Tenedos, known as Bozcaada in Turkish, holds a significant place in Greek history, despite the dramatic decline of its Greek population in recent decades. The island recently reaffirmed its enduring Greek heritage by celebrating its patron saint, Agia Paraskevi, on Saturday, July 26.
The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, a native of the nearby island of Imbros, presided over the Divine Liturgy at the historic Church of the Holy Baptism of Agia Paraskevi. In his address to the large congregation, His Holiness emphasized the importance of saints and martyrs to the Church’s identity and mission.
“We came to Tenedos to venerate her all-holy icon and to ask the Saint to protect the island and its inhabitants, the friends of Tenedos, all of you pious pilgrims and your loved ones,” he stated. He specifically lauded Agia Paraskevi, whose life he described as “a model of total and unconditional dedication to the Savior Christ and His grace” and noted that July is dedicated to Holy Women.
Enduring trials and renewed hope for Tenedos Greeks
The Patriarch also spoke movingly about the hardships faced by the Greek communities of Imbros and Tenedos, particularly after “the dark 1964.” This year marks the implementation of the “Dissolution Program,” which led to the closure of Greek schools, economic hardship, and widespread insecurity.
“Very few of our people—who, patiently and heroically, kept open here on Tenedos the gates of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, of Agia Paraskevi and of all our exochurches that remained intact—remained on the two islands,” the Patriarch recounted.
He strongly condemned the program, stating, “For a State to destroy its own citizens is unacceptable,” and expressed shame for its initiators. Despite these trials, the Patriarch highlighted the unwavering faith and resilience of the Greeks who remained.
“Their hope did not fade, because they had unwavering trust in God’s providence and in their patron Saint Paraskevi. They saved our language and our traditions, and their existence was a call to the exiled Tenedos not to forget their small homeland,” he proclaimed.
Their poignant message echoed: “If you forget us, who else will remember us?” Today, there are “auspicious signs” for Tenedos. The island’s historic Church has been renovated and was inaugurated on the same day. There are positive prospects for an increase in the number of Greeks returning to the island.
Furthermore, the annual festival of Agia Paraskevi serves as a powerful invitation and message to the global Tenedian diaspora, reminding them that the island and their compatriots await their return.
When Turkey banned the teaching of Greek on Tenedos and Imbros
July 1 marks the anniversary of the day Turkey banned the teaching of the Greek language on the islands of Imbros and Tenedos (now Gökçeada and Bozcaada in Turkish), both of which have been occupied by Greek communities since ancient times.
Yet, after the rise of Turkish nationalism and the persecution of Greeks in the mid-1950s, on July 1, 1964, the Turkish government of the time prohibited the teaching of Greek on the two islands.
The two Aegean islands were Greek since ancient times: Imbros was part of the Athenian Alliance, and Tenedos was home to a temple of Apollo. However, after the fall of the Byzantine Empire, the two Aegean islands were claimed by the Ottomans and Venetians, primarily due to their strategic location near the entrance of the Dardanelles Strait, which leads to the Marmara.
During World War I, Imbros was home to around 8,000 Greeks, and Tenedos had nearly 3,000. Until 1920, both islands were part of the Ottoman Empire. After Turkey and Germany lost the war, the 1920 Treaty of Sèvres awarded the two islands to Greece—an event that was warmly welcomed by their inhabitants.
However, the joy lasted only two years. Following the catastrophic Asia Minor campaign and the defeat of the Greek army, the Treaty of Lausanne awarded the islands to Turkey.
Related: Greeks Reclaim Imbros: A Journey Home
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