Saturday marks the 196th anniversary of the Greek Revolution against the Ottoman Empire, and will see thousands of Greeks across Australian gather to commemorate the day of independence that continues to hold great meaning for the community.
Official celebrations across the nation’s cities will take place on Sunday 26 March, however a number of smaller gatherings will be taking place on Saturday.
St Eustathios Greek Orthodox Church in South Melbourne will host a service at 9.30 am, followed by a ceremony at the Australian Hellenic Memorial at 12 noon and the Shrine of Remembrance at 1.00 pm. Those in attendance are welcome to enjoy a light lunch at the premises of the Returned & Services League of Australia Hellenic Sub Branch in South Melbourne.
The City of Darebin will also honour the day with its own local gathering at the Preston Town Hall at 11.00 am. Local politicians, religious and community leaders, along with members of the community will come together to enjoy a light lunch.
On Sunday, St Eustathios will host a service at 10.30 am that will be officiated by Bishop Ezekiel of Dervis.
The annual parade will follow, with those marching expected to assemble at Service Lane off St Kilda Road at 11.00 am, and will kick-off at 12.30 pm. A memorial service and wreath-laying ceremony will then take place at the Australian Hellenic Memorial at 1.30 pm and will conclude at the Shrine of Remembrance at 2.00 pm.
Honouring Greece’s national day with their presence from the Greek Australia community will be Bishop Iakovos of Militoupolis, Consul General of Greece to Melbourne Christina Simantiraki, and Greek Community President Bill Papastergiadis. Liberal Member for Chisholm Julia Banks MP will be in attendance, representing Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, as will Federal Labor Member for Isaacs Mark Dreyfus on behalf of Opposition leader Bill Shorten, along with various MPs, among them Federal member for Calwell Maria Vamvakinou.
In Sydney commemorations commenced on Friday, with the opening of the exhibition ‘Escape From Pompeii – the Untold Roman Rescue’ at the Australian National Wartime Museum. As part of the exhibition and to help mark the day, the Hellenic Maritime Museum has loaned a life-size replica of the Athenian Trireme, Olympias.
On Saturday, a lunch has been organised as part of the 35th Greek Festival of Sydney at the restaurant aptly named 1821, where guests will enjoy dishes prepared by chefs David Tsirekas and Janni Kyritsis. In the evening, various Greek institutions across the state will mark the special occasion with their own events ahead of the official ceremony.
On Sunday, the Archdiocese and Greek Orthodox Community of NSW will come together for a service at the Cathedral of The Annunciation of Our Lady in Surry Hills and to lay wreaths at the Cenotaph in Martin Place.
A parade will ensue, featuring students from various Greek schools and other representative bodies, and will conclude at the Sydney Opera House where official guests will give speeches, with an appearance also expected by the Premier of NSW Gladys Berejiklian.