 In May 1919 the Greek Army occupied the region after approval by the Great Powers, and Cydoniae became part of the Smyrna Occupation Zone.Metropolitan Gregory remained in Cydoniae, although many times he came into conflict with the Greek High Commissioner in Smyrna Aristeidis Stergiadis.Due to the developments of the Greco-Turkish War, the Greek civil and military authorities had to retreat from the area in August 1922.