The 31st Annual Greek-Serbian Cultural and Friendship Day proved to be one of its biggest yet with a record number of dance groups and its longest ever entertainment program showing the bonds between the two communities is as strong as ever.
The event was held on Sunday at its standard location of St Stephen the Archdeacon Serbian Orthodox Church in Rooty Hill, with the day commencing with a morning divine service as officiated by the church’s priest Father Aleksandar Ivanovic.
The day then proceeded to the parish hall as the hundreds of attendees enjoyed the celebration through a myriad of food and drink alongside a diverse program of Balkan music and dancing through Greek, Serbian and even Bulgarian dance groups.
The entertainment program ran for its longest time since the event was established in 1993, boosted largely through its record participation of dance groups that amounted to nearly 40.
Numerous dignitaries attended the event, including the High Commissioner of Cyprus from Canberra, Antonis Sammoutis, the new Consul General of Serbia in Sydney, Perica Nikolic, and the Vice Consul General, Borisav Petkovic and the First Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Office of the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney, Mr. Athanasios Lambrou, representing the newly arrived Consul General of Greece, Georgios Skemperis.
Sammoutis and Lambrou both remarked on the common characteristics between Serbs and Greeks throughout history, noting the strong ties that have been cultivated between the two peoples and nations.
Father Ivanovic thanked the Greek community for everything it does for the Serbian community, making special mention of this year’s organizers, Miroslav Lojanica and Zarka Canak for the first time, and Dimitrios Kametopoulos, who has been the coordinator and master of ceremonies for the event for 31 consecutive years.
Jovan Pajovic, the parish’s President, also welcomed those present and the distinguished guests to the event and likewise emphasised the importance of the long-standing friendship between Greeks and Serbians.
Many other community figures were present at the event.
The next meeting between the Greeks and Serbians was confirmed for next year on Sunday, 20 September 2026.
