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ADELAIDE

Greek Community celebrates

GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY 25TH MARCH 1821

Hundreds of Hellenes from across Adelaide joined The Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia for celebrations of Greek Independence Day on Sunday 27th of March 2011 at 11am.

Official guests, parishioners (from the Community’s four churches) and students alike gathered at the Cathedral of Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Franklin Street to attend the Great Doxology, conducted by Assistant Bishop of Trimithoundos Christodoulos.

President of the Greek Orthodox Community of SA Mr Vassilis Elovaris, Mr Hieu Van Le, Lieutenant Governor of SA and Chair of the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission, The Hon Tom Koutsantonis, Minister for Mineral Resources, Minister for Trade and Minister for Correctional Services, Mr Mark Goldsworthy MP, representing the Leader of the Opposition Mrs Isobel Redmond, Councillor Houssam Abiad represented the Lord Mayor of Adelaide Mr Stephen Yarwood and Mr Theo Maras, President of the Federation of the Greek Orthodox Communities of Australia, were amongst the official guests that attended the celebrations.

On a day of remembrance filled with national pride, the Greek flag dominated the interior of the Cathedral as a reminder of the heroic efforts of those who fought against the Ottoman oppression. Young Greek students from our various Greek Language Schools dressed in traditional costumes added to the celebrative atmosphere, reflecting the younger generations of Greeks who carry the same eternal values and aspirations of the heroes of the 1821 epos.

The Great Doxology was followed by a memorial service and ceremony in memory of the fallen heroes, conducted at the war memorial of the Cathedral.

During the ceremony, official guests and representatives from local Greek associations laid wreaths at the memorial, paying tribute to the men and women who sacrificed their lives for Greece’s independence.

Teaching staff member Mr Armandos Manafis and Mr Theo Panagopoulos delivered the President’s message followed by the Last Post and one minute silence. The ceremony concluded with the singing of the national anthems performed by high school student Rebecca Frangos.

The formal wreath laying ceremony was followed by celebrations through performance and music by students of the Greek Language Schools program, held at St Mary’s College Performing Arts Centre to great applause by parents and dignitaries alike. This part of the celebration was attended by the Greek Consul to Adelaide Mr Christos Maniakis-Grivas.

The Cyprus
 News Agency


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