THE SETTLEMENT OF THE ASIA MINOR REFUGEES IN HERAKLION AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF ST. NICOLAUS CHURCH IN NEW HALICARNASSUS

This paper examines the forced movement and settlement of the Asia Minor refugees in Crete, specifically in Heraklion, after the Asia Minor Disaster of 1922. It also refers to the construction of St. Nicolaus Church in the new refugee settlement, on the east of the old town of Heraklion, which was named New Halicarnassus due to the place of origin of the majority of the refugees (Bodrum ‒ Halicarnassus in Asia Minor). The Church is a benchmark of the history of New Halicarnassus. In this paper, the arrival of the refugees in Heraklion is studied, together with their living conditions and their needs, the construction of the New Halicarnassus settlement and, most of all, the building of the temporary and the permanent church of St. Nicolaus, which was named after the protector saint of Bodrum and built by personal work by the refugees, donations, funds and charity events.