Melbourne’s Greek community was out in force on Sunday, March 28, as they held their official commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution.

The celebrations began with a Divine Liturgy and Doxology service at Victoria’s first Greek Orthodox Church, The Annunciation of the Virgin Mary.

At the close of the church service, festivities moved outside to Lansdowne Street in East Melbourne, which was transformed into a place bursting with colour, dancing and music by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

Once at Lansdowne Street, MC’s Tammy Iliou, Vice President of the Greek Community of Melbourne, and Michael Karamitos, Co-Chair of the Greek Community’s 200 year Anniversary program, launched official proceedings with a Welcome to Country and the singing of the Australian and Greek national anthems by students from Alphington Grammar.

This was followed by a number of speeches from prominent members of the Greek Australian community including, the Very Reverend Father Evmenios, Archiepiscopal Vicar for the District of Northcote representing His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Emmanuel Kakavelakis, President of the Greek Community of Melbourne, Bill Papastergiadis, Leader of the Victorian Liberal Party, Michael O’Brien, Steve Dimopoulos MP and Melbourne City Councillor Jamal Hakim.

During Papastergiadis’ speech, he announced a significant donation by Andreas Andrianopoulos and his family towards the continued reinstatement of the Evangelismos Church.

Papastergiadis presented Mr Andrianopoulos, who was flanked by his son Chris Andrianopoulos and his wife Niki and family member Con Xindaras, a commemorative plaque to thank and honour Mr Andrianopoulos for his generous support.

After official proceedings concluded, a re-enactment of the beginning of the 1821 Greek Revolution took place, which involved 30 actors dressed as freedom fighters (six on horseback) re-telling the taking of the sacred oath by Ypsilantis and his band. Gun shots were also fired as part of the act.

This was followed by a number of dancing and music performances by the Greek Community Dance Ensemble, the Pancretan Association of Melbourne, the Manasis School of Greek Dance and Culture, the Pan Macedonian Association and the Pegasus Dance Academy.

“It’s a moving day for all of us as we celebrate 200 years from the beginning of the Greek Revolution. We see celebrations here in Melbourne which matches those held in Greece… with the horses and actors, all of them dressed like our heroes,” President of the Greek Community of Melbourne, Bill Papastergiadis, tells The Greek Herald.

“It’s a day which everyone around the world recognises, but more so here in Australia, where we have strong ties with our homeland.”

Attendees were delighted by the performances, with many joining in themselves and of course, enjoying the Greek koulouria and loukoumades which were also on offer.

Randwick City Council went all-out to celebrate the bicentenary anniversary of the Greek Revolution this year. First there were Greek flag banners around Randwick City, then there was the raising of the Greek flag outside the Council Administration building and finally on Saturday night at Randwick Town Hall, there was a civic reception to mark the occasion.

The reception was attended by a number of dignitaries and politicians, as well as prominent members of the Greek community including, the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Christos Karras, Archepiscopal Vicar of Canberra, Very Reverend Prochoros Anastasiadis, Randwick City Councillor, Alexandra Luxford, Mayor of Randwick City, Danny Said, Mayor of Waverley, Paula Masselos, Marjorie O’Neill MP, Matt Thistlethwaite MP, and the President of the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney, Liana Vertzayias, among many others.

READ MORE: Canterbury-Bankstown and Randwick councils raise Greek flag to mark Revolution Bicentennial.

Auntie Lola Ryan began the reception with a traditional Welcome to Country, and this was followed by a rousing rendition of the Australian anthem by Maria Koukoulis.

A number of small speeches were later heard from Randwick’s Mayor, Father Prochoros, Matt Thistlethwaite MP and Mr Karras, with the Consul General praising the bravery and endurance of the Greek resistance fighters and recognising the importance of the international community to the Greek Revolution’s success.

Maria Koukoulis completed the formal proceedings with her performance of the Greek national anthem, while a Greek band began to play traditional Greek music as attendees enjoyed their meals and started to dance.

READ MORE: 1821 Greek Revolution banners to fly proudly across Randwick City from March 21.

In Pictures:

There was plenty of Greek pride on display as Sydney’s Greek community gathered at the cenotaph in Martin Place on Sunday for a traditional wreath laying ceremony.

The ceremony kicked off with the national anthems of Greece and Australia, followed by a poem recital of Χαίρε Ελλάδα, δοξασμένοι from Maria of the Saturday Greek High School at Clemton Park.

A trisagio service was later led by His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim of Sevastia, representing His Eminence Makarios of Australia, after which the Last Post and Rouse was played, the Ode was read in Greek and English by Andrew Kitsos and Peter Tsigounis, and a minute silence was held.

A number of speeches were then given by His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim, the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Christos Karras, and President of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW, Harry Danalis.

“The Greek Revolution is the most important chapter in the history of modern Hellenism. It has shaped the Greek national identity, but it was also a leading historical event of its era,” the Consul General said in his speech.

After the speeches, prominent members of the Greek community, Greek organisations and politicians, laid wreaths at the Martin Place cenotaph.

These included, but are not limited to, the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Christos Karras, Trade Commissioner Katia Gkikiza, Matt Thistlethwaite MP and Tony Burke MP, representing Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, Leader of the NSW Labor Party, Jodi McKay MP, Sophie Cotsis MP, Steve Kamper MP, Mayor of Waverley Council, Paula Masselos, councillors from Randwick and Bayside City Councils, St Spyridon College, All Saints Grammar, St Euphemia College, the Cretan Association of NSW and Sydney, the Greek Returned Servicemen League of NSW, the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney, among many others. ALL photos of attendees can be found here.

The wreath laying ceremony was concluded with attendees being thanked by the event organisers, followed by a number of youth standing proudly in Greek costumes for photographs.