WHERE ARE YOU, GREEKS?
Dear Greek citizens,
I am writing to you from the other side of the Atlantic, with the anguish of a Greek woman who may live far from her homeland, but has never stopped carrying it in her heart and soul.
Today I feel the need to shout:
Where are you, Greeks?
Baths, vacations, concerts, fairs and festivals are great. We all need a few moments of rest and joy. But at the same time, our homeland is being attacked from all sides. Our history is being forgotten, our national identity is being eroded, the Orthodox faith is gradually being removed from public life and we continue as if nothing is happening.
Has entertainment finally become the refuge behind which we hide our indifference?
The occasion for this letter is the event to celebrate Pakistan's independence, which is scheduled for August 14, 2026 at Kotzia Square, in front of Athens City Hall.
I do not question the right of any person to honor their origins, history, and traditions. Just as we Greeks in the diaspora honor our national and religious holidays in the countries where we live, so too does every community have the right to maintain its ties to its homeland — always, however, with respect for the country that hosts it.
The place, day, and symbolism of a public event are of immense importance.
August 14th is the eve of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. August 15th is not just a date on the calendar. It is one of the greatest holidays of Orthodoxy, deeply rooted in the history, tradition and collective soul of Hellenism.
The Virgin Mary has been the comfort, hope and protection of the Greek people for centuries. Our ancestors took refuge in her in difficult times, in wars, persecutions, in exile and uprooted.
And today, on the eve of Her great feast, the heart of the Greek capital is given over to the national celebration of another state.
On what criteria was this permission granted?
Who submitted the request and who approved it?
Who are the official organizers and who is funding the event?
Was the significance of the day for Orthodoxy and Hellenism examined?
Why wasn't a different space chosen, one that wouldn't create this intense symbolism?
I am not just talking about the genocides that Hellenism suffered in the past. I am not just talking about the Greeks of Pontus, Asia Minor and Eastern Thrace, who were murdered, expelled and uprooted from their ancestral homes.
I am also talking about the current genocide of the Greek people, as I see and experience it: a genocide that is not always carried out with weapons, but evolves gradually through demographic collapse, the abandonment of Greek families, the flight of young people, the desolation of villages, the loss of land and national wealth, the alteration of our historical identity and the systematic retreat of the Orthodox faith.
A people is not only lost when its children are murdered. It is also lost when it stops having children, when its young people are forced to flee, when it forgets its language and history, when it becomes alienated from its faith, and when it feels like a stranger in its own homeland.
And at the same time that we remain silent, Orthodoxy and Christianity are being persecuted in many regions of the world.
According to the World Watch List 2026, more than 388 million Christians face high levels of persecution and discrimination because of their faith. During the period under review, 4.849 Christians were recorded as being murdered because of their faith.
More than thirteen Christians, on average, are killed every day.
People are losing their lives because they believe in Christ. Churches are destroyed, priests and believers are kidnapped, families are displaced, and entire Christian communities live in fear of violence.
And what do we do?
Where is the Greek State?
The authorities grant the permits. But have they considered the message their decisions send? Are the same rules applied to everyone? Are the historical and religious sensitivities of the Greek people taken into account, or is it now considered something insignificant and outdated?
Where is the Church of Greece?
Why is her voice not heard loudly, clearly and responsibly? Why is she not informing the Greek people about the Christians who are being persecuted and killed? Why is she not at the forefront of defending faith, family, historical memory and the continuity of Hellenism?
I am not asking the Church to cultivate hatred. I am asking it not to be silent. I am asking for spiritual presence, truth, courage and responsibility.
And where are you, Greek citizens?
The baths are great. The festivals and fairs are great. But when the homeland is attacked, who will stand up? Who will defend our history, our faith, our families and the future of our children?
Why do we react to a post for a few hours and then forget?
Why do we remain indifferent until the problem arrives at our doorstep?
Why are we afraid to speak out, lest we be labeled extremists, nationalists, or retrograde?
Love for Greece is not hatred towards other peoples.
Defending Orthodoxy is not an attack on other religions.
The demand that our historical identity be respected is not racism.
I am not calling for hostility, violence or confrontation with any community. I am calling for a peaceful, democratic and responsible awakening.
I ask the Municipality of Athens to make public the decision to grant Kotzias Square, the terms of the permit, the official organizers, the source of funding and the planned security measures.
I ask the government to explain whether all the parameters of the organization were examined and whether the exact same criteria are applied to each community and each public gathering.
I ask the Church of Greece not to remain silent in the face of the anguish of the faithful and the global persecution of Christians.
I ask Greek citizens to wake up, to be informed, to demand accountability and not to be afraid to democratically defend their homeland and faith.
Greece can respect every person without giving up on itself.
It can protect the rights of everyone without erasing the history and identity of the Greek people.
Respect must be mutual.
Equality must apply to everyone.
Historical memory must not be erased.
The Orthodox faith should not be hidden.
The homeland must not be abandoned to indifference.
Silence is not always tolerance. Sometimes it is resignation.
I refuse to resign. I refuse to remain silent. I refuse to accept that love for Greece and Orthodoxy must be accompanied by fear or apology.
Look up from everyday life and look at what is happening around us.
Where are you, Greeks?
Our homeland, history, and faith need us now.
Sincerely,
Ioanna Lazarou
Publisher – Journalist
Greek News & Radio FL
Publisher, Businessrise Publishing House
radio.greekradiofl.com
