The Holy Diocese of Adelaide celebrates ‘ΟΧΙ Day’
With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide conducted the official Doxology service commemorating the events of “ΟΧΙ Day” – 28th of October 1940, when the Greeks responded with their famous “No” to the aggressive demands of Mussolini’s Italy. A Memorial service was also held for the repose of the souls of our heroically fought and fallen heroes ancestors.
Being at the end of the month, ΟΧΙ Day often coincides with the monthly Drayton Street Market hosted at the Archiepiscopal Church of St Sophia, Bowden – an event that has become a highly anticipated and attended both in the Greek and the wider community. Thus in 2023, a decision was made to combine the two events – with the Drayton Street Market running for two days and the official Doxology on the Sunday. This event proved so successful that the same formula was used this year, for the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd of November 2024.
The two-day event saw dozens of people come through the doors on the Saturday, with hundreds more attending for the official Doxology on Sunday. Among the invited guests were representatives of the State and Local Governments, the Armed Forces, as well as dozens of representatives from the various Greek community organisations throughout the State.
After the official Doxology service, a small festival was held outside over lunch – including singing and dancing performances from the children of St Spyridon College, St George College, St Nectarios Youth Group, the Parish of St Panteleimon, and the students of the Byzantine School of Music Adelaide. The performances of these students were of a very high standard, which when combined with the youth of the performers showed that the future of this celebration (and of the ongoing preservation of Greek culture and tradition in South Australia in general) is bright. We look forward to many more years, and to see it grow bigger and better.
