The Greek Independence Day march to the Sydney Opera House will take place this year for the first time in four years.
Greek Independence Day is celebrated every year on March 25th and commemorates the start of the War of Greek Independence in 1821. It coincides with the Greek Orthodox Church’s celebration of the Annunciation to the Theotokos.
The Sydney march typically saw crowds of between 5,000 and 8,000 people turn up to celebrate Greek Independence Day, but it has not been held since 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic first broke out across NSW.
In the years after 2020 when the state government lifted pandemic restrictions on outdoor gatherings, The Greek Herald reported that the parades were axed predominantly due to the uncertainty around public health orders, as well as the issue of allowing only a certain number of community members to attend the festivities.
This year though, the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW in conjunction with the Parishes-Communities of NSW of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, are inviting people to attend a wreath laying ceremony and march to the Sydney Opera House on Sunday, March 24.
At 1pm, a memorial service and wreath laying ceremony will be held at the Martin Place Cenotaph in Sydney. This will be followed by a march at about 2.30pm to the Opera House, where there will be formalities and entertainment.
