Hundreds of Greeks from across Adelaide joined the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA) to celebrate Hellenic national pride for 25 March.
The Greek Independence Day commemoration event, was held on Sunday 26 March at the Cathedral of Archangels Michael and Gabriel, attended by community members, government officials, representatives from various Greek associations and Greek language school students.
The cathedral was dressed in the colours of the Hellenic flag while the Great Doxology lead into a short memorial service in honour of the fallen heroes of the Greek Revolution.
An emotional moment followed the ode to the 1821 heroes, when the President of the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia, Peter Gardiakos, initiated a one-minute silence in memory of the victims of the train crash in Tempe, Greece at the beginning of March, which claimed the lives of 57 innocent people.
“Greece as we know it today, has derived its strength from the heroes and bravery shown by the men and women who have become immortalised in the history of Greece,” Mr Gardiakos said.
The event continued with a wreath laying ceremony, presentations by Greek language school students and concluded with the National Anthems of Australia and Greece.
Wreaths were also laid by GOCSA vice president Peter Gonis on behalf of the South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, by vice president Stephanie Skordas on behalf of Connie Bonaros MLC and Frank Pangallo MLC, as well as by Trian Gonis on behalf of Steve Georganas MP Federal Member for Adelaide.
Several officials and members of the local and Greek Australian communities attended, including David Pisoni MP, Member for Unley representing the Hon Jing Lee MLC, Shadow Minister for Multicultural South Australia and Shadow Minister for Tourism and Hospitality; Adriana Christopoulos, Chair of the South Australian Multicultural Commission; Councillor Mary Couros representing the City of Adelaide; Deputy Mayor of the City of Charles Sturt Mr Edgar Agius representing Mayor Angela Evans; Councillor George Demetriou representing the Mayor of West Torrens Mr Michael Coxon; and Minas Lucas, Vice President of the Cyprus Community of South Australia representing the Community’s president, Professor Andreas Evdokiou.
Source: neoskosmos