The ‘2021 Victorian Council’ has announced its program of events for the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence this year.
One of the key events which has been revealed is the Parade and Wreath Laying Ceremony to be held (Covid 19 permitting) on March 21. The event has been officially endorsed and accepted and will fall under the auspices of the «Greece 2021» committee.
FULL PRESS RELEASE:
The Organisational Council for Greek National Day is made up of representatives from all of Victoria’s major Greek organisations and has been busy planning and programming the events to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the 1821 Greek Revolution.
The 25th of March 1821 commemoration is of religious and national importance for Hellenism. Hellenes around the globe celebrate on this day the Annunciation of Our Lady and the proclamation of the Modern Hellenic State, hence why this milestone is a very important one.
This Commemoration gives the community the opportunity to promote, educate and enhance the knowledge or understanding of our third, fourth and subsequent generations of what happened in 1821 thus, ensuring the significance of this historical event is not lost. In 2021, we respect our history, we remember our ancestors, we showcase Greece and we plan for our future.
The ‘2021 Victorian Council’ would like to congratulate and thank the following schools, parishes and organisations for taking the time to submit events for the 2021 Victorian Program, creating an annual program of events beginning in January and ending in December.
Over 80 schools, parishes and organisations have contributed to this program. FULL LIST HERE.
The ‘2021 Victorian Council’ consists of the following representatives from within the Organisational Council for Greek National Day: His Grace Bishop of Dervis Iezekihl (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese – District Melbourne), Rev. Fthr. Evmenios Vasilopoulos (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese – District Northcote), Tony Tsourdalakis – Convenor (Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand), Natasha Spanos (Oakleigh Grammar School), Peter Andrinopoulos (Federation of Messinian Organisations), Chrissa Kanatas (Panarcadian Association of Melbourne), Michael Karamitos (Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne), Jorge Menidis (Greek Community of Melbourne), Andrew Ballis (Panmacedonian Association of Melbourne), Sophia Siahos (Australian Pontian Federation), Ross Alatsas (Greek Media Group & Hellenic Museum), John Pantazopoulos (World Hellenic Interparliamentary Council), Sam Vlahos (Kalamata Society 23rd March), Anastasia Theodoropoulou (Neos Kosmos).
The program of events is under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne. The Organisational Committee for Greek National Day would like to thank the Department of Premier and Cabinet of the Victorian Government for the ongoing support and advice.
We are also pleased to announce that the Parade and Wreath Laying Ceremony to be held (Covid 19 permitting) on Sunday 21st March 2021 has been officially endorsed & accepted and will fall under the auspices of the « Greece 2021 » committee.
Furthermore, the 2021 Victorian Council would like to thank the General Secretary for Greeks Abroad & Diplomatic Relations Mr. John Chrysoulakis and the major Benefactor the Bank of Piraeus for offering a plethora of initiatives and events to the Organisational Council for Greek National Day including some of the following:
- Copies of the Poem of Dionysius Solomos Hymn to Liberty (Ύμνος στην Ελευθερία).
- Copies of the Publication of the General Archives of Greece highlighting the heroes of 1821.
- Copies of the Commemorative Medal for the 200th Anniversary of the Hellenic Revolution produced by the National Museum of Greece.
- An exhibition titled «Το ’21 αλλιώς». The Revolution in figurines using Playmobil.
- Eleven online conferences with common themes titled “200 years of the Modern Hellenic State.”
- Official Series of Lectures in Greece titled “21 Lectures for 1821-2021” under the auspices of the National Kapodistriako University of Athens.
The 2021 Victorian Committee would also like to thank the following partners, sponsors and financial supporters. Our Government partners, the State Government of Victoria, The General Secretariat of Greeks Abroad and the City of Moreland. Our Media Partners Neos Kosmos, Radio 3XY / TA NEA Newspaper, Greek Herald, SBS Greek Radio, Greek City Times, ERT and Antenna Pacific. Our Commercial Sponsors, Peter Tziotzis Orthodox Funeral Services, Hellenic Museum, St.Johns Greek Orthodox College, Oakleigh Grammar School, Nestoras College and our Community financial supporters, the Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand, the Federation of Messinian Organisations of Victoria, the Greek Australian Ex Servicemen Association of Victoria, the Epirotic Federation of Oceania (Aus), the PanArcadian Federation of Victoria, the Central Pontian Association of Victoria ”PONTIAKI ESTIA”, the Lefkadian Brotherhood of Victoria and AHEPA.
