World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE)
Former USSR Countries Region

On August 15, 2007 on the day of the Blessed Virgin Assumption a delegation of Greeks of Russia went on pilgrimage to the historic land of the greater part of Greeks — Pontus. They visited the capital of historic Pontus St. Panagia Sumela cathedral, situated 20 km from Trebizond, Turkey.

St. Panagia Sumela cathedral has served as home for one of the most famous Christian treasures, an icon of the Blessed Virgin Panagia Sumela (Panagia from Mela mountain), painted by saint apostle Luka.

The very Blessed Virgin came to Athenian monks Varnava and Sophronii in their dreams to show the place for building the cathedral.  A group of about 270 Greeks from former CIS countries visited this sacred place. The delegation, headed by Ivan Savvidi-the president of Greek Communities of Russia and the State Duma deputy, was welcomed in the airport by Alexandr Tolstopiatenko, Consul General of Russia in Trebizond. The delegation included presidents of Federations of Greek communities, representatives of communities, scientists, entrepreneurs, folk dance group and also our compatriots from Greece, i.e. Christina Kelesidu-head of «Black Sea» centre (Thessaloniki), journalists and Russian mass-media. They were all united by ancestry native land — Pontus.

«Today is the most affecting day of my life. For the first time I set foot on saint land of native land — Pontus. Me and my compatriots, we are going on a pilgrimage to the Panagia Sumela cathedral. Finally we all came to mother of all Pontus people, who helped to unite our people in all tragic moments of our history»- said Ivan Savvidis, Russian State Duma deputy, the coordinator for SAE 5 ^th region. He was the organizer and founder of this trip.  

Singing prayers inside of the cathedral was prohibited by Turkish keepers as today the cathedral is a museum. Outside however, Father Dmitriy read the payer and everybody lit candles.

"Today in times of globalization, in times when Turkey is going to enter European Community such prohibitions are a kind of modern crime! But nobody can prohibit us to pray in our souls. We visited our sacred place — Panagia Sumela, and this is the main thing"- Ivan Savvidis said.

"I believe that we will return and pronounce our prayer aloud!"- Ivan Savvidi said and added "no doubt today a new page is turned in the history of Pontus people. I’m proud and happy to participate in it with over 200 of my compatriots. I hope we made a huge step towards acknowledgment by Turkey the fact of genocide".