Remembering the destruction of Smyrna in 1922

On August 31, 1922, the city of Smyrna, known as the "pearl of the East," was destroyed by a massive fire following a period of intense violence, massacres, and looting. The tragedy began on August 27, when irregular Turkish cavalry, followed by regular troops, entered the city. Among the casualties of the period was the Metropolitan Chrysostomos, who was handed over to the mob and martyred.

The human and structural cost of the catastrophe was immense. Estimates indicate that approximately 50,000 people were killed, with 70,000 homes and shops destroyed alongside hundreds of other buildings. Many survivors faced death through drowning or disease while fleeing on ships or arriving at refugee camps. The poet Giorgos Seferis, who had left Smyrna in 1914, later immortalized the sense of loss and the erased memory of this event in his work.

The destruction of Smyrna remains a defining moment in the history of the region. Historical accounts emphasize that the city was left in ruins after being burned to the ground, marking the end of its long-standing status as a cosmopolitan hub. Today, the event is remembered as one of the most significant humanitarian disasters of the early 20th century.