, the Asia Minor catastrophe unfolded. Vasiliki and Maria were both forced to partake in the death marches of Greeks which were taking place at this point. The women did not know where they were going, and witnessed many cruelties and other unspeakable acts committed upon Greeks. Eventually, though, the women found refuge, as a Greek man took them under his wing, and they escaped, finally landing in Palestine.

Maria, at the age of 20, married a Greek gentleman from Egypt, Christoforos Coroneos, in Jerusalem. Maria's grandmother Vasiliki happened to be present in a Greek Orthodox church service in Jerusalem when she befriended a Greek lady from Egypt, Maria Coroneos, the mother of Christoforos, and, from there, Maria followed Christoforos to Egypt. Maria and Christoforos settled in Heliopolis, Cairo, where they raised five children, one of which is my mother.

Maria stayed with her family in Egypt until December 1953, when they began their journey to emigrate to Brisbane, Australia to join her two elder daughters and eldest son, who had left Egypt one year previously. Christoforos sadly passed away in 1958, but, as always, Maria was solid, calm, philosophical and beautiful in character, and totally unflappable in the face of adversity. Maria passed away in February of 2000, and is much lamented.
 

My grandmother was a beautiful human being in all respects, and my mother, sister and I miss her terribly, and will always remember her for her generosity of spirit, grace, and willingness to listen to other people, and offer a good word. My grandmother, like other Greek Smyrnaeans, was a jewel, and will never be forgotten. I am sure that my story is one of many millions throughout the world. Here’s to the Greeks of Smyrna, and may their memory, and legacy live on.

Athanasios Jonacas, Brisbane, Australia