May is a historically and emotionally charged month for the Greek community. Greek Pontian Genocide Remembrance Day and the Battle of Crete are two events that marked not only Greek, but global history and their commemoration is of particular importance for the Hellenic Diaspora.

HONOURING THE VICTIMS OF THE PONTIC GREEK GENOCIDE

Thursday 19 May was the official Pontic Greek Genocide Remembrance Day as ratified by the Greek parliament in 1994.

In memory of this national catastrophe, Pontians in Australia have organised many events throughout the country to remember the massacres, forced deportations, death marches, expulsions, executions, and the attempt to destroy their Orthodox cultural, historical, and religious monuments.

To mark the remembrance of the Pontian Greek Genocide, the Greek Centre has been illuminated in red, following an initiative of the Pontian Association in collaboration with the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM). The red light symbolises the 350,000 fallen Pontian’s who were massacred by the Turkish army during the seven dark years that the Pontian Genocide lasted.

President of the GCM Bill Papastergiadis OAM is particularly sensitive about this dark chapter in Greece’s long history as his grandmother was one of the innocent victims who experienced expatriation, leaving her whole life behind on the Asia Minor coast.

“My grandma was born in Trabzon in Minor Asia, she was pushed out of her home and came to Greece in the early 19th century. The courage, her strong ethics and her outstanding strength from within, was remarkable. My grandmother has fought and worked hard her whole life and she raised 4 children by herself in Kastoria. She witnessed the genocide and her wounds never healed. When she moved to Australia to raise me, one thing I remember vividly was that she was speaking to me in the Pontian dialect. After all these years I still remember her words, she said ‘Bill I can’t really talk about what happened to me but let’s move forward, always move forward’. These memories followed her and the least we could do today is to remember and honour the memory of all those innocent victims who suffered and lost their lives. Our decision today, to illuminate the Greek Centre in red light is to let everyone know that our generation and the future generations will never forget”.

The commemorative events started on Sunday 15 May, with a service at St Efstathios, followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the Australian Hellenic Memorial, organised by the Pontian Associations of Melbourne under the auspices of the Australian Federation of Pontian Associations.

In the afternoon of the same day, the Pontian Association of Whittlesea “Panagia Soumela” together with the youth of the Pontian associations of Melbourne under the auspices of the Australian Federation of Pontian Associations hosted a commemoration event to honour and remember the victims of the Genocide in Pontos.

On Thursday 19 May, the Central Pontian Association of Melbourne “Pontiaki Estia”, Merimna Pontion Kyrion Oceania and the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne in conjunction with the Australian Federation of Pontian Associations, hosted a lecture by Dean Kalimniou titled “The First Pontian Genocide: Mithridates and Rome”. The event took place at the Greek Centre’s Mezzanine Level.

The commemorative events will close on Sunday 29th of May at 3pm with the book launch titled “Soumela and the Magic Kemenche” hosted by the Greek-Australian Cultural League of Melbourne and the Hellenic Writers Association of Australia, in conjunction with the Australian Federation of Pontian Associations. Written by Dean Kalimniou and illustrated by Stephanos Eleftheriadis, this is the first children’s book to delve into the tragic events of the Pontian Genocide in an age-appropriate way, written in both English and Greek. The event will take place at the Panarcadian Association of Melbourne, 570 Victoria Street, North Melbourne. For more information contact Mrs. Cathy Alexopoulos on 0428 968 715.

REMEMBERING THE BATTLE OF CRETE

The Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand honours the 81st Anniversary of the ANZAC Battle of Crete with a series of events that started on Thursday 19th May and will last for a week.

The first event was the presentation of the major photo exhibition from Crete to Melbourne, titled “Crete in 1821”. The launch of the exhibition was organised by the Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand in conjunction with the Historical Museum of Crete and with the support of the Region of Crete. The exhibition was launched on Thursday 19th May at Queens Hall, in Parliament House at 6.00pm by the Leader of the State opposition the Hon Mathew Guy MP and the Director of the Historical Museum of Crete Mr. Agisilaos Kaloutsakis.

On Friday, 20th May the Battle of Crete & Greece Commemorative Council of Victoria in conjunction with the City of Shepparton, and the support of the Greek Australian Ex Servicemen Association hosted an ANZAC Greece & Crete Ceremony to commemorate the ANZACs from Shepparton that lie on Greek soil. The program includes a visit to the St. George Greek Orthodox Parish, a ceremony at the Shepparton War Cenotaph and official luncheon at the Shepparton RSL. The program also includes an Olive Tree Planting and Plaque Unveiling.

The Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand in conjunction with the Region of Crete will also present the movie titled “Κρουσώνας – Στα χνάρια του Καπετάν Σατανά” which is based on the resistance of Crete during the WWII. The movie was produced by Cycles Film and directed by Mrs. Viki Arvelaki. The movie will screen at Palace Cinemas Como, Corner Chapel Street and Toorak Road South Yarra on Friday, 20th May.

THE FULL PROGRAM FOR THE WEEKEND 21-23 MAY

TRADITIONAL CRETAN “GLENDI” ON SATURDAY

The Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne and the Pancretan Association of Melbourne under the auspices of the Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand with the support of the Region of Crete are hosting a Traditional Cretan Glendi on Saturday 21st May at 7.00pm, at the Cretan House, 148 Nicholson Street, Brunswick East. Featuring Giorgos Glykokokalos (Lyra &Vocals), Giorgos Krasanakis (Lute), Tony Iliou (Guitar) and the Victorian Dance Groups.

CHURCH SERVICE & DOXOLOGY ON SUNDAY

The Battle of Crete & Greece Commemorative Council in conjunction with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia are hosting a Church Service and a Doxology with the presence of His Grace Bishop of Sozopoleos KYRIAKOS, commemorating the 81st Anniversary of the Battle of Crete, on Sunday 22nd May at 10.00am, at St. Efstathios Cathedral, 221 Dorcas Street South Melbourne.

BATTLE OF CRETE PARADE & WREATH LAYING CEREMONY

The Battle of Crete & Greece Commemorative Council are hosting the Official Parade and Wreath Laying Ceremony commemorating the 81st Anniversary of the Battle of Crete on Sunday 22nd May 11.30am, at the eternal Flame of the forecourt at the Shrine of Remembrance.

CEREMONY

The Australian Hellenic Memorial Foundation is hosting a Ceremony commemorating the 81st Anniversary of the Battle of Crete on Sunday 22nd May at 1.00pm at the Australian Hellenic Memorial in the Domain Gardens.

OFFICIAL LUNCHEON

The Pancretan Association of Melbourne and the Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne under the auspices of the Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand and the Battle of Crete & Greece Commemorative Council are hosting the ANZAC Commemorative Luncheon in honour of our last surviving ANZAC Crete Veteran and their families commemorating the 81st Anniversary for the Battle of Crete on Sunday 22nd May at 2.00pm, at the Cretan Village, 90 Cathies Lane Wantirna South.

MONDAY 23 MAY – DISCUSSION FORUM

The Battle of Crete & Greece Commemorative Council of Victoria in conjunction with the Hellenic Armed Forces are hosting a discussion forum presented by the senior visiting representative Vice Admiral Ioannis Drymousis, of the Hellenic Armed Forces on Monday 23rd May at 6.30pm, at the Greek Community Centre, 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.

THURSDAY 26 MAY – LECTURE

The Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand in conjunction with the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne are hosting a lecture by Professor Peter Monteath, titled “The Battle of 42nd Street”, Thursday 26th May at 6.30pm, at the Greek Community Centre, 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.