Adelaide turned white and blue over the weekend, with scores of Greek Australians gathering for commemorations of OXI Day, featuring a march in the city centre by members of the Greek Presidential Guard.
On Friday 28 October a service was held at St George Church, Thebarton, in the presence of Greece’s Deputy Defence Minister Nikos Hardalias and the Evzones.
The liturgy was followed by the unveiling of a memorial in honour of the 200th year anniversary of the independence of the Greek state, honouring ‘the fallen in the name of freedom’.
Events began on Saturday morning with the Evzones conducting a half-hour march attracting local Greek Australians as well as bystanders, some witnessing for the first time the impressive procession of Greece’s elite Presidential Guard in official uniform.
At around 9am the march concluded in front of Adelaide’s War Memorial marking the beginning of the Service of Remembrance honouring OXI Day and the fallen in various wars. A ‘trisagion’ and a wreath laying ceremony followed.
Greece’s Deputy Defence Minister Nikos Hardalias referred to the sacrifice of the ANZACs who fought side by side the Greeks in conflicts and the ‘leventes’ Evzones who travelled so far for the commemorations.
“I feel honoured and proud. I feel honoured, because this year I had the chance to commemorate OXI Day, one of the most important Greek national anniversaries, in a country whose gallant soldiers fought side by side with ours in many conflicts including the second World War. And I feel proud, because today I see the leventes members of the Hellenic Presidential Guard, our Evzones, so far away from home standing proudly to honour the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.
The day culminated with a sit down dinner event which commenced with the Presidential Guard marching from their hotel down Frome Street, Rundle Street, East Terrace through to Vardon Street, followed by a ‘welcome to country’ service performed by an Aboriginal elder.
On Tuesday, members of the Presidential Guard unit are scheduled to visit Perth, with WA Premier Mark McGowan and Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas expected to welcome them in person.
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