On Saturday, May 28, 2022, the ‘Agios Polykarpos’ Brotherhood of Asia Minor Greeks of Chania commemorated the centenary since the Asia Minor Catastrophe by organising a blessing of the icons that their refugee ancestors had brought with them from their homelands. Around 30 icons were transported to the church for this ceremony. Some of them were in good condition, others were more fragile; some depict more obscure saints, others more recognizable ones; some have well-established origins, others remain a mystery.
The role of these icons is two-fold according to the Brotherhood. On the one hand, they constitute evidence of the religiosity and piety of the refugees, both when they lived in Asia Minor and after they resettled in Greece. On the other, they link refugee descendants to their ancestors’ homelands. According to the Brotherhood’s chairwoman, Stella Gozani-Charitaki, ‘The Church has always been our home. It was our hope and refuge, our companion in our journey. It suffered torture and displacement along with the common people. When they left their homelands, the Asia Minor refugees took their Christian icons with them. They held them affectionately to their chests, carried them to the motherland and took solace in them. The icons were a symbol of deep faith and hope, a warm embrace they found refuge in throughout their lives. […] We would like to thank all the owners who entrusted us with these holy relics, because we know how hard it is to part with them. They are one with our heart; our link to Asia Minor.’
