Historical accounts of Turkish occupation in Istanbul and Izmir

Historical accounts detail the violent impact of Turkish forces on Greek populations and religious sites in Istanbul and Izmir. During the occupation of Istanbul, churches and monasteries faced significant destruction. In Hagia Sophia, many sought refuge, including women and children, but faced mass casualties at the hands of religious fanatics. Historical accounts note that the pile of bodies reached ten meters in height.

Regarding the preservation of religious art, one account describes a miracle in the Hagia Sophia balcony where two Turkish officers were reportedly struck by lightning while attempting to destroy a fresco of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ child. This specific fresco is said to have survived to the present day.

Other historical reflections from 1955 discuss the social and political tensions between Greeks and Turks, noting how violent events in Istanbul and Izmir fundamentally altered the path of friendship between the two nations and exposed deep-seated religious fanaticism.