More than 100 members of the Kolyvas family, one of the largest Greek families in Australia, recently gathered for a heartfelt reunion at Stars International in Melbourne.
The event was filled with moments of joy, nostalgia, and celebration as family members of all generations came together.
“We wanted to reconnect, share family moments, reminisce about the past, and help the younger generations get to know each other better,” Antonis Kolyvas told Neos Kosmos.
Among the 110 attendees was 94-year-old Alekos Kolyvas, the first member of the family to arrive in Australia. He migrated from Alexandria, Egypt, in the early 1950s.
The Kolyvas family traces its roots to Agios Georgios Sykousis, a historic village on the island of Chios. While some settled in Egypt before moving to Australia, others have origins in Asia Minor.
Agios Georgios Sykousis, often referred to simply as Ai Giorgis, is a traditional masticha-producing village with a rich history. It was originally developed around the Metochion of Sykeos, a large monastic estate under the administration of Nea Moni, as mentioned in a 13th-century Byzantine document. The village was once fortified with defensive walls and towers.
The community was officially established in 1518 by the monk Sophronios Sepsis, who organised the first settlers around the ruins of the medieval Monastery of Saint George.
The church, believed to have been a replica of Nea Moni’s main cathedral, has undergone numerous renovations over the centuries, altering its original structure.
