Panagia Soumela Pontian Foundation (Kastania, Vermio)
Pontian society founded in Thessaloniki by Dr Filon Ktenidis to rehouse the Panagia Soumela icon brought from Trabzon; built the Vermio shrine in 1952 and hosts the August 15 pilgrimage that is the global Pontian Greek gathering each year.
August 15 pilgrimage draws Pontians worldwide
External page. Check current meetings, membership, and joining details directly with the group.
Other greek folk dance & pontian groups
Living museum of Greek dance founded by Dora Stratou with Hadjidakis, Elytis and Chatzimichali; 75-strong company performs nightly in an 860-seat open-air theatre on Philopappou opposite the Acropolis and holds the country's largest folk-costume collection (~2,000 costumes).
Founding chapter of the women-led Lyceum movement that codified regional Greek folk dance and dress; the central Athens club runs 10 peripheral dance sections across Attica and welcomes 2,500+ children and young people to its dance programmes each year.
Earliest provincial Lyceum branch, set up by Katina Markou and other women of Patras two years after the Athens founding; runs traditional dance, choir and costume sections and is a fixture of the Patras Carnival cultural programme.
Thessaly chapter of the Lyceum based at Agios Onoufrios; teaches Thessalian and Pan-Hellenic dances and stages performances of Pelion and Magnesia regional repertoires.
Central-Greece Lyceum branch dedicated to preserving Roumeli (Sterea Ellada) dance and costume traditions; runs children, youth and adult dance sections plus an annual costume exhibition.
Macedonian Lyceum branch closely tied to the Genitsaroi kai Boules Naousa carnival custom; runs dance sections for children and adults and curates a Naoussa regional costume collection.