As part of the peace agreements signed at Lausanne in 1923, Turkey agreed to allow 100,000 Greek Orthodox to remain in Constantinople along with the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This was significant, because the Greek Orthodox sought to maintain ties with their holy city. Constantinople is to the Greeks what Kosovo is to Serbs, and Jerusalem is to Israel. In 1955, when Cyprus emerged as a dispute between Athens and Ankara, the Turkish authorities conspired to expel the Orthodox Christians. The government organized pogroms against the Greeks of Constantinople.
Mobs proceed to beat Greek men and rape Christian women.
Christian stores, homes, and churches were burnt. Mobs proceeded to destroy Orthodox churches, and desecrated hundreds of icons, gospels, and relics. A 90-year old monk was burnt to death when a church was set on fire. Turks entered Christian churches to defecate inside the sanctuaries. Tombs containing the remains of Patriarchs of Constantinople were ripped open and their remains scattered throughout.