Greek and Cypriot politicians and diplomats have issued messages to Australia’s Greek diaspora to mark Orthodox Easter.
Message by Greece’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister for Greeks Abroad, Ioannis Michail Loverdos
Dear compatriots,
Although the distance from Greece is great, during my recent visit to Australia I observed that the bonds with the motherland remain alive and strong.
The message of the Resurrection takes on even greater significance this year amid the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, reminding us of the power of hope, reconciliation and peace.
I wish that the Resurrection of the Lord fills your hearts with hope and optimism, spiritually bringing you closer to our homeland, as love for Greece, our traditions and our values always keep us united wherever we may be during these Holy Days.
Happy Easter to all Greek women and men of Australia!
Ioannis Michail Loverdos
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece
Message by the Ambassador of Greece in Australia, Stavros Venizelos:
I wish that this year’s Easter may give us all strength and joy. Its universal message is first and foremost a message of personal rebirth and love towards our fellow man. The celebration is reviving our hopes for peace and prosperity.
I wholeheartedly wish to all Greek friends in Australia, a Happy Easter with your loved ones. Χρόνια πολλά!
Stavros Venizelos
Ambassador of Greece to Australia
Message by the High Commissioner of Cyprus in Australia, Antonis Sammoutis:
Dear compatriots,
On the occasion of the Easter celebrations — of the Passion of the Lord, the Cross and His three-day Resurrection — I wish you health and family happiness. The relationship of Greeks everywhere with these holy days is unique. It reaches far back, even to the pre-Christian era, with the death and rebirth of the god Dionysus or the return of Persephone from Hades and the coming of spring. For indeed, Easter and the Resurrection of the Sweet Spring are a celebration of spring in our homeland.
Life is not lost but is reborn, faith saves humankind, and love and kindness — which can extend even to sacrifice — give meaning and worth. And the Cross is always followed by the Resurrection! This is what we firmly believe as Greek Cypriots, 52 years after being uprooted from our homes and churches in the occupied part of our island. We firmly believe that the day will come when “Christ is Risen” will be heard again and the bells will ring joyfully in every corner of our small homeland.
Here in distant Australia, our diaspora placed the Church at the centre of its spiritual life from the very beginning. All our great celebrations, after all, are intertwined with our liturgical life. As every year, so too this year, we will ascend with reverence alongside the Crucified to Golgotha on Holy Thursday and accompany Him with the Lamentations on Good Friday to the Tomb. On the night of Holy Saturday, however, we will proclaim “Christ is Risen” and celebrate the Resurrection in radiant joy. And on Easter Sunday, we will all gather around the shared table, with roast lamb, kokoretsi, eggs and tsoureki.
Alongside faith and the lived experience of our Church, we always keep our traditions alive. In this beautiful multicultural country, we preserve our identity in its pure form. This identity, moreover, for centuries has encompassed all the values of your new homeland — love, solidarity, respect and offering to our fellow human beings. And it is this identity that guarantees progress and prosperity for all.
Wishing everyone a joyful Resurrection!
Antonis Sammoutis
High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Australia
