Preparations and programming are almost complete by the Victorian Council Greek National Day culminating in the official visit to Melbourne of the Greek Presidential Guard, which will take place from Wednesday 20 April until Friday 29 April 2022.
The announcement of the impending visit of the Greek Presidential Guard was made by the Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews, during a reception marking the anniversary hosted by the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Mr Emmanuel Kakavelakis, at the Hellenic Museum. It was announced that the Greek Presidential Guard will be hosted in Melbourne, with the financial support of the Andrews Government, and will partake in the Anzac Day Parade amongst other events.
In a statement issued by the Premier, the visit of the Greek Presidential Guard was initiated by the former Minister for Health, Jenny Mikakos to mark the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the beginning of Greek Independence. The visit was originally scheduled for 2021 but was postponed due to international border closures. The Premier pledged to reschedule the visit of the Hellenic Presidential Guard for 2022 with the State Government providing funding for the visit
The official party of the Greek Presidential Guard will consist of three officers and thirteen Guards: Major Sakellaropoulos Vasileios from Ilia, Captain Kouloumbas Stavros from Kastoria, Sergeant Major Theodorou Efthymios from Thessaly, Private Paterakis Nikolaso from Athens, Private Vlachos Ioannis from Euboea, Private Ladas Konstantinos from Piraeus, Private Koukiadakis Michail from Crete, Private Pagonakis Marios from Crete, Private Basiakos Athanasios-Aristeides from Central Greece, Prrivate Papathanasis Konstantinos from Aetolia-Acarnania, Private Mandalos Nikolaos from Peloponnese, Private Grigoriadis Nikolaos from Pontos, Private Stasinopoulos Sotirios from Peloponnese, Private Evangelatos Panagiotis from Ionian Islands, Private Xenakis Dimitrios from Crete, Private Papakyriakidis Petros from Macedonia.
As a sign of respect to the Anzac soldiers who fought during World War I and World War II, the Presidential Guard will partake in the official Anzac Day Parade on Monday 25 April 2022 and will lead the allied corps. in the parade. On 28 April 2022, the Presidential Guard will attend the official opening of the exhibition “Open Horizons: Ancient Greek Journeys and Connections” which will take place at the Melbourne Museum in the presence of the Hellenic Minister for Culture Mrs Lina Mendoni. Exhibits from the National Archaeological Museum of Athens will be presented for the first time in Australia.
During their official visit, the Presidential Guard will participate in various commemorative events honouring those who fought during World War I. Specifically, on Thursday 21 April 2022 they will attend the Anzac Day Commemorative Service at Lemnos Gallipoli Square in Albert Park. Whilst on Friday 22 April 2022 they will participate in the annual Anzac Day Service organized by the Austin Repatriation Hospital dedicated to the Anzacs who lost their lives in Greece.
The Presidential Guard will also pay tribute to soldiers who lost their lives during World War II. On Saturday 23 April 2022 they will attend a Commemorative Service at the Australian Hellenic Memorial.
With the Greek Presidential Guard actively participating in numerous events during their official visit, they will also be celebrating Greek Orthodox Easter in Melbourne. The Presidential Guard will be attending the St Anargiri Greek Orthodox Church in Oakleigh to celebrate Good Friday where His Eminence Archbishop of Australia Makarios will officiate, assisted by the His Grace Bishop of Sozopoleos Kyriakos and His Grace Bishop of Kerasounta Evmenios.
On the night of Easter Saturday, the Presidential Guard will attend church services at St Eustathios Cathedral in South Melbourne, as well as at the Greek Orthodox Parish of Thomastown – the Transfiguration of Our Lord. Lastly, for Easter Sunday Mass the Presidential Guard will participate in services held at St Eustathios Cathedral as well as the Holy Monastery of “Axion Esti” in Northcote.
The guarding of the Hellenic Museum in the heart of Melbourne by the Presidential Guard is expected to be a memorable occasion, this will take place on Wednesday 27 April 2022.
During their visit, the Presidential Guard will have an official visit with His Eminence Archbishop of Australia Makarios, as well as visit the Greek Centre of the Greek Community of Melbourne. They will visit the residents at AGAPI Care and also the members of Pronia Welfare Centre.
St. John’s Greek Orthodox College, Oakleigh Grammar, Alphington Grammar and Nestoras College will host ANZAC Day assemblies and concerts with the participation of the Presidential Guard commemorating the Australian and Greek Alliance.
The Chairman of the Victorian Council Greek National Day, Mr Tony Tsourdalakis, has conveyed his thanks to the Premier of Victoria for the Government’s financial assistance that has made this visit by the Greek Presidential Guard to Melbourne possible, as well as to the former Minister for Health ]Jenny Mikakos who played a pivotal role in the arrangement.
On behalf of the Victorian Council Greek National Day he also thanked the organisations and schools that have offered to host the Greek Presidential Guard during their official visit.
