Faithful replica of the bell tower of St. George in Neapolis of Cappadocia in the central square of the municipality of Neapolis-Sykeon
A replica of the bell tower from the Church of St. George in Neapolis, Cappadocia, is set to be built in the central square of Neapolis, Greece, honoring the region's Greek heritage.
A new project in Neapolis, Greece, is set to honor the historical ties of the Greek community to their ancestral home in Cappadocia. A faithful replica of the bell tower from the Church of St. George in Neapolis, NevΕehir, will be constructed and placed in the central square of the municipality, which is known for its historical significance to the Greek refugees who settled there after the population exchange of 1924. This initiative is seen as a way to keep the cultural memory alive, linking the new residents to their roots.
The project has been formalized through a programming agreement involving the Holy Metropolis of Neapolis and Stavroupolis, the municipality of Neapolis-Sykeon, and a specialized workshop from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki's Polytechnic School. Mayor Simos Danilidis emphasized that the original church, which has now become the central church of Neapolis, was built by the refugees to continue their traditions and practices in this new environment. Constructing the replica of the bell tower serves to reinforce this cultural continuity and provides a tangible connection to their heritage.
As the church stands as a symbol for the local community, this bell tower replica represents more than just a physical structure; it embodies the memories and identities of those who were uprooted and finds relevance in contemporary discussions around cultural preservation and the significance of heritage in immigrant communities. The initiative is expected to foster pride and community solidarity among the residents, making it a pivotal project for the identity of Neapolis-Sykeon.