On Sunday, May 10, the Consulate of Greece in Perth held the annual Battle of Crete Commemoration Service and also honoured victims of the Greek Genocide.
A Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was held at the Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in western Perth and was presided over by His Grace Bishop Elpidios of Perth.
The Divine Liturgy was followed by a memorial service held to honour those who sacrificed their lives during the Battle of Crete in 1941. This moving tribute also included remembrance of the victims of the Greek Genocide.
The Consul of Greece in Perth, Eleni Georgopoulou, attended the Divine Liturgy, and at the invitation of Bishop Elpidios, addressed the congregation with a brief greeting.
A wreath laying ceremony then took place at the Battle of Crete Memorial in Kings Park where the Governor of Western Australia, Christopher Dawson, addressed the Greek Australian community, veterans, descendants, students and guests in attendance.
“We gather in this place again today to commemorate one of the most ferocious and consequential battles ever fought by Australian soldiers and the people, police and defenders of Crete,” he said.
“They were outnumbered. They were exhausted. And they were defending terrain they had barely had time to learn. Yet they still fought with extraordinary courage.”
The Governor also acknowledged the sacrifice of those who were taken prisoner following the battle and the families who endured years of uncertainty waiting for loved ones to return home.
“To endure that war — and to return, as many did, with dignity intact — speaks to a quality of character that humbles us,” he said.
The Governor also thanked the Greek Australian community for their continued commitment to preserving the legacy of those who served and for educating future generations about the significance of the Battle of Crete.
Source: Government House Western Australia
