By Chrysostom Luke:
Nine decades since the destruction of the Metropolis of Hellenism in Asia Minor. Nine decades since the uprooting, the fire, the betrayal. The hordes of barbarians destroyed Smyrna and with it constituted the Great Idea. A vision that began to smolder from the Balkans and that, led by Eleftherios Venizelos, took flesh and bones. Of course, there were also many mistakes by this great leader, but it is not the time to analyze them. What remains are the deep wounds in the tortured body of Greece.
The end of World War I found Greece on the side of the winners. Having paid her own blood tax, she expected a share of the spoils. Where booty the return of territories that were under foreign occupation. Essentially, it was the fulfillment of the desire of the Great Idea. Venizelos, as a far-sighted man, immediately began consultations with the Anglo-French and aligned the interests of his country with the interests of the great. Despite whatever tendencies prevailed from the king, the campaign was decided.
Her form was purely liberating. The words imperialist and conqueror that characterized it by the leaflets of the time (Rizospastis) and the other tholoculturists, belong to the gutter. It is a shame to characterize a purely liberating campaign like this and to betray your own country. They are the same ones who play it as anti-capitalists, anti-memorialists, etc. In essence, however, they are sowing discord and destruction, just like then. Of course, along with them, the other pilgrims who wished from the beginning that the campaign would fail were also rejoicing. At that time, as now, few were leaders and even fewer would remain loyal to their flock to the end. One of the few was Saint Chrysostomos Metropolitan of Smyrna in 22.
Through the ashes of the destruction, the looting and the cries of despair, the heroic figure of Chrysostomos of Smyrna emerges. As the disaster loomed, the foreigners informed him of everything they could to escape him. If it was anyone else he would say yes immediately. Some politicians became so depressed that they always left their homeland in difficult times (22,40,74). Agios Smyrnis, however, stayed and became one with his city. It disappeared along with the Hellenism of Asia Minor. An example of a great leader and above all a father to his flock. I wonder which of the great high priests today would do the same. He entered the Pantheon of martyrs together with Patriarch Gregory V and Archbishop Cyprian.
Today, 90 years later, Smyrna is a memory, as is all of Ionia. The Yusufakis who rule Hellenism have let time fade along with the wounds and the memory. No progress, no manifestation of the genocide they committed. The policy of the good child. They have been dancing happily for so many years to the sound of the sultan's tambourine. It seems they liked the sound because they are still going, both in Greece and Cyprus. In Megalonisos, especially some astute ones, they are not ashamed after their treacherous actions in the previous years and claim the highest office with the blessings of their "brothers". Others, not admitting their mistakes, continue, dispassionately, the policy of destruction like other Neros. In the end, Smyrna taught us nothing. The same mistakes were made in the Confederate War in 74 and continue today. How much longer will we tolerate them? LET'S FINALLY WAKE UP. SMYRNI, THE NORTHERN CONTINENT, CYPRUS, THRACE CARTER.
* Chrysostomos Loukas, Medical Student