On Sunday, March 22, the Holy Diocese of Adelaide commemorated Greek National Day in South Australia with a Doxology service and a wreath laying ceremony.
The formalities began with the Hierarchical Matins, Divine Liturgy and Doxology service at the Greek Orthodox Archiepiscopal Church of Saint Sophia Adelaide (Wisdom of God). The service was presided by His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide.
This was followed by a memorial trisagion service at the National War Memorial in Adelaide’s CBD. The service was hosted by the Inter-Communities Council (ICC) of the Holy Diocese of Adelaide.
The memorial service was then followed by a wreath laying ceremony. The Consul-General of Greece in Adelaide, Dr. Alexandra Theodoropoulou led the wreath laying ceremony and delivered the festive speech of the day where she honoured the heroes of the Greek revolution and paid special tribute to the 200th anniversary of the exodus of Messolonghi. She also spoke of the art and culture this era inspired.
Dignitaries who also laid wreaths included Steve Georganas MP, Federal Member for Adelaide; Tom Koutsantonis MP, Treasurer of South Australia; Olivia Savvas MP; Michael Coxon, Mayor of West Torrens; representatives of all three branches of the Australian armed forces and SA Police; representatives of the Australian and Greek branches of the RSL and from many of Adelaide’s Greek cultural associations.
After the ceremony, the community celebrated the anniversary with traditional dance performances, music and food at Torrens Parade Ground. Many Greek Language School students from across Adelaide were in attendance, dressed in historical traditional attire. They sang traditional songs and performing poems and dances.
The Pan Macedonian Federation of SA President Konnie Agalianos attended alongside Nicole Genimahaliotis, President of the Vergina Greek Women’s Society.
In a Facebook post about the day, the Federation said the day acted as “a reminder that our culture is not only something we commemorate, but something we live.”
