PAWTUCKET, RI – [Photos by Senator Lori Orso / FB]
State Senators Leonidas P. Raptakis (D‑Dist. 33, Coventry, West Greenwich) and Lori Urso (D‑Dist. 8, Pawtucket), together with State Representative Joseph Solomon Jr. (D‑Dist. 22, Warwick), joined the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church community of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, in hosting a commemoration of the 107th anniversary of the Greek Pontic Genocide and AHEPA Day on May 17 at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church and Community Center.
The day began with the Sunday Divine Liturgy at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, commemorating the 107th anniversary of the Greek Pontic Genocide and AHEPA Day. Following the service, the community gathered in the church’s community hall, where Olympia Chapter 121 President Ioannis Apostolakis opened the program by thanking State Senators Leonidas “Lou” Raptakis and Lori Urso for sponsoring a Senate resolution (2026-S 3267), and State Representative Joseph Solomon Jr. for introducing a corresponding House resolution (2026-H 8567) recognizing the Greek, Pontian, Assyrian, and Armenian Genocides that occurred more than 107 years ago. Senator Raptakis also conveyed greetings from Senate Majority Whip David P. Tikoian (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Providence, Lincoln), who was unable to attend this year’s commemoration.
Stefanos Svitlitsas, himself of Pontian descent, once again emphasized the historical significance of the Greek Pontic Genocide. Also in attendance were Assumption Greek Orthodox Church’s Reverend Father Philip Zymaris, ThD, Steven Kyriakidis, Vasilis Chrysanthopoulos, former AHEPA president John Lyssikatos, and numerous Ahepan brothers from Olympia Chapter 121.
Senators Raptakis and Urso, along with Representative Solomon, shared their dedication to supporting their resolutions condemning the systematic attempt by the Ottoman Turks to exterminate entire populations, directing the killing of more than 353,000 Greek Pontian, Anatolian Greeks and Assyrians living in the region of Pontos. Over a million and a half Armenians were also killed in their ancestral homeland during this same period.
“This resolution pays tribute to the survivors of this atrocious period, as well as their descendants, who have made countless contributions to the enrichment of our culture and our way of life here in the Ocean State, and who stand as inspirations to oppressed people around the world. May we never forget the brutality the Pontians experienced at the hands of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, and may we learn the hard lessons from the past so that the history of the Greek Pontian and Armenian Genocides, and that of all genocides, never happens again”, said Senators Raptakis and Urso and Representative Solomon.
