The National Committee of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia continues hosting events commemorating the 200th anniversary of Greece’s independence.

On Sunday 11 April, the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney and the Holy Archdiocese of Australia hosted the official opening of the exhibition “How did our ancestors dress on the eve of the Revolution of 1821?” at the event hall of the Greek Orthodox Paris of Kogarah.

This exhibition showcased a collection of traditional costume, jewelry, furniture, embroidery and carpets under the care of the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney, with more than 40 costumes from almost all regions of Greece.

Photo: Archdiocese of Australia

The inauguration event included the consecration of the exhibition by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, a performance by the National Metropolitan Choir under the direction of Themos Mexis and a rich program of traditional dances from Moria and Thrace by the dance ensemble of the Lyceum and the Aristotelion Academy of Greek Traditional Dance.

Among the many distinguished officials were Her Excellency High Commissioner of Cyprus Martha Mavrommati, the Honorable Consul General of Greece in Sydney Christos Karras, the Trade Commissioner of Greece in Australia, Katia Gkikiza, The Honorable Mark Buttigieg MLC, the President of the Greek Orthodox Community of Sydney Harry Danalis, the President of the Greek Festival of Sydney Nia Karteris and the President of the Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of the Resurrection Nickolas Varvaris.

Photo: Archdiocese of Australia

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The big surprise of the whole event was the presence of the Australian Prime Minister’s wife Jenny Morrison, to whom His Eminence Archbishop Makarios gifted an exact copy of the Gospel. Ms Morrison accepted the gift visibly moved. Earlier, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, having taken the floor as the first speaker, stressed that he is at the event as Archbishop, as chairman of the National Committee and as an ordinary Greek.

Photo: Archdiocese of Australia

“The Revolution is a historical event, but we must not forget that it is also an ecclesiastical event,” His Eminence Archbishop Makarios stated.

He also mentioned “the Greek Revolution and Greek freedom is not an event that concerns only the Greeks”, but an event that concerns “world history and world culture”.