This year’s Greek War of Indipendence celebrations calendar is jam-packed.
The Greek Community of Melbourne has organised more than 30 events spanning from February to November 2021. This year is a special one, as it marks 200 years from the Revolution of 1821 for Greece’s Independence from the Ottoman Empire.
The much anticipated Lonsdale Street Greek Music Festival will kick off on Saturday 20 March and go until the end of Sunday 21 March 2021, aspiring to celebrate a COVID-safe Antipodes.
The festival with extend from Waratah Place, Heffernan Lane, Golden Square Car Park, up to Lonsdale Street in collaboration with the Lonsdale Street Greek Precinct. The event takes place with the auspices of the City of Melbourne; the Victorian Government, supported by the Multicultural Committee and Delphi Bank.
Greek music and delicious food with be on offer in open spaces that will be transformed in Greek style boîtes for over 20 hours.
The 200TH Anniversary of the Greek War of Independence: The Greek Community of Melbourne’s Program of Celebration
- Thursday 18 February
THE GREEK LANGUAGE & CULTURE SEMINARS: GREEK BICENTENARY SERIES
Greek War of Independence (1821-1832): Between history and ‘mythistory Part 1
Live Stream [Adelaide] | Presented in association with NUGAS Victoria
Yianni John Cartlege, Flinders University - Thursday 25 February
THE GREEK LANGUAGE & CULTURE SEMINARS: GREEK BICENTENARY SERIES
Greek War of Independence (1821-1832): Between history and ‘mythistory Part 2
Live Stream [Adelaide] | Presented in association with NUGAS Victoria
Yianni John Cartlege, Flinders University
For release in March | date TBC
182! – GRAPHIC SHORT STORY COLLECTION
An adaptation of stories from the 1821 Greek Revolution presented as a Graphic Short Story
collection (aka comic book). Research by Syrmo Kapoutsi and Illustrated by John Petropoulos. - Thursday 4 March
THE GREEK LANGUAGE & CULTURE SEMINARS: GREEK BICENTENARY SERIES
Did the Greek Revolution of 1821 really happen? Myths, counter-myths and historical
knowledge
Greek Centre for Contemporary Culture + Live Stream
Professor Vrasidas Karalis, The University of Sydney - Thursday 11 March
THE GREEK LANGUAGE & CULTURE SEMINARS: GREEK BICENTENARY SERIES
Manto Mavrogenous: Between Two Worlds
Live Stream [Greece] IN GREEK ONLY
Dr Eleftheria Zei, University of Crete [Greece] - Saturday 20 + Sunday 21 March
THE LONSDALE ST GREEK MUSIC FESTIVAL
Waratah Place + Heffernan Lane + Golden Square Car Park, Lonsdale St Melbourne | Presented in association with the Lonsdale
Street Greek Precinct | Supported by the City of Melbourne + The Victorian Government via the Victorian Multicultural Commission +
Delphi Bank
The Greek Community presents Antipodes in a pandemic. This COVID safe celebration of Greek
music and the 200th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence. The historic Greek Precinct’s
Laneways and open air spaces are turned into a boîte setting for audiences to enjoy a Greek bite
and listen to Greek music. Over 20 hours of entertainment in the heart for the city. - Thursday 25 March
THE GREEK LANGUAGE & CULTURE SEMINARS: GREEK BICENTENARY SERIES
Greece’s 1821 as an International Event: its Impact on America
Live Stream [USA]
Professor Alexander Kitroeff, Haverford College
The 200TH Anniversary of the Greek War of Independence: - Sunday 28 March
THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR LADY FEAST DAY | COMMEMORATION OF THE START OF THE GREEK WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
The Holy Church of the Annunciation of Our Lady + Lansdowne Street East Melbourne | Presented in association with the Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia + the City of MelbourneA celebration of Victoria’s oldest church’s feast day and commemoration of the raising of the
revolutionary banner in 1821 at Agia Lavra by Patriarch Germanos. Following a service in the
recently reconstituted church, festivities will spill onto Lansdowne Street where performance, food
and music will commemorate the national day of celebration. - Thursday 1 April
THE GREEK LANGUAGE & CULTURE SEMINARS: GREEK BICENTENARY SERIES
Visions of Freedom in the Greek world
Live Stream [Greece]
Professor Paschalis Kitromilides, The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - Thursday 8 April
THE GREEK LANGUAGE & CULTURE SEMINARS: GREEK BICENTENARY SERIES
Thebes: The Forgotten city of Ancient Greece
Live Stream [UK] Professor Paul Cartledge, University of Cambridge - Thursday 15 April
THE GREEK LANGUAGE & CULTURE SEMINARS: GREEK BICENTENARY SERIES
1821 Birth of a Nation State
Live Stream [Greece]
Professor Thanos Veremis, Professor Emeritus of Political history at the University of Athens - Thursday 20 May
THE GREEK LANGUAGE & CULTURE SEMINARS: GREEK BICENTENARY SERIES
Ottoman Perceptions of the Greek Revolution
Live Stream [Greece]
Dr Leonidas Moiras, The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - Saturday 29 May
MUSICAL ODYSSEY: 200 YEARS OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE
Melbourne Recital Centre | Presented in association with the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW
Featuring Dimitris Basis accompanied by a George Ellis led orchestra, the concert pays
symphonic tribute to the grand Greek composers who have influenced Greek music for 200 years.
Program detail to follow. - Thursday 10 June
THE GREEK LANGUAGE & CULTURE SEMINARS: GREEK BICENTENARY SERIES
The iconic status of Theodore Vryzakis’s ‘The Exodus of Messolonghi’, 1853: 19th century
Philhellene art in the service of Greek nationalism
Greek Centre for Contemporary Culture + Live Stream
Spiridoula Demetriou, PhD candidate, University of Melbourne - Friday 11 June
DEATH OF A ROMANTIC: LORD BYRON + THE INFLUENCE OF ROMANTICISM ON THE
GREEK WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
Greek Centre for Contemporary Culture + Live Stream
An ensemble of actors and musicians present a special evening that will include readings of Byron
and his fellow European Romantics such as Keats, Shelley, Hugo, Dumas and Palamas. Program
detail to follow. - Thursday 17 June
THE GREEK LANGUAGE & CULTURE SEMINARS: GREEK BICENTENARY SERIES
The Kodjabashis and their role in tax and political operations of Christian communities in
the Late Ottoman Empire
Live Stream [Greece] IN GREEK ONLY
Professor Socrates Petmezas, Department of History and Archaeology, University of Crete - Saturday 19 June
(SUPER)HEROES OF 1821: HEROES OF A REVOLUTION: THE GOOD, THE BAD + THE GORY
Greek Centre for Contemporary Culture + Live Stream
The telling of stories of the (super)heroes of the revolution via improvised theatre sport games.
Assuming no knowledge of the War of Independence, the event aims to introduce key identities
and events to new generations. Program detail to follow. - Thursday 24 June
THE GREEK LANGUAGE & CULTURE SEMINARS: GREEK BICENTENARY SERIES
The Chios Massacre (1822): British Humanitarianism and Chiot Emigration
Greek Centre for Contemporary Culture + Live Stream
Yianni John Cartlege, Flinders University - Friday 25 – Sunday 27 June
THE GREEK WRITERS FESTIVAL: MYTHOLOGISING CONTEXT + IDENTITY
Greek Centre for Contemporary Culture + Live Stream
A celebration of 200 years of Greek and Greek Australian Writers, the festival will look to celebrate
thereat Greek authors of the past 200 years whilst exploring the themes of identity. Program detail
to follow. - Wednesday 30 June
R-EVOLUTION-200
Waratah Place, Hardaway Lane, Heffernan Lane Melbourne
A re-telling of the contemporary Greek State by local street (graffiti and stencil) artists adorning
the laneways off Melbourne’s historic Lonsdale Street. Program detail to follow. - Thursday 1 July
THE GREEK LANGUAGE & CULTURE SEMINARS: GREEK BICENTENARY SERIES
Battle of Navarino
Greek Centre for Contemporary Culture + Live Stream
Dr Dimitris Gonis, La Trobe University - Thursday 8 July
THE GREEK LANGUAGE & CULTURE SEMINARS: GREEK BICENTENARY SERIES
Revolution interrupted: the form of the Greek state in the eyes of Riga’s Pheraios, St
Kosmas and Adamantios Korais
Greek Centre for Contemporary Culture + Live Stream
Dean Kalimniou, Melbourne based lawyer, poet + journalist - Thursday 22 July
THE GREEK LANGUAGE & CULTURE SEMINARS: GREEK BICENTENARY SERIES
Cyprus and 1821: Myths, Realities, Forgetting and Remembering
Greek Centre for Contemporary Culture + Live Stream
Associate Professor Andrekos Varnava, Flinders University - Thursday 19 August
THE GREEK LANGUAGE & CULTURE SEMINARS: GREEK BICENTENARY SERIES
In memory of Theodoros Kolokotronis (1770 – 1843)
Greek Centre for Contemporary Culture + Live Stream
Dr Stavroula Nikoloudis, La Trobe University - Thursday 2 September
THE GREEK LANGUAGE & CULTURE SEMINARS: GREEK BICENTENARY SERIES
Who is a Greek citizen? – the constitutional articles of the Greek Revolution 1821-1832
Greek Centre for Contemporary Culture + Live Stream IN GREEK ONLY
Juliana Charpantidou. PhD candidate, University fo Athens - Wednesday 15 September
200 YEARS OF FLAVOUR. FLAVOURS OF GREECE 2021
Details to Follow
A celebration of Greek cuisine through food events. Showcasing Victoria’s exceptional Greek
cuisine, the event celebrates restaurants and suppliers and Greek product and key proponents.
Program detail to follow. - Thursday 23 September
YOUTH SUMMIT 21 [working title]
Greek Centre for Contemporary Culture + Live Stream
Bringing together young Greek Australians to discuss matters that are pertinent to their
understanding of place, identity and a sense of belonging. Program detail to follow. - Thursday 30 September
THE GREEK LANGUAGE & CULTURE SEMINARS: GREEK BICENTENARY SERIES
The International Resonance of the Greek Revolution
Live Stream [Greece] IN GREEK ONLY
Professor Antonis Liakos, The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - 20 – 31 October
THE 27TH GREEK FILM FESTIVAL
Palace Cinemas (various) | Presented in association with Delphi Bank
A celebration of Greek film, the festival will celebrate contemporary Greek cinema and pay tribute
to Greek screen culture. Program detail to follow. - Saturday 30 October
THE INAUGURAL GRECIAN BALL
he Grand Hyatt Ballroom | Presented in association with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia + the Organising Committee of
the National Day celebration
The inaugural hosting of what will become an annual event, the commemorative ball celebrating
Greek National Day and held as a feature event of the year-long Greece 21 celebrations. Program
detail to follow. - Friday 05 November
GREECE THE CONCERT [working title]
Margaret Court Arena | Presented in association with the Cypriot Community of Victoria and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of
Australia
Featuring leading Greek popular performers XXXXXXX and XXXXXXX, a live music concert
celebration of Greek song, culture and life. Program detail to follow. - Saturday 20 November
ΟΜΟΡΦΗ ΠΟΛΗ (“OMORFI POLI”)
Melbourne Recital Centre | Presented in association with the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW
The award winning performance of Mikis Theodoarakis masterpiece conducted by Nikos Volaris
and featuring XXXXXX. Program detail to follow.*The program detail will be released as individual events are launched. Please note that event details are subject to change.
All enquiries: Jorge Menidis at jorge@greekcentre.com.au or +61 3 9662 2722