VOICES From Migrations | Isaac Christoforidis's story
- Changemakers
- Dec 29, 2025
- 2 min read
“VOICES From Migrations" is a project co-funded by the European Union exploring untold migration stories. Isaac Christoforidis was born in Armenia as a Pontic Greek, and he moved to Greece in 1995. This is his story:
“My name is Isaac Christoforos. I was born to a Pontic Greek family in Yerevan, Armenia, and I moved to Greece in 1995. We've been here for 30 years already.
In 1995, when I decided to move to Greece, Armenia was going through difficult times after the fall of the Soviet Union. There was hunger, no electricity… we knew it would be a hard life there, so we decided to leave in search of a better future.
When I finally arrived in Greece, I had 100 dollars left in my pocket and a coffee pot that I still have. Already in Greece, they helped us with housing, and I found a job. I worked long hours as a welder, sometimes 12-14 hours per day.
As someone who grew up in the Soviet Union, it was hard to get used to the new way of living. My children and I now understand the locals, but we were used to a different mentality, so it was a bit difficult for us at first. Every move requires sacrifice.
I went back to Armenia for a visit two years ago, to say goodbye to my parents who passed away: I haven’t traveled back to Armenia for 28 years. I passed by the place I grew up in, and I told my wife, ‘Even though I’m not an Armenian by ethnicity, this is my homeland.’
I’m now content with my decision to move to Greece: I have always had a strong connection with my Greek heritage, even during the Soviet times. And after that, I’ve always stood up for the causes of the Greek minority in the former Soviet Union territories and beyond.”
Interview by: Daniela Szep, Yuliia Smykovska, and Péter Lemnyi.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
Comments