NEW YORK – Three generations of Pontians participated in the 34th annual religious feast of Panagia Soumela, which organized by the homonymous Holy Foundation on Pontian Land in West Milford, NJ. The pilgrimage and festival began on Friday night and ended on Sunday afternoon, August 20.
On Sunday, the Pontians and their friends attended with piety and honor the Divine Liturgy performed by Fr. Anargyros Stavropoulos, presiding priest of the community of Agios Athanasios in Paramus, NJ.
The younger generation of Pontians, wearing the traditional costumes of the Pontus, venerated the miraculous icon of Panagia Soumela with reverence.
The event was attended by the Consul of Greece in New York Manos Koubarakis, the first vice-president of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York Vasilios Gournelos, the President of the Pan-Pontian Federation of USA and Canada Konstantinos Tsilfidis, the former presidents of Pan-Pontians Dr. Panos Stavrianidis, Dimitris Molochidis and Elias Tsekerides, the former presidents of the Holy Foundation Panagia Soumela Pontion Amerikis & Canada Vasilios Vasiliadis, George Vasiliadis, and Yiannis Koutalidis, and representatives of the Pontic Associations of America and Canada.
This year’s feast was the only one without the Bishop and later Metropolitan of Meloa, Philotheos who passed away in May, and the president of the Holy Foundation, Charalambos Vasiliadis spoke warmly and at length about the blessed Hierarch.
“The Metropolitan of Meloa was an emblematic figure for the Holy Foundation of Panagia Soumela. He was always present at great moments, in our joys and in sorrows. He was always beside us, he encouraged us, and did not let us kneel under pressure. He inspired us and gave us the spark of rebirth from the ashes. Twelve years ago, when we purchased the Pontian Land at 253 Marshall Hill Road, West Milford, he congratulated us and gave us plenty of well-wishes. He donated five hundred dollars and invited Pontians everywhere to donate to Panagia Soumela,” Dr. Vasiliadis said.
Consul of Greece in New York Manos Koubarakis, and the first vice-president of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York Vasilios Gournelos were among those present at the celebration.PHOTO: ΤΝΗ/KOSTA BEJ
Referring to the debt to the Holy Foundation, Vasiliadis said they must keep the memory alive and implement the advice and admonitions that concentrate on three key areas.
The first is related to the national, religious, and cultural mission of the Holy Foundation of the Panagia Soumela Pontion of USAA and Canada and its transformation into a research center.
The second, with the coexistence, cooperation, sympathy, and mutual love and trust as the basic principles of operation of the Holy Foundation.
The third relates to the erection of not only a magnificent church, but also a bell tower, so that the sound of the bells reaches up to Trebizond and the other cradles of the Greeks in the Pontus.
Asked about the three-day donations, he said that the pilgrims offered their sword and that Prodromos Bouikidis donated $3,000, Makis Christidis- $2,000, and Dr. Panos Stavrianidis- $1,000.
“We thank them all and we invite those who have not been able to participate in the 34th Festival to participate in the first cultural festival to enjoy the dancing and to strengthen the Foundation” Vasiliadis said.
The faithful line up to venerate the miraculous icon of Panagia Soumela.
PHOTO: ΤΝΗ/KOSTA BEJ
Asked about the Greek community’s interest in the festival, he pointed out that it was great and that the vast majority of Pontian dance groups have already signed up to participate.
“Taking into account the reservations made in the hotels near Panagia Soumela and the participation statements we can say without the slightest doubt that the participation will surpass all expectations,” he added.
The festival, as The National Herald reported, will begin on Friday, September 1 and will end on Sunday, September 3.
On Friday evening, the Great Vespers and a memorial service will be celebrated for the victims of September 1921 (Pontus), 1922 (Asia Minor), 1955 (Istanbul), and September 11, 2001 (World Trade Center in New York).
Immediately after that will be the premiere of Giorgos Sofianidis’ musical production titled “Much Has Been Said about Me” (Polla ehoun pei gia mena), followed by a traditional Mouhambet (glenti) feast.
The cultural events of the festival will be completed with the theatrical performance “Hemartha” (Hemarton), production by Vasiliki Tsanaktsidou with the participation of the ladies of Pontian Society “Pontos” of Norwalk, Connecticut.
https://www.thenationalherald.com/172713/pontians-america-celebrate-panagia-soumela/
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