While there will be no parelasi (parade) again this year to mark the 201st anniversary of Greece’s revolution for independence from Ottoman rule, the official ceremony to mark the event will be held at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne on Sunday, 20 March.

Archbishop Makarios of Australia accompanied by Bishop Kyriakos of Sozopolis, and Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta and other members of the clergy will attend along with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and leader of the opposition Matthew Guy, as will representatives at federal and state level. The Consul-General for Greece in Melbourne Emmanuel Karvelakis will also be among the guests of honour as will members of consular staff.

Flag bearers from Greek day and evening schools will be attend to give colour to the proceedings.

“The Greek community of Victoria may not have the opportunity this year to participate in the established majestic parade to celebrate the National Anniversary, due to the well-known circumstances, but the event organised by the Organising Committee will not be short of pride and pulse, honoring the great liberation struggle that led to the founding of the modern Greek state” said Tony Tsourdalakis from the Victorian National Anniversary Committee.

He said that this year also marked the 100th anniversary of the Asia Minor Catastrophe and the Victorian National Anniversary Committee had drawn a formal celebration program of events and activities that will commemorate not only the events of 1922, but also celebrate the contributions of the Greeks of Asia Minor to Modern Greece.

“The program involves organisations, public and private organisations, associations, cultural clubs, fraternities, federations, schools, women and youth associations and schools with various events that vary in content and include: conferences, workshops, presentations, speeches, exhibitions, plays student competitions and sporting and cultural events,” said Mr Tsourdalakis.

“The Organising Committee calls on the Greek community to pay tribute to all the innocent souls who perished as well as to the refugees of that time who experienced uprooting.”

On Friday, 25 March, the Hellenic sub-branch of the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL) will be holding its annual commemoration of Greek Independence Day on Friday 25 March with a ceremony at the Australian Hellenic Memorial on the corner of Birdwood and ANZAC Avenue in Domain Gardens Melbourne at 12 noon followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance at 1pm.

The days will start with a service at St Eustathios on 221 Dorcas Street, South Melbourne at 9.30am. After the wreath laying ceremonies at the Australian Hellenic Memorial and the Shrine of Remembrance, people are invited to to the to the Hellenic sub-branch building at 14A Ferrars Place in South Melbourne for a light meal and refreshments.

“This is an open invitation to all our Greek community to attend the wreath laying ceremony and pay their respects, at the Australian Hellenic Memorial at 12.00pm on the actual day which is Friday 25 March,” said the Hellenic RSL sub branch in a statement.

♦ If you would like to lay a wreath for the RSL ceremonies, please advise sub-branch secretary, Terry Kanellos, by email: tkanellos@bigpond.com or telephone 0414 209 674 by Wednesday, 23 March.