Syllogos Mikrasiaton Pierias

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Association building

After the Greek population was driven out of Asia Minor in 1922, many of the refugees came to Macedonia . To help the newcomers to Pieria Prefecture , the Syllogos Mikrasiaton Pierias ( Greek Σύλλογος Μικρασιατών Πιερίας , 'Pierias Asians Association') was founded.

Seat

The seat of the association is Kiou 2, corner of Sarantaporou, 60100  Katerini , Pieria, Greece .

history

Library of the association

The original reason for the settlement of Asia Minor was the expulsion of Greeks by immigrating Dorians . Only in the 8th century BC A planned colonization of Asia Minor began. Between 1914 and 1923, Greeks were persecuted and forcibly expelled in the Ottoman Empire .

The association was founded in 1923 to support the Greeks from Asia Minor who fled to Pieria. The aid from the Greek state and the aid from abroad were not enough to feed the newcomers. In 1930 the Greek state distributed land to needy residents, including refugees. After the members no longer needed the help of the association, its activities were suspended from 1933. It was not until 1974 that the association was resumed, the focus now being on preserving the historical heritage and maintaining traditions. The association currently (November 2018) has around 900 members. The board consists of nine members; Elections are held every three years.

building

In 1924 the city of Katerini gave the association a piece of land in the center of the city. After the association's activities were discontinued in 1933, the property was given to the Rural People's Treasury, whose members mainly came from Asia Minor. In 1975 the property was returned to the association. The building was built in 1985 according to plans by the association and moved into in May 1990.

The breakdown:

  • Ground floor: Events and exhibitions take place in the hall. The seating offers space for 100 spectators.
  • First floor: the museum is located next to the library.
  • Second floor: offices of the board of directors, secretariat, bookkeeping and archive
  • Top floor: clothes room for dancers' costumes and a small cinema

museum

Traditional jacket embroidered with gold thread

Most of the museum's exhibits were donated by refugee families. Many are over 100 years old. Objects are exhibited which are supposed to illustrate the daily life of the Greeks in Asia Minor, as well as valuable items of clothing. Some of them are embroidered with gold thread and are accordingly heavy. Photographs from the 19th and 20th centuries are exhibited on one wall of the room, depicting historical events and important people from that time. Every year, on the occasion of September 14th, the anniversary of the Smyrna disaster , a three-day exhibition of paintings takes place. It is planned to expand the museum, as there are currently not enough showcases to adequately present the large number of exhibits.

Departments

  • Library: it contains over 3000 books.
  • museum
  • Folk dance: three groups of adults with 65 dancers, two groups of children with 40 dancers. The club currently has 70 traditional costumes for the dancers.
  • Choir: 35 singers
  • Theater group: 15 members
  • Music group for children: 15 members
  • Reading group for children
  • Craft group for children

In order to secure the future of the association, special attention is given to the care of the children. Training and exercises in the various departments take place in their own premises.

activities

Dance of the syllogos Mikrasiaton Pierias

In June 2018 the association organized the second all-Greek meeting of the Asians Minor ( 2ο Πανελλήνιο Αντάμωμα Μικρασιατών ) in Katerini. Around 2000 dancers and musicians from all over Greece took part. It was not a homogeneous ethnic group, but participants from the various coastal sections of Asia Minor, Pontic Greeks and Greeks whose ancestors came from Cappadocia. They all performed their own traditional dances, some of which are thousands of years old, accompanied by bands whose musical instruments are similar but have developed independently over time.

Further activities:

  • Dance events
  • Singing the choir
  • theatre
  • Various exhibitions
  • Concepts of books
  • Collecting and distributing goods for people in need

Performances by dancers, singers and the theater group took place all over Greece. Bulgaria, Italy, Turkey, Austria and Germany were visited abroad.

literature

Web links

Remarks

  1. ^ Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Die “Asia Minor Catastrophe”, October 6, 2001. Accessed November 9, 2018 .
  2. ^ Asia Minor and Pontic research center. Retrieved November 17, 2018 .
  3. ^ The Greek colonization: Greece is getting bigger. Retrieved November 10, 2018 .
  4. ↑ a b A short description of the history of the Mikrasiaton Pierias association ( Σύντομο Βιογραφικό Σημείωμα του Συλλόγου Μικρασιατών Πιερίας ), published by Syllogos Mikrasiaton Pierias.
  5. ↑ Second all-Greek meeting of the Asians Minor (2ο Πανελλήνιο Αντάμωμα Μικρασιατών). Retrieved November 10, 2018 .

Coordinates: 40 ° 16 ′ 26 ″  N , 22 ° 30 ′ 14 ″  E