Greeks across Australia expected to turn out en masse in OXI Day events

Evzones at the OHI Day celebrations at Greek Orthodox Parish of “St. Dimitrios” in Salisbury, Adelaide on Wednesday. Photo: Greek Ministry of Defence

OXI Day falls on a Friday this year, but depending on where you are in Australia you could be celebrating the 28 October anniversary well beyond this weekend, with commemorations lined-up till early November.

VIC

The main event, under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, will take place in Melbourne’s Axion Esti, 7 Hartington Street, Northcote, on Sunday 30 October.

Victorian parishes have come together to honour the day with a service starting at 7.30am at the monastery, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony and a festival.

Greek clubs, including the Pancretan Association, the Thessaloniki Association of Melbourne, and the Greek RSL have also joined forces for these commemorations where everyone is welcome to attend.

The festival at the monastery’s courtyard kickstarts at 10.30 am with food and beverages, activities for the children, Greek music and dancing that will last till 5.30 pm.

Also on Sunday 30 October, members of the Federation of Greek Elderly Citizen Clubs of Melbourne & VIC will honour the 1940 anniversary with a day-trip to Rippleside Park. Bell Parade.

So far, over 15 buses have been booked for the excursion, co-organised with the Greek Community of Geelong, the Federation’s President John Kostoulias told Neos Kosmos.

“We are expecting hundreds of Greeks to join us. We’ve reserved 17 buses, with some also travelling by train or car.”

For more information, those interested can call on 9380 1603 or 0400 858 954.

The Greek Orthodox Church Community of Dandenong and Districts ‘St Panteleimon’ will have its annual Paniyiri for OXI Day on Sunday 30 October, after the church service which starts at 8am and a wreath-laying ceremony to be attended by club representatives and school students.

The Paniyiri will last from 11am to 5pm and organisers have ensured it will go ahead, rain or shine, with two big inside halls made available with capacity for 1,000 people.

Souvlakia, loukoumades, kids activities and music are part of the package as well as a prize raffle.

Dandenong’s seniors club had their OXI Day commemoration event on Thursday, but mark your calendars for Friday 28 October for a very special reunion event to run between 6 and 8 pm.

Greeks who arrived to Australia on 16 June 1957 aboard the Begona ship (which sailed from Greece on 21 May of that year) will celebrate a 65th anniversary event, featuring a special mention to the ‘Begona brides’.

Students of the Hobsons Bay Community’s Greek School will be hosting a special event in commemoration of the OXI anniversary, on Sunday 30 October.

Starting at 10am, the event includes a parade of students alongside their teachers in the school’s yard. They will then head to the Dormition of our Lady church, North Altona, for a service followed by a brief student presentation of poems and songs for the day.

Closing the day will be the celebration taking place in the newly-built Greek Centre with food, beverages, music and plenty of dance featuring the MANASIS dance school students.

NSW

In Sydney, a celebration for the Greek national anniversary took place on Sunday 23 October at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, with Archbishop Makarios present.

The day also marked the feast day of St James (Iakovos), the Brother of our Lord, with the Divine Liturgy presided over by Metropolitan Andrew of the Forty Churches, with concelebrants Bishop Iakovos, who was celebrating his name day, Bishop Bartholomew and Chancellor of the Archdiocese and Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne, Very Rev. Father Christophoros Krikelis.

After the conclusion of the liturgy, a Doxology service took place for the OXI Day, followed by a memorial service and wreath-laying ceremony.

Present at the double celebration for the local church and the 28 October anniversary were the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Yannis Mallikourtis, presidents and representatives of Greek associations and organisations, as well as young Greeks, proudly raising the Greek flag and singing the National Anthem.

SA

OXI Day commemorations in Adelaide are marked by the presence of a unit of Greece’s Presidential Guard.

On Friday, 28 October, from 9am to 11.30 am, the Evzones will attend the church service at St George Church, 60 Rose St, Thebarton to commemorate ‘OXI’ Day. There will also be an unveiling of a Memorial in honour of the 200 year anniversary of the Independence of the Greek State. Public are welcome to attend.

The following day a half – hour march will take place to the War Memorial, North Terrace from the Hotel on Frome Street. It starts at 8.30 am and all are welcome to attend and can stay for the Service of Remembrance for ‘OXI’ Day at the War Memorial, from 9.00am to 12.30pm. Members of the Guard will stand in honour of the ultimate sacrifice made by many in various wars. There will be a Trisagion and then wreath laying ceremony with dignitaries. There will a changing of the Guard at 10am, 11am and 12 noon.

Also on Saturday, 29 October from 4pm a sit down 3 course dinner event will be hosted by East End Cellars in Vardon Avenue. The event will commence with the Presidential Guard marching from their hotel down Frome Street, Rundle Street, East Terrace through to Vardon Street. They will stand at attention at the intersection of East Terrace and Vardon Street for photo opportunities and whilst a ‘Welcome to Country’ service is performed by an Aboriginal Elder. Entertainment will be provided after the guards return to their hotel by Oneiro and DJ NYK. The event will start formally at 6.30pm. The dinner event is a ticketed event although there will be areas for public to attend also. For ticketing enquiries go to https://www.trybooking.com/CBESI.

WA

After their South Australian visit, the Evzones will make their way to Perth to join the 28 October anniversary events, as part of their first ever visit to Western Australia.

“The Evzones will be in Perth from the 1st to the 7th of November and will participate in a number of events, offering a unique opportunity for everyone in Perth to see them up close,” said Greece’s Consul General in Perth Ms Georgia Karasiotou.

Starting from Wednesday, 2 November, with the participation of the Presidential Guard in the School Assembly of St Andrew’s Grammar, WA for “OXI” Day, starting at 9.30 am.

On Friday, 4 November, at noon, a procession of the Presidential Guard will take place on St Georges Tce, from the Consulate of Greece in Perth to the Council House for a Flag Raising Ceremony in front of the Council House.

On Saturday, 5 November the Hellenic Community of Western Australia Inc. and the Greek Australian RSL will host an Open Welcome Reception at Alexander the Great Club. Start time: 6pm. RSVP at info@hcwa.org

Finally, the official celebration for the National Day will take place with the Guard’s participation on Sunday, 6 November starting at 10.30am with a Doxology at West Perth’s Greek Orthodox Church of Evangelismos, 57 Carr St.

This will be followed at 12.30 pm by a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the State War Memorial, Kings Park featuring a Change of Guard and tribute to the Cenotaph for a further hour after the end of the ceremony.

Celebrations culminate with a 6pm dinner in honour of the Evzones hosted by Floreat Athena – More info and RSVP at admin@floreatathenafc.com.au