honorable mention
Ezio Gianni MURZI italy
title
The Last Greeks of Istanbul, continued
Not to lose its own identity the community has clear references in His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and the religion. Orthodox churches in Istanbul are places of comfort and cultural identity enriched by the golden iconostasis, the complex liturgy, the golden regalia. These together with the language and the Greek alphabet set the community apart. The Greek language and alphabet preserve the community identity while isolating it from the context.
Once prestigious Rumlars’ schools and lyceums continue to teach Greek and in Greek to some 100 pupils down from more than a 1000/1500 of the past.
Today’s Rumlars do keep going opening cafès, and publishing houses. A Rum family with a two century history makes a living teaching and translating Greek classical literature into Turkish language.
Buildings may bear the scars of the past but everything is transformed and life takes its priority for the individuals more than for the community.
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entry description
The Greek Christian Orthodox community of Istanbul, or more specifically, the Greeks, or Rumlars, trace their origins and their history back in that prestigious past when the Roman Empire extended its reach to Byzantium, and beyond.Not to lose its own identity the community has clear references in His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and the religion. Orthodox churches in Istanbul are places of comfort and cultural identity enriched by the golden iconostasis, the complex liturgy, the golden regalia. These together with the language and the Greek alphabet set the community apart. The Greek language and alphabet preserve the community identity while isolating it from the context.
Once prestigious Rumlars’ schools and lyceums continue to teach Greek and in Greek to some 100 pupils down from more than a 1000/1500 of the past.
Today’s Rumlars do keep going opening cafès, and publishing houses. A Rum family with a two century history makes a living teaching and translating Greek classical literature into Turkish language.
Buildings may bear the scars of the past but everything is transformed and life takes its priority for the individuals more than for the community.
about the photographer
I am a medical doctor, turned photographer and passionate storyteller after attending a workshop and on-line classes respectively run by John Stanmeyer in Istanbul 2018, and by Salwan Georges of the Washington Post, 2022. This same year, I attended classes run by Stefano Mirabella an Italian professional photographer and teacher. In my earlier career, I have been working as a medical doctor, in Mozambique 1977-1981, where I returned 2019 and 2023 to document the fight against TB and HIV/AIDS. In 1981-1985 I was in Zanzibar, Tanzania, as head of an Italian Medical Team. From there I moved to Rome to work at the Foreign Ministry, 1985-1988, as technical advisor. In 1988, I joined UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, and for following 20 years I was posted in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, South, West and North Africa, India and the USA. Now, I am based in Rome, and I travel where photography takes me. I like to work on stories that have social issues worth telling.back to gallery