The Greek community came together in huge numbers at the Evangelismos Church to honour the dual celebration of the Annunciation Name day and Greek Independence Day.
The church was filled to its maximum as guests were forced to share the space (standing room only), with Bishop Kyriakos, Father Antonios and esteemed clergy leading the liturgy.
The service was attended by various distinguished guests, including the Ambassador of Greece to Australia, Stavros Venizelos, and the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Dimitra Georgantzoglou.
Key members of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) were also present, including President Bill Papastergiadis, Vice President Jim Bossinakis and Treasurer Marinis Pirpiris.
Andreas Andrianopoulos, a major church benefactor, also attended the service, reinforcing the strong ties between the community and the church’s restoration efforts.
A fundraiser luncheon followed the service, held at The Aegean restaurant, hosted by MCs Stella Pappas and GCM Vice President Anthea Sidiropoulos and serving up entertainment via the Pegasus Dance Trio.
Papastergiadis spoke on the significance of the day, emphasising freedom and democracy as central tenets of Greek Independence and the crucial role the Greek diaspora played in resisting the Ottoman Empire.
Historian Juliana Charpantidou then offered insights on the history of the Evangelismos Church.
The event also served as a vital fundraiser to support the church’s ongoing restoration program, with the GCM praising the efforts of Stella Pappas and the dedicated team of volunteers that worked to make the celebration a success.
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