Hellenic Culture 

For the Greek nation, March 25 is a double celebration. On that day, the Greeks all around the world celebrate a historical achievement and a religious event: The Independence against the Ottoman occupation and the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary. Melbourne hosts the largest Greek-speaking population outside of Greece and Cyprus, and every year the Greek Community celebrates proudly the Greek Independence Day! Special events are organized by different Greek organizations, and Oakleigh Grammar students have the privilege to attend all these events. Our first event took place on Sunday, March 17. The Australian Greek Ex-servicemen’s Association hosted its official commemorative service for the Greek Independence at the Holy Monastery Axion Estin in Northcote.

Year 6 and 7 SRC members together with our Middle School Leaders attended the Doxology at the Holy Monastery “AXION ESTIN” in Northcote. Following the church service, they participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the garden of the Holy Monastery. Middle School Captains John Aivaliotis and Connie Lekkas laid a wreath on behalf of Oakleigh Grammar school community. On Sunday, March 24, students from the Senior School including the School Captains and the Vice Captains attended the official Doxology conducted by Bishop Kyriakos of Sozopolis at the Cathedral of St. Eustathios in South Melbourne. In the afternoon, the official ceremony for the Greek-Australian Commemoration Service took place at the Shrine of Remembrance. Principal, Mark Robertson, and the Secretary of the Board, Mr. Chris Kontos, accompanied the students to this special event, which was organized by the Victorian Council of Greek National Day. School Captains Sotiris Bakalis and Jessica Peraic laid a wreath on behalf of Oakleigh Grammar school community. On Monday, March 25, selected SRC members together with the Middle School Leaders attended different events to commemorate Greek Independence Day and to celebrate the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary.

Students attended the Flag Raising Ceremony at Federation Square, organized by the Victorian Council of Greek National Day. Students had the opportunity to admire the Greek flag in the heart of Melbourne. At the end of the event, students sang the Greek and Australian National Anthems. Following the Flag Raising Ceremony, students attended the Doxology at the Cathedral of St. Eustathios in South Melbourne. In the afternoon, students were invited to attend a wreath-laying ceremony organized by the Hellenic RSL Sub-Branch. Middle School Leaders John Aivaliotis and Connie Lekkas laid a wreath at the Australian-Hellenic Memorial. Also, Eliyah Mawal and Irene Koutsovasilis laid a wreath on behalf of Oakleigh Grammar at the Shrine of Remembrance. 

Selected Year 7 students attended the Divine Liturgy and the Doxology that took place at the Greek Orthodox Church of St Anargiri in Oakleigh. It was beautiful to see students holding the Greek and Australian flags, paying tribute to the heroes of 1821 and representing proudly Oakleigh Grammar School. We would like to congratulate all students who attended all these events and paid their respect to those who dedicated their lives for freedom and peace

Natasha Spanos

Hellenic Culture Coordinator