Pontian Greek Society of Chicago

Throughout the ages, the Pontian Greeks maintained intact the fundamental values of their archaic Hellenic roots and identity, and preserved these even after they were expelled from their land in the early part of the 20^th century.

Their language, poetry, music, dance and traditions are of archaic Greek origin and were influenced in their evolution by the introduction of Christianity, Byzantine civilization, and Ottoman rule.

Religion and Education

Religion and education are the two factors that have helped the survival of Pontian Hellenism from antiquity to the present. In the year 35 A.D., the Apostle Saint Andrew was the first preacher of Christianity in the Pontus region and by the 2^nd century A.D., Christianity quickly spread to the coastal Black sea area and the inner region of Pontos.
Read More...

Language - Dialect

The Pontian Greek dialect can be traced back to the first Hellenic colonists, the Ionians of Miletus at the beginning of the 8^th century B.C. Throughout the ages the Pontian dialect was influenced by the different languages spoken by neighboring peoples, especially during the long era of Ottoman rule. The Greek origin of this dialect, however, can be traced to the ancient Ionian speech of the first Greek settlers.
Read More...

Poems - Songs

Pontian music, poetry, songs and dances express the culture, customs, traditions and life of the Pontians - a people with roots in ancient Greece and the Byzantine Empire.
 

The songs of the Pontian people provide some of the most unique aspects of Hellenic folk tradition. These songs stir the soul and move the spirit. Even today the Pontians sing with an undeniable passion, keeping alive their ancestors' experience during the genocidal period. In the same manner, they preserve not only the memories of their past glories, but also the heart wrenching longing for their lost homeland.
 

The Pontian song is perceived and sung by its creator as a “tragedy” (τραγωδία). In their own dialect the Pontian people say: “So tell us a tragedy…(Για πέ μας έναν τραγωδίαν...) “ the young man tells us such beautiful tragedies " (Έμορφα τραγωδίας λέει αούτος ο παιδάς).The tragic element is present in most of the Pontian songs. In performance, the sense of agony is heightened, thus leading to a sense of cathartic salvation.

The myths and legends of ancient Greece are frequently encountered in the stanzas of Pontian songs. These myths and legends in conjunction with other elements constitute the foundation and structure of the contemporary world of Greek literature and art. The Muse of Pontos - with its sweet echoes, human cries, and national trumpets, expresses the beauty and deep essence of life. Its message of hopefulness spreads light into the Eastern expanse of Asia, where it vibrates and inspires the refined souls of other ethnic groups. The Laz people (descendants of ancient Colchis) borrow from it, while the Persians and other nations such as the Georgians, acknowledge its influence.

From the book The Songs of the Pontian People by Stathis I. Efstathiadis.