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Second Global Pontian Youth Forum

The Pontian youth members from all over the world (4th generation refugees) are trying to raise their voice and get heard through the 2nd Global Pontian Youth Forum.

During the latter, they are going to discuss contemporary topics related to the 21st century challenges, the Hellenic crisis, the Greek education and culture, the Orthodox faith and also the prospects of the recognition of the Pontic and Anatolian Greek Genocide.

The Forum is organized by all the World Federations of Pontian Hellenism and 500 young people, coming from all corners of the world, are participating. The Forum’s works will be conducted in Thessaloniki on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of October 2015, at the “Ioannis Vellidis” Congress Center. The 2nd Global Pontian Youth Forum is held under the auspices of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Presidency of the Hellenic Republic and is supported by the Charitable Foundation of Ivan Savvidis. Furthermore, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I will give both his blessings and a welcome-speech during the Forum’s Opening Ceremony.

Θε Forum will officially begin on Friday evening, 2nd of October 2015 at the “Ioannis Vellidis” Congress Center and will be completed on Sunday, 4th of October 2015. Noteworthy is the fact that on Sunday night a Pontian Cultural Festival will be conducted in PAOK Sports Arena.

The topics of the 2nd Global Pontian Youth Forum are the following:

1.      The 21st century challenges, the Pontian youth and its critical role in global society

2.      The prospects of the recognition of the Pontic and Anatolian Greek Genocide in the 21st century and the  role of the Pontian youth

3.      The Greek Education and Culture

4.      The Orthodox faith and Pontian youth

5.      The national crisis of Hellenism and the crisis of values

Attendance of the Divine Liturgy in St. Dimitrios Church – officiated by His Grace, Metropolitan Bishop of Thessaloniki

On Saturday 12th of September 2015, the Coordinator of the Forum’s Organising Committee, Mr. Alkis Anastasiadis, had the honor of receiving the blessing of the Metropolitan Anthimos of Thessaloniki.  The Metropolitan of Thessaloniki assured the Coordinator that in the morning of the 4th of October, the Divine Liturgy in St. Dimitrios Church will be officiated by Himself, in order to honor the representatives of the Pontian Associations, who are participating in the 2nd Pontian Global Youth Forum.

 
After their meeting in the office of His Grace Metropolitan Anthimos of Thessaloniki, Mr. Alkis Anastasiadis said:

«The Youth’s message of unity will reach out to the whole world. I would really like to thank the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki for welcoming me with open arms and giving His blessing to our effort of uniting the world’s Greek-Pontian youths. We are greatly honored that the Divine Liturgy, on Sunday, 4th of October, will be officiated by His Grace Metropolitan Anthimos. 500 young representatives of the Pontian Federations worldwide have been invited to Thessaloniki and they are all going to attend this Divine Liturgy».

The Pontian Cultural Festival – 80th Thessaloniki International Fair (T.I.F.)

On Saturday 12th of October 2015, the attention of the visitors of the 80th International Fair of Thessaloniki was attracted by a video wall, which was placed at a central area of the Fair, right next to Emporiou Gate. This video wall informed the public about the upcoming Pontian Cultural Festival, which will take place on Sunday, 4th of October 2015 in PAOK Sports Arena, in the context of the 2nd Global Pontian Youth Forum.

During the day, marketing material was distributed to the visitors of the Fair and the documentaries “The Collective Memory” and “The Sacred Relics of Pontian People” were displayed on screen. Above all, the public’s interest was captured by a particular video, which had been filmed during the pilgrimage tour of the Organising Committee’s members in the Holy Panagia Soumela Monastery in Trabzon and a few images, which depicted the members’ participation in the 17th Encounter of Pontian Youth, in Vermio.