Canberra’s Greek community has concluded its 2026 Greek Independence Day commemorations with a memorial service and wreath-laying ceremony at the Australian Hellenic War Memorial, bringing together clergy, officials and community members in a tribute to history, faith and national identity.
The service was led by His Grace Bishop Athinagoras of Canberra, alongside clergy, and formed the final event in a week of celebrations marking March 25.
Wreaths were laid by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, the Embassy of Greece in Australia, the High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus, the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra, the Hellenic Club of Canberra, and a range of Greek associations across the ACT.
Federal MPs David Smith, Member for Bean, and Steve Georganas, Member for Adelaide, also paid their respects, laying wreaths during the ceremony.
Earlier in the day, a church service was held, with students from the Greek School of Canberra participating through poetry recitations, delivering their performances with confidence and pride.
The memorial marked the conclusion of a week of events that saw the nation’s capital awash in blue and white, in one of the most visible Greek Independence Day commemorations in recent years.
On Wednesday evening, Canberra’s skyline was transformed as landmarks including Questacon, the National Museum of Australia, the Royal Australian Mint and the National Carillon were illuminated in blue as part of a coordinated “Blue Buildings Tour.” The initiative brought together community leaders, including Ambassador of Greece to Australia Stavros Venizelos and Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra President John Loukadellis, alongside members of the Hellenic youth community.
In a historic first, the Greek National Anthem was performed from the National Carillon Bell Tower by Australia’s senior carillonist, Dr Thomas Peter Laue. The performance, which also included the Australian National Anthem and a curated musical programme, was widely regarded as a defining moment of the celebrations, resonating across the capital.
Earlier on March 25, the community gathered at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church for the Feast of the Annunciation, grounding the national day in its spiritual significance.
The week also saw strong youth participation, with young Greek Australians travelling from interstate to attend events, including a waterfront gathering hosted by the Hellenic Youth Club of Canberra, fostering connection and shared identity among the next generation.
While this year’s commemorations were initially expected to coincide with a visit from Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the trip was postponed due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Despite this, Canberra’s Greek community delivered a series of events marked by visibility, dignity and pride, culminating in Sunday’s memorial service – a moment of reflection that honoured both the legacy of 1821 and the enduring strength of Hellenism in Australia.
As the commemorations drew to a close, organisers expressed their gratitude to all who participated, marking the occasion with a final message: Long live Greece!
*Photos supplied by Petros Satsias
