A BRIEF NOTE ABOUT THE CAPPADOCIAN ASSOCIATION

OF THE EVROS REGION “ TRIS IERARXES”

The Greek exodus from Cappadocia, took place in the summer of 1924, based on the treaty between Greece and Turkey for the exchange of populations. The Greek ports accepted the refugees. The ports of Thessaloniki Piraeus Volos and Igomenitsa accepted the Cappadocian refugees. At first they lined in tents until they found permanent settlement.

Some of the people from the Cappadocian villages of Dilla, Misti and Karvali settled in the Evros region and in the villages Iana, Esimi and Avanta. Being happy and satisfied by their new villages they managed to adapt to their new surroundings and made good progress.

With the passage of time the Cappadocians felt that there is a great need to promote and preserve their culture, customs and traditions.

In 1978, the Cappadocian association of the Evros region is founded having its headquarters in Alexandroupolis. Its main focus is to bring together all Cappadocians living in the Evros region, in Greece and around the world.

The initial aims of the association were and still are:

a) The collection, preservation and promotion of the historical and folklore material of the Cappadocians.

b) The promotion of the rich in religion and patriotic customs of the Cappadocians and their continuation.

c) The spiritual exchange and cooperation and the creation of bonds between Cappadocians all over the world.

d) The cooperation of all Cappadocians associations to succeed in their common aims.

e) The promotion and the preservation of the traditional values of the Greek culture of the Orthodox Christianity in Cappadocia.

f) The organization of tours generally and particularly to the homelands of Cappadocians, to organize events so that the members can be informed and deepen their knowledge about Cappadocia.

g) To provide scholarships in all levels of education and to award prizes to those Cappadocian students who excel.

h) To provide financial aid to fellow people in need.

For the implementation of the first aim the association started the construction of “The Cappadocian Home “ in which the headquarters of the Association are housed and simultaneously will function as a cultural center with the creation of a conference hall, library, dance hall, reading rooms and other offices.

After the completion of the “Cappadocian Home” the next aim of the Cappadocian people of Alexandroupolis is to built a village identical to that of a Cappadocian one, which will became the meeting place for all Mistiotes, Tsarikliotes, Tseltekiotes and Dilliotes in Greece.