Statue of Giorgos Petridis, the lyre player

Giorgos or Gogos Petridis has been described as the Patriarch of the Pontic lyre. He was born in 1917 or 1918 in Fadak, a village close to Olasa in Trebizond. Petridis came to Greece in 1922 when his family was forced to leave their hometown. Unlike most refugees from Fadak who settled in Giannitsa or villages in Macedonia, the Petridis family chose Kalamaria as their place of residence. Giorgos was the son of Stavris Petridis, master of the lyre, and became the greatest lyre player. His heyday began in 1949. His collaboration with the Efxinos Club of Thessaloniki is legendary and continued until the 1970s. Petridis became widely known by participating in the Club’s performances at the Royal Theater of Thessaloniki and throughout Greece. His debut album was released in 1950. Throughout his career, he performed in many Pontic music establishments of Thessaloniki. Efthymios Kalevras created the bronze sculpture that honours the memory and contributions of Petridis.