The Greek community of Melbourne will commemorate the Greek National Day tomorrow, with the traditional parade at the Shrine of Remembrance.
Inspired by the French Revolution, the uprising against the Ottoman Empire, on March 25, 1821, after 400 years of continuous occupation, the is recorded in the annals of history as the inspiring struggle of a small nation for liberty and democracy.
Thousands of students will parade tomorrow and together with their parents and grandparents will honour their heroic ancestors and will renew their commitment to continue guarding Thermopylae at the antipodes.
Tomorrow’s commemoration will be honoured by the Premier of the State, Ted Baillieu, the leader of the opposition Daniel Andrews, representatives of the prime minister, Julia Gillard and of the leader of the Coalition Tony Abbott, other members of state and federal parliament and representatives of the Armed forces.
Keeping with tradition, the parliament of the Hellenic Republic will be represent by Efstathios Konstantinidis of New Democracy Party (Νέα Δημορκατία). Mr Konstantinidis arrived yesterday together with his fellow parliamentarian John Korantis of the Popular Orthodox Rally (Λαϊκός Ορθόδοξος Συναγερμός) who will represent the Hellenic parliament at the commemoration of the Greek National Day in Sydney.
Hellenism and Orthodoxy celebrate a significant religious event tomorrow, the Annunciation of Our Lady (Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου). Τhe epicentre of the celebrations will be the historic church of the Annunciation of Our Lady in East Melbourne.
The commemoration will commence at 12.00 p.m. and will conclude at 1.00 p.m. The program for the day is the following
10.45 a.m. Service at St Eustathios, 221 Dircas St, conducted by his Grace Bishop Iakovos of Militoupolis.
11.00.a.m. Participants converge and take their designated positions on Tom’s Block alongside the service lane of St. Kilda Rd, alongside Linlithgow Av and Anzac Av.
11.30 p.m. Participants form in groups along the service lane.
11.45 p.m. Groups move to the steps leading to the Forecourt of the Shrine. 11.50 p.m. Officials take their positions at the steps leading to Shrine.
12.00 p.m. Parade commences. Some schools and community groups line up around the Eternal Flame.
12.45. p.m. Service at the Eternal Flame
13.00 p.m. Parade concludes.