The Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney held its annual Mother’s Day Lunch at Le Montage in Lilyfield on Tuesday, May 14.
The Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Yannis Mallikourtis, and his wife, together with many representatives from local Greek community organisations, mingled and danced with guests on the day.
The guest speaker was Dr Anna Dimitriou who analysed the poetry of three people. This included the late Archbishop Sylvania whose central theme was his dedication and love for his mother, Antigone Kefalas who had a different perspective on motherhood, and Helen Koujoutsis who had maternal filial rivalry but was overcome through her faith.
Dr Dimitriou’s book will be coming out in June called ‘Reading Greek Australian Literature through the Paramythi,’ bridging multiculturalism with world literature.
President of the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney, Liana Vertzayias touched the attendees with her emotional thought-provoking points and poetry. She also explained how in Ancient Greece and Rome, the mother figure was very strong and Rhea was the “Mother of the Gods” as she seems to be the first to give birth and raise her children with breast milk.
The Consul General talked about how the celebration of Mother’s Day is a relatively new phenomenon in Greece.
Lyceum Secretary Christina Mitsopoulos was emcee for the lunch event.
