A Detachment of the Greek Presidential Guard Visits the Holy Archdiocese of Australia

The anniversary of the historic “OXI” of 28 October 1940 was celebrated by the Greek community of Sydney with due splendour, in an atmosphere of spiritual uplift and national pride.

The official Doxology, celebrated at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady on Thursday, 29 October, was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, assisted by His Grace Bishop Athinagoras of Canberra and the Chancellor of the Holy Archdiocese, His Grace Bishop Christophoros of Kerasounta.

Among those in attendance were Mr George Skemberis, Consul General of Greece in Sydney; Mr Theo Penklis, Archon of the Holy Great Church of Christ and Secretary-General of the Archdiocesan Council; Mr Elia Economou, member of the Archdiocesan Council; Mr Con Apoifis, President of the Greek Orthodox Community of New South Wales; Presidents and representatives of organisations of the Holy Archdiocese, Parishes and Communities, and Greek Australian associations; as well as students from the Greek Orthodox Day Schools.

The service was particularly enhanced by the presence of a detachment of the Greek Presidential Guard, whose members were warmly welcomed by Archbishop Makarios.

“Our beloved Evzones, you have travelled from Greece to be among us, and through your presence, we feel an even stronger and more vibrant connection with our motherland,” His Eminence emphasised.

He continued: “You are not merely a ceremonial guard. You are living symbols of Greece’s historical memory, its national dignity and its indomitable spirit. You remind us that the identity of a nation is not preserved through words alone. It is preserved through dedication, discipline and the willingness of each generation to receive its historical inheritance and pass it on to the next.

“For our youth, your presence here makes this history living and tangible. It connects them with their ancestors and reminds them that, although they may have been born far from Greece, they belong to a heritage of extraordinary courage, service and achievement.”

Furthermore, reflecting upon the greatness of spirit demonstrated by the Greek people, which was revealed with particular clarity during the heroic struggle of 1940, the Archbishop observed, among other things: “On that October morning, Greece was confronted with an ultimatum. Its response was a refusal, a ‘NO’, which was destined to acquire a significance far greater than that of a single word. It became a declaration of dignity. A declaration of courage. A declaration of a people’s determination not to surrender their freedom without a struggle.

“The Greek people knew that the road ahead would be difficult. Our soldiers departed for the front, leaving behind parents, wives and children. Mothers waited anxiously for news of their loved ones. Families endured deprivation, uncertainty and suffering. Many never saw their loved ones return.

“Nevertheless, during those difficult days, the Greek people demonstrated something that no military power could measure: the greatness of a nation’s spirit. They reminded the entire world that the greatness of a people is not determined by the size of its territory or the strength of its weapons, but by the profound faith, unity and courage with which it defends its freedom.”

His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia concluded his address by encouraging everyone to honour the memory of the heroes of 1940 by renewing their own commitment to the values for which those heroes had fought.

He expressed the wish that the spirit of 28 October would always remain alive in our hearts, reminding us that “freedom is a precious gift, dignity requires constant defence, and the greatest legacy we can leave to our children is a world in which peace and justice prevail.”

Following the Doxology, a festive reception was held in the Great Hall of St Andrew’s Theological College.