In a statement, the Chair of the Victorian Council for Greek National Day, Sophia Siachos, has reflected on the enduring significance of Greek Independence Day, describing March 25 as a powerful moment where history, identity and gratitude converge for Greeks both in Greece and across the diaspora.
Full message in English:
For Greeks everywhere, the 25th of March is far more than the commemoration of a historical event. It is a moment in which memory, identity, and gratitude converge. On that day in 1821, a people long deprived of political freedom raised the banner of independence and affirmed a universal principle: that dignity, liberty, and self-determination are worth every sacrifice.
For Greeks in Australia, the meaning of this anniversary resonates in a particularly profound way. Our forebears arrived on this continent often with little more than courage, faith, and the cultural inheritance of Hellenism. They built lives, families, and institutions while remaining deeply conscious that their freedom to do so was inseparable from the struggles of earlier generations who fought for the rebirth of the Greek nation.
Greek Independence Day therefore binds together past and present. It recalls the heroism of those who fought in the mountains, the islands, and the cities of Greece two centuries ago.
At the same time, it reminds us that the ideals of that struggle: freedom, democracy, and civic responsibility – remain living principles that continue to shape Greek communities across the world.
In Australia, the celebration of the 25th of March also carries another dimension: it is an affirmation of the enduring friendship between Greece and Australia. The freedoms that Greeks cherish were defended again on Australian soil during the Second World War, when Australians and Greeks stood side by side in the defence of Greece and Crete. That shared history forged a bond of respect that continues to unite our two nations.
For the Greek Australian community, this day is therefore both remembrance and renewal. It is a time to honour the sacrifices of the past while reaffirming the responsibility we bear to transmit our language, history, and cultural heritage to future generations.
On behalf of the Council, I extend my warmest greetings to all members of our community. May the memory of the struggle for independence continue to inspire unity, dignity, and pride among Greeks everywhere.
Sophia Siachos, Chair – Victorian Council for Greek National Day
