Thessaloniki University Unveils Memorial to the Refugees of 1922

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A new memorial dedicated to the refugees of 1922 will take shape at the heart of the campus of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH).

The university will unveil the memorial on Wednesday, September 30, at 6pm, near the Observatory. A commemorative event and open-air concert will then take place at the university’s Ceremonial Hall.

Titled Honouring Our Roots, Supporting the Future, the event commemorates the refugees of 1922 and traces their journey from displacement and loss to settlement, integration and the creation of a new life.

Following a welcome address by AUTH Rector Professor Kyriakos Anastasiadis, Emeritus Professor of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Thanos Veremis will speak on The Integration and Contribution of the Refugees of 1922. He will examine the refugees’ contribution to Greek society and the country’s development throughout the 20th century.

According to an AUTH announcement, the new memorial takes the form of a circular memorial garden, designed to encourage visitors to enter the space rather than simply observe it. Visitors can sit, stand and move through the memorial itself.

An olive tree stands at its centre, symbolising memory, longevity and renewal. Its deep roots represent the refugees’ enduring links to the homelands they lost.

Twelve equal stone sections surround the olive tree, representing the endless cycle of time and the historic homelands of the refugees: Adrianople, Eastern Thrace, Eastern Rumelia, Varna, Ionia, Cappadocia, Constantinople, Asia Minor, Pontus, Smyrna and Trebizond.

The architectural design of the central section incorporates the sixteen-rayed Star of Macedonia. The memorial garden also features aromatic plants including lavender, rosemary, santolina, thyme, myrtle, sage and oregano.

The planting evokes the landscapes of the historic homelands and adds a sensory dimension to the memorial, engaging visitors through sight, smell and touch.

Music brings the history to life

Music will also form part of the commemoration.

After the main event, the musical ensemble Psyche and Body, together with brothers Konstantinos and Matthaios Tsahouridis, will present an open-air concert titled Our East.

The two artists, fourth-generation refugees and doctoral graduates of the University of London, will perform an anniversary programme featuring music from the homelands of the East, bringing together sounds and memories passed down through generations.

The event is open to the public.

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