It’s that time of the year again as Greek communities around Australia prepare to commemorate OXI Day.
Observed each year, OXI Day commemorates then-Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas’ refusal to Italy’s Benito Mussolini to give free access for Italian troops to invade and occupy strategic areas of Greece during World War II. This ultimately led to Greece’s involvement in the war on the side of the Allies.
OXI Day is a cherished national holiday celebrated on October 28 annually in Greece, Cyprus and Australia. With many events planned in Australia this year, The Greek Herald has the lowdown on what you can attend over the next few days to mark the national day.
New South Wales:
In New South Wales, AHEPA Australia will be holding their OXI Day celebrations tonight, October 25 at the Greek Community Club in Lakemba.
On Saturday, October 26 from 11am, the Inner West Council will be holding a wreath laying ceremony at the Winged Victory Memorial at Marrickville Town Hall.
A Doxology service to mark OXI Day will be held in the morning on Sunday, October 27 at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady Theotokos in Redfern. This will be followed by a wreath laying ceremony in the Cathedral’s courtyard.
Later on Sunday, the inaugural Macarthur Greeks OXI Day will be held at the Campbelltown Showground from 11am to 4pm. The event will come alive with the irresistible sounds of the bouzouki, dazzling dance performances, and mouth-watering Greek food.
On Monday, October 28, the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW) will be holding a cocktail party to mark OXI Day at the Greek Community Club in Lakemba from 7pm.
AHEPA NSW will hold their OXI Day celebrations on Wednesday, October 30 at their hall in Rockdale from 7.30pm.
A final event to commemorate OXI Day in Sydney will be a lecture by Dr Stavros A Paspalas, entitled The Fate of the Antiquities of Greece during World War II, held on November 27 at NSW Parliament House.
Victoria:
In Victoria, the Hellenic RSL Sub Branch in Melbourne will mark OXI Day on Monday, October 28.
Commemorations will begin at St Eustathios Greek Orthodox Church in South Melbourne at 9.30am, followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the Australian Hellenic Memorial from 12pm. At 1pm, another wreath laying ceremony will take place at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance.
South Australia:
The Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA) will be celebrating OXI Day on Sunday, October 27. The Community will be holding a 10am doxology at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Archangels Michael and Gabriel, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony and poems by afternoon Greek school students.
Australian Capital Territory:
This year, to commemorate OXI Day, the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra (GOCCC) will hold an event on Sunday, November 3. There will be a special Doxology held at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in the morning. Students of the Greek Orthodox School of Canberra will perform poems and songs after the service.
At midday, the Canberra community will be invited to head to the Hellenic War Memorial to watch the annual wreath laying ceremony for the heroes of 1940.
Western Australia:
In Western Australia, local Greeks will be able to celebrate OXI Day on Saturday, November 9. There will be a Doxology at the Greek Orthodox Church of St Nektarios in Dianella from 11am, followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the State War Memorial in Kings Park from 4.30pm. The ceremony will be hosted by the new Consul-Designate of Greece, Eleni Georgopoulou.
