The Greek Revolution of 1821 commemorations in Adelaide

With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, the celebrations for the anniversary of the Greek Revolution on 25^th of March 1821, organised by the Inter-communities Council SA of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and the Central Philoptochos Ladies, were held in Adelaide.

On Sunday, March 26, 2023, the Matins, Divine Liturgy, and official Doxology were celebrated in the Archiepiscopal Church of St Sophia, officiated by His Grace Bishop Silouan of Sinope.

Present at the Doxology were, amongst the many other faithful, the Consul General of Greece in Adelaide Mr George Psiachas, the State Government and Military Authorities, local Government Authorities, as well as representatives of the Greek Community organisations. The Premier and the Leader of the Opposition were unable to attend personally as they were required to attend a Special Parliamentary Sitting to vote for the First Nations Voice Bill.

Following the Doxology, the official guests and all the congregation were treated with refreshments by the ladies of the Central Philoptochos in the Church Hall. Afterwards everyone went to the State War Memorial where a large number of faithful, young and old, from all the parishes of Adelaide gathered. The presence of the students of the Colleges and the Parish Greek Schools of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia was particularly lively and enthusiastic.

The ceremony at the War Memorial began with the Trisagion Service, officiated by His Grace Bishop Silouan of Sinope, in the presence of the Clergy of Adelaide, whereby prayers were offered for the repose of the souls of our forefathers who fought heroically and sacrificed their lives for the faith and the nation.

At the end of the Trisagion Service, His Grace, after he conveyed to the faithful the pastoral blessings and paternal love of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, emphasised the responsibility that we, the descendants of the heroes, bear to show ourselves worthy of the freedom that our forefathers fought for, and to walk on the path they carved through shedding their blood and sacrificing their lives “for the Holy Faith in Jesus Christ and the Freedom of our Homeland”.

Afterwards wreaths were laid in honour of our fallen heroes and forefathers by the Hon Tom Koutsantonis MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Energy and Mining, on behalf of the Premier of South Australia, the Hon Peter Malinauskas MP, the Consul General of Greece in Adelaide Mr George Psiachas, the Hon Andrea Michaels MP, born in Cyprus, Minister for Arts, Small and Family Business, and Consumer and Business Affairs, the Hon Jing Lee MLC, Shadow Minister for Multicultural South Australia, the Hon Constandina Bonaros MLC, of Greek descent, other parliamentarians, representatives of the Australian Army, Navy, and Air Force, representative of the Greek Ex-Servicemen’s Association, presidents and representatives of many Greek Community organisations, students of St George and St Spyridon Colleges of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, and, last but not least, the President of the Inter-communities Council SA of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, Dr Vladimir Devrelis.

Following the laying of wreaths, the Consul General of Greece Mr George Psiachas read out the celebratory message of the President of the Hellenic Republic, the Hon Katerina Sakellaropoulou, on the anniversary of the Greek Revolution in 1821.  The ceremony was brightened by the participation, as every year, of the Australian Army Band, who performed the Ode, the Last Post, the Reveille, and the national anthems of Greece and Australia.

Afterwards, the students of the Colleges and the Parish Greek Schools of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia marched to the Torrens Parade Ground, where they presented a wonderful festive program with poems, songs, and traditional dances. The large number of people attending enjoyed the beautiful presentation and applauded the children for their excellent performance and the beautiful use of the Greek language. It is, indeed, very moving to see the new generations of Greeks in the diaspora keeping the flame of Romiosini alive and unquenchable in their hearts.