The Hellenic President Guard (AKA Evzones) have officially landed in Australia for their special 12-day tour to honour Anzac Day.
The Evzones touched down in Adelaide on Wednesday, where they will be until 28 April before heading to Sydney for the rest of their stay until 4 May.
“We are incredibly honoured to welcome the Hellenic Presidential Guard to Australia for these historic events,” said Harry Patsouris, spokesperson for the Hellenic Studies Foundation (one of the organisers).
“Their visit underscores the deep bond between our two nations, particularly as we commemorate the sacrifices made by Greek and Australian soldiers during the World Wars.
This is a unique opportunity for all Australians to engage with Greek culture and heritage while paying tribute to the brave men and women who fought for our freedom.”
Nick Hatzistergos, President of the Hellenic Club Sydney (another organiser), echoed Patsouris’ sentiments, saying:
“This visit provides a momentous opportunity for reflection and celebration. It unites the Greek and Australian communities in honouring our shared history and the contributions of Greek Australians to our national story.”
The Evzones will engage in numerous public events while here, beginning with the Anzac Day formalities on Friday.
The 14 Evzones will participate in the Dawn Service at the Memorial Gardens, adjacent to the West Torrens Council Chamber, commencing at 5.30am and marching along Sir Donald Bradman Drive.
Later at 9.30am, they will officially participate in the Anzac Day March through Adelaide City, concluding with a Service of Remembrance at the Cross of Sacrifice in Pennington Gardens.
The Guard will then visit St Basil’s Nursing Home the following day at 10am, sharing morning tea with residents and invited guests.
On Sunday, they will attend the Divine Liturgy hosted by the Greek Orthodox Community and Parish of Saint George at 9.30am.
Following the Divine Liturgy, the Guard will join the Thebarton Hellenic Festival, featuring traditional Greek music, dance, and cuisine, with attendees having the chance to meet and take photos with them.
The Evzones will land in Sydney for the second half of their visit on Monday 28 April, which will include their attendance at a solemn opening ceremony at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady in Redfern, officiated by Archbishop Makarios of Australia.
It will kick off the Guard’s first visit to Sydney since 2018.
The Evzones will be greeted with an official Sydney welcome reception on Tuesday 29 April, 6pm, at Business Sydney Events Centre, organised by the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney and Business Sydney.
The Guard will visit the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW’s Home for the Aged in Earlwood on 30 April at 1pm.
The next event will take place on 1 May at 12.30pm when they take part in a “The ANZACs of Greece” luncheon at Beta Grand, with bookings to be made by contacting hcaccinsw@gmail.com.
Later that day, they will visit St Basil’s aged care facility in Randwick where there will be a chapel service and presentation, followed by a photo exhibition of The Evzones Collection by Nick Bourdaniotis.
The collection was previously exhibited at the Athens War Museum and has now been permanently installed at the Presidential Palace and the Guards’ headquarters (Garrison).
The Evzones will participate in a Guard of Honour Ceremony at the Cenotaph in Martin Place on 2 May at 1.30pm, a formal tribute recognising the sacrifices of Australian and Greek servicemen and women, especially those in the Greek and Cretan campaigns.
Later that day at 7.30pm, they will attend a Doxology service at St. Ioannis Greek Orthodox Church, Parramatta, followed by a meet-and-greet in the church hall.
The week’s flagship event will take place at 1.30pm on 3 May, wherein they will feature in a ceremonial march and flag-raising at the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park, honouring shared Greek-Australian military heritage.
The 14 Evzones will march to the ANZAC Memorial from Elizabeth Street.
Their visit concludes with a busy day on 4 May that starts with a 9.30am memorial service will be held at the Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of Kogarah, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Kogarah ANZAC Memorial, located in Town Square.
An identical event will take place the same time at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Belmore.
The day concludes with a Tribute Luncheon at 12.30pm hosted by the Australasian Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) NSW at Hermes Lounge in Kogarah.
In addition to the schedule, the Guard will also visit several schools, including All Saints Grammar, St Spyridon College, and St Euphemia College.
