The Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW concluded its weekend of commemorations for the 159th anniversary of the Holocaust of the Arkadi Monastery with a solemn church service and wreath-laying ceremony on Sunday, November 9, at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, Redfern.
Honouring faith and freedom
The memorial service was presided over by Very Reverend Archimandrite Stephanos Tinikashvili, who led the congregation in prayer to honour the hundreds of men, women, and children who perished in the historic 1866 siege at the Arkadi Monastery in Crete.
A special message from His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia was read during the service, highlighting the heroism of the Cretans who chose death over surrender on the 8th and 9th of November 1866.
His Eminence praised the Cretan Association for continuing to honour the memory of those heroes and preserving their legacy of faith, courage, and freedom within the Australian Greek community.
Representing the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Anastasia Christofilopoulou, First Secretary for Public Diplomacy at the Consulate General, attended the service and joined in paying tribute on behalf of the Greek State. Her presence underscored the enduring connection between Greece and its diaspora, particularly in preserving the memory of historic acts of resistance such as Arkadi.
A ceremony of remembrance
Following the liturgy, guests and community members gathered outside the Cathedral for the wreath-laying ceremony, which was emceed by Freda Miyakis, who warmly welcomed attendees and reflected on the enduring importance of Arkadi as a symbol of freedom and sacrifice.
Wreaths were laid by Mrs Christofilopoulou; Terry Saviolakis, President of the Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW; Emmanuel Mountakis, President of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand; Panagiotis Tsigounis, President of the Greek Returned Services League of NSW; Ari Paraskakis, President of the Cretan Youth of Australia and New Zealand; and representatives of the Cretan Youth of Sydney and NSW.
The ceremony also featured the recitation of the Ode by Mr Tsigounis, followed by a minute of silence observed in memory of the fallen, before attendees joined in singing the Australian and Greek national anthems, uniting both identities in shared reverence.
Preserving legacy across generations
As the final wreaths were laid and the hymns echoed through Redfern, the 159th Arkadi commemoration once again reaffirmed the Cretan Association’s commitment to preserving history, faith, and identity -ensuring that the spirit of Arkadi continues to live on in the hearts of future generations.
