The Pontian Greek Society of Chicago aims to provide material that informs the Greek-American community and the wider American public about our history and culture. This site offers information on the lectures, the educational workshops, and the cultural events organized by our Society, along with oral stories and reference material that document the experience of our ancestors during the first genocide of the 20th century.

The Pontian Greeks are descendants of the Hellenic people who colonized the Pontus — the northeast region of Asia Minor on the Black Sea (in modern day Turkey) — in the 8th Century BC. They prospered in this area and established trade routes, developed mining industries, and produced scholars and leaders. The Greek Orthodox civilization of Pontus came to an end in 1923 when the Greeks of Asia Minor were forcibly removed from their homeland in the aftermath of the genocide.

The Society in Chicago was founded in November 1977 by several Pontian Greeks who immigrated to the United States from Greece and countries of the former Soviet Union. They were determined to preserve the rich heritage that was passed down to them from their parents and grandparents, who were expelled from their homeland on the southern region of the Black Sea, known as the Pontus, between 1914 and 1923.

Today, the children and grandchildren of the founding members continue to support the Society’s goals to research and share the history of their people, to preserve their unique Greek dialect, and to perpetuate the great civilization that developed over 3000 years in the Pontus.

The Society organizes lectures and educational programs, hosts annual dinner dances, and participates in public events held by the Greek community of the Chicago land area. In recent years, several members of the Society have also been active in gathering and re-printing historical documentation concerning the Pontian Greek genocide.

Officers and Board Members

President:Yiannis Konstantinidis

Vice President:Adonis Stergiou

General Secretary:Thomas Manzakides

Treasurer:Kyriakos Stergiou

Board Members:Savvas Koktzoglou, Sophia Petridis, Evangelos Poneres, Anastasia Skoupas-Spiridis, Demetrios Varnasidis

Youth Coordinator:Nikki Stergiou

Dance Troupe
Annual Dinner Dance
Genocide Education
Annual Genocide memorial in May at local church
Annual Vasilopita party

Events Calendar