Pontus people come together at Panagia Soumela

Thousands of people hailing from Pontus and residing in Greece, as well as those from former USSR repiublics, will flock this year to the Trebizond area of Pontus to solemnly attend the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy at the monastery of Panagia Soumela, during the day of the celebration of the Assumption, tomorrow, Monday August 15th.

It is the second consecutive year, and after authorization by the Turkish government, the iconic monastery of Pontus Hellenism will once more open its doors to the faithful, 89 years after their uprooting from their ancestral homes.

In this year’s celebration, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is being joined by Archbishop of America, Demetrios.

Ivan Savvides, the expat member of the Russian State Duma, is also attending, covering the expenses of the great musical and dance event which will be held tonight in the main square of the city, entitlted: “The sounds of the lyre will unite the people”, bringing together musicians and dance groups from Greece, Russia and Turkey.

Protothema.gr, through its correspondent Panayiotis Savvides, is in Trabzon covering the great historical and religious event, which brings together people of the Pontus from around the world once more in their motherland.