The documentary Light of Cappadocia follows a unique journey tracing the footsteps of the two most recent Saints of the Orthodox Church, Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia and Saint Paisios of Mount Athos. Through the geographical paths that shaped their lives, two monks revive their spiritual legacy, revealing the endurance of faith through prayer, trials, and miracles.

The film combines archival material, expert and monk testimonies, and striking cinematography, documenting the Saints’ spiritual journey from Cappadocia to Mount Athos. Viewers experience the ascetic life of Saint Arsenios, the spiritual guidance he provided to Greeks affected by the Asia Minor Catastrophe, and the path of Saint Paisios, who became one of the most significant figures of contemporary Orthodoxy.

A production of the Hellenic History Foundation (IDISME), in collaboration with the Holy Monastery of Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia.

Written & Directed by: Irini Sarioglou
Original Music by: Giorgos Papachristoudis
DoP – Aerial Cinematography: Ersin Caliskan, Alexandros Sikalias, Evangelos Kalos, Vaggelis Pyrpyllis
Sound Recording: Ersin Caliskan, Vaggelis Pyrpyllis
Editing & Graphics: Vaggelis Pyrpyllis

Vasiliki Ralli narrates the tragic story of her family. Ιn September 1922 she was forced to leave her homeland, Moschonisi in Asia Minor, and after going through the grief of loss and the mourning of the Catastrophe, she devoted herself with creative impetus to the building of a new life on the opposite shore. Vasiliki Ralli proclaims her origin on every small or big occasion of her life: “What if I was born in Thermi of Lesvos? I’m from Asia Minor, too. I am the seed that was conceived in the sanctified soil of the Land of Promise, watered with the sweat and blood of the Greeks, sown with the holy bones of thousands of martyrs, which were deposited in the holy Land, as a legacy of its Greekness”. The testimony of Vasiliki Ralli starts from Moschonisi and Ayvali and embraces all of Hellenism. Especially today, more than ever, the value of such testimonies is priceless, because they feed our souls with faith and struggle.

Credits:

Directed by Irini Sariolgou

Original Music by George Papachristoudis

Editing by Vagegelis Pirpilis

Screenplay by Irini Sarioglou

Narration by George Kentros and Irini Sarioglou

Research by Kostas Kaounas and Eleni Politi

Song by Fotini Darra

Vourla or Vourlas, Urla in Turkish, was, after Smyrna, the second largest city on the coast of Asia Minor, built near the ancient Greek city of Klazomenai, east of Eritrea, of which it was the capital. Vourla was one of the most important cities in the Greek world at the beginning of the 20th century, an economic, intellectual and administrative center of a prosperous region with intense commercial and craft activity and rich intellectual life. Our Nobel Prize-winning poet George Seferis, although born and raised in Smyrna, in his memory only Vourla remained indelibly to express the meaning of «the sweet homeland… «. The documentary examines the history of Vourla through various testimonies, while at the same time it is enriched with miscellaneous archival and photographic material.

Directed by: Irini Sarioglou

Music: George Papachristoudis

Direction: Alexandros Papaeliou

Music: John Borgia

Historical Consultant: Irini Sarioglou

Synopsis: How, when and why was our umbilical cord to the East cut? This history documentary is based on the correspondences of journalist Kostas Missaelidis on the Asia Minor Campaign (1919-1922). The tragedy unfolds through the writings of Asia Minor-born war correspondent, journalist and poet. From the harsh battlefields and the ruins, the human drama emerges.

The film participated in the Official Programme of the 21^st Thessaloniki Documentary Festival.

A history documentary on Castellorizo island. It includes the soundtrack of the documentary

by Irini Sarioglou, Angelos Kovotsos
music by Andreas Katsigiannis
song George Dalaras

IMVROS - TENEDOS

A TALE OF MEMORIES

MUSIC BY ΑΝΔΡΕΑΣ ΚΑΤΣΙΓΙΑΝΝΗΣ

SONG GEORGE DALARAS - ZÜLFÜ LİVANELİ

«IMVROS-TENEDOS: A TALE OF MEMORIES» - History documentaries

Direceted by Irini Sarioglou - Panos Angelopoulos

Music by Andreas Katsigiannis

A journey through the history of the Halki Seminary

In November 1942, Turkey imposed a poll tax (Varliki) against its non-Muslim population and those who were unable to pay were sent to the labour battalions in the heart of mainland Turkey (Erzurum). This documentary describes the experience of the Greek Constantinopolitan citizen, K. Kiourktsoglou in those labour battalions, as recorded in his diary.

Directed by Kalliopi Legaki

Music by Eleni Karaindrou