The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Proverbs 18: 10 NIV.
First a little history about this town from which we boarded our boat to see Mount Athos. Then next a summary of the eventful life of Joyce and Sydney Loch.
With the distruction of Smyrna in 1923 an agreement was signed between Turkey and Greece with their exchange of Christian and Muslim populations. This meant that the total Greek population of Asia Minor was massively transfered to Greece with dramatic circumstances.
Approximately 40 refugee villages were founded in Chalkidiki one of which is Ouranoupolis known until 1946 as Posphori.
A refugee didn’t just escape a place. They had to escape a thousand memories until they’d put enough time and distance between them and their history to wake to a better day.
A very perceptive person. Unknown.
There was around this time an Australian journalist, Joyce . She worked for the Melbourne Evening Herald newspaper and had already met a Scottish novelist and journalist, Sydney Loch. She was transfered to England to cover the events of World War I but these two still found a way to get married and with their love of travel started working with a humanitarian agency organised by the Quakers.
The assignment they got was to Ouranoupolis. They stayed until 1928 in the American farm school with other Quakers because they saw the the great need of the people they chose to stay on and moved into the Tower of Ournoupolis. It is from a few of these rooms they helped the population by raising money for a school and manufacturing carpets using natural dyes. The year 1932 saw an awful earthquake and again they were there to help.
They lived and helped the town for 50 years. Sydney died in 1954 and Joyce in 1982.
All of this story I have given in brief was on information boards outside and inside the Tower. It was just as though no one in the village wanted to forget them and their help.
The Tower itself is Byzantine and by living in it the couple helped to fund its preservation. They were both novelists with a list of published books. One I would be interested in reading is:
A Fringe of Blue an Autobiography By Joyce Loch. Press on this to link to another Word Press post where they knew someone who met the author.
Some sayings from Quakers:
Do not fear truth, let it be so contrary to inclination and feeling. Never give up the search after it: and let me take courage, and try from the bottom of my heart to do that which I believe truth dictates, if it leads me to be a Quaker or not.
Unknown but so sincere.
5 Quaker Values
S implicitly
P eace
I ntegrity
C ommunity
E quality
S tewardship
So pleased to share this inspirational couple’s life with you.
Sandy 🙂
Bless the Lochs for their service to many. Great story about them, Sandy.
Yes, I was surprised to read it. I was expecting it to be only about the tower since 1100 AD but yes that was there but not as much as the Lochs. Great to help and write!
One of the interesting benefits of travel is encountering stories of heroic, creative, and inspiring people. Thank you for sharing this rich find, Sandy
It was lovely how two writers found everything they wanted as well as being of service. I agree with what you said. There are so many surprises. Always something new to learn. Thank you for reading my post.
How interesting is that! I must get that book you mentioned. Inspiring indeed.