A COVID-capacity attendance saw the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney partner with the Greek Orthodox Parish of St Catherine to deliver a commemoration of the Asia Minor Catastrophe at St Catherine’s church in the Sydney suburb of Mascot on Sunday night.

Professor Vrasidas Karalis, the Sir Nicholas Laurantus Professor of Modern Greek and Chair of Modern Greek Department at the University of Sydney, spoke about the context around the Greco-Turkish War of 1919-1922, which ultimately led to the Catastrophe and the forced expulsion of the historic Greek population in Anatolia.

The esteemed academic also noted, particularly relevant on the eve of Greece’s bicentenary of independence, how the nation’s first one hundred-year milestone was marked not by celebrations and events, but by division, strategic mistakes and avoidable tragedy.

The MELISMA Ensemble, led by Dimitrios Koumbaroulis, followed Prof. Karalis with a suite of songs from Smyrna – including Alatsatiani, ‘The Girl from Alatsata’ – before Archbishop Makarios highlighted both Greek and Orthodox characteristics of historic Asia Minor in his address, with references to the martyred Metropolitan Chrysostom of Smyrna.

READ MORE: My Life in Lockdown: Q&A with Professor Vrasidas Karalis

Prof. Karalis, Consul-General Karras and Fr. Athanasios flanked by parish priests and young Greeks in traditional dress. Photo: Eirini Alligiannis

Christos Karras, Consul-General of Greece in Sydney, also spoke to the full house before proceedings were concluded with light refreshments, flanked by boys and girls in traditional dress.

READ MORE: Full house at St Catherine’s in Sydney to commemorate Asia Minor Catastrophe

The St Catherine’s Parish, led by Fr Athanasios Giatsios, has hosted an impressive of lectures and conversations in recent months, including the FOCUS UNSW Orthodox students’ annual Forum and has upcoming conversations focused on the Hagia Sophia – again featuring Professor Karalis – scheduled for 8 October, with Dr Mario Baghos and Dr Andrew Melas from St Andrew’s Theological College.