Culture
March 25th has a special meaning to Greeks around the world as it is a double celebration: the Annunciation of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary) and Greek Independence Day. Each year, Greeks all over the world celebrate this special day by participating in different events dedicated to this double celebration.
In Melbourne for an entire week, the students of Oakleigh Grammar School proudly participated in several special events organised by different Greek organisations.
On Sunday 20th of March, students from Senior School including the School Captains and the Vice Captains attended the official Doxology which took place at the Cathedral of St. Eustathios in South Melbourne. After the Doxology, students went to the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, where they paid tribute to the struggling heroes of the Greek Revolution. The Principal, Mr Mark Robertson, and the Chairman of the Board, Mr Chris Damatopoulos, accompanied the students to this special event which was organised by the Victorian Council of Greek National Day. The students represented the Oakleigh Grammar community proudly by raising the flags of their two homelands and by singing the National Anthems of Australia and Greece.
On Friday, March 25th, students were invited to attend different events dedicated to the 201st anniversary of the beginning of the Greek Revolution. Year 11 students attended the Flag Raising Ceremony at Federation Square. The event was organised by the Victorian Council of Greek National Day. Students had the opportunity to admire the 8 Greek flags 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 participated in a wreath-laying ceremony organised by the Hellenic RSL Sub Branch. Students Gregory Milonas, Christalena Kourdoulos and Anastasia Konstantinidis laid a wreath at the Australian-Hellenic Memorial. Also, Georgianna Petridis together with Gregory Milonas laid a wreath on behalf of Oakleigh Grammar at the Shrine of Remembrance.
The second group of students attended the Divine Liturgy and the Doxology that took place at the Greek Orthodox Church of St Anargiri in Oakleigh. The students proudly held the flags high, paying tribute to the heroes of 1821. The school choir also participated in the Liturgy.
At the end of the Doxology, students recited Greek poems dedicated to the double celebration. It was a very emotional moment listening to the third generation Greek students speaking in Greek for the heroism of their ancestors.
On the same day, Junior School held a special assembly in the afternoon. Students and staff celebrated the 201st anniversary of the beginning of the Greek Revolution. The young students performed some amazing songs.
On Sunday, 27th of March, the Australian Greek Ex-servicemen's Association INC hosted its official commemorative service for the Greek Independence at the Holy Monastery Axion Estin in Northcote.
Students attended the Doxology and the wreath-laying ceremony at the Greek Memorial. The School Captain Chris Tsiagalos laid a wreath on behalf of Oakleigh Grammar.
Congratulations to all students who represented Oakleigh Grammar and participated in all these significant events by celebrating proudly this significant day for Hellenism abroad.
Natasha Spanos
Hellenic Culture Coordinator