The Pan-Samian Brotherhood of Melbourne and Victoria “Pythagoras” celebrated with splendour and emotion the 201st anniversary of the liberation of Samos from the Ottoman genocidal threat (6 August, 1824), at their annual ball.
The event, which was held on Saturday (9 August) at the Essendon Football Club function hall, was not just the Brotherhood’s traditional dance, but also a memorial ceremony, as well as a celebration that united the past with the present, proving that they continue to contribute to the Greek presence in Australia.
The evening began with a performance by the dance group of the Greek Community of Melbourne, under the guidance of dance teacher and folklorist Nikos Papaefthymiou.
With traditional Samian dances that were overflowing with vitality and authenticity, the dancers transported the attendees to the alleys and squares of the island, where the sounds of the violin and the lute still accompany daily life.
Immediately afterwards, the band “Demotika” opened the musical program with Rigas’ “Thourio”, reminding that freedom and dignity are won through sacrifice.
Afterwards, they presented a rich and curated repertoire of traditional songs from the Aegean and Asia Minor, creating bridges of memory between our places of origin and our new place of life.
In his speech, the president of the Pan-Sami Brotherhood, Iraklis Vagianos, highlighted the presence of many young people at the event, underlining that this is clear proof that the struggles of the Samian revolutionaries were not in vain.
“There is historical continuity,” he noted, “since we perpetuate our Samian customs, two hundred years later, on the other side of the earth.”
He noted that the anniversary is not only about historical memory but calls us to resist all forms of violence and authoritarianism as our ancestors did.
Vagianos also referred to the rich history of the Brotherhood, which is now in its 91st year since its establishment, constituting a pillar of cultural and social contribution to the Greek community.
Pride for Samos and its people echoed on the walls of the hall, and in the hearts of those present was the certainty that memory becomes power, and tradition a weapon of unity.
The evening concluded with dances and songs that went until late, leaving behind the feeling that, even far from their homeland, they can resurrect its heroic moments and pass on to future generations the courage and dignity that characterised the Samians of 1824.
