On Sunday, April 11, 2021, one of the major events of the anniversary program of the National Committee of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia took place at the Hermes Lounge of the Greek Orthodox Parish-Community of Kogarah.
This event was co-organized by the Archdiocese of Australia and the Lyceum Club of Greek Women of Sydney regarding the official opening of an exhibition of traditional costume, jewelry, furniture, embroidery and carpets under the title “How did our ancestors dress on the eve of the Revolution of 1821?”.
This is an exhibition of the collection of the Lyceum of Greek Women in Sydney with more than 40 costumes from almost all regions of Greece.
The program of the opening event included the official opening of the exhibition by Archbishop Makarios of Australia, a performance by the National Metropolitan Choir under the direction of Themos Mexis and a rich program of traditional dances from Moria and Thrace by the dance ensemble of the Lyceum and the Aristotelion Academy of Greek Traditional Dance.
High Commissioner of Cyprus Martha Mavrommati, Consul General of Greece in Sydney Christos Karras, the Trade Commissioner of Greece in Australia, Katia Gkikiza, Mark Buttigieg MLC, President of the Greek Orthodox Community of Sydney Harry Danalis, President of the Greek Festival of Sydney Nia Karteris and President of the Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of the Resurrection Nickolas Varvaris attended the event.
The event was also attended by the wife of the Federal Prime Minister, Jenny Morrison, to whom the Archbishop of Australia offered an exact copy of the Gospel.
The Archbishop of Australia focused on two basic truths: the church’s involvement in the Greek Revolution and the world importance of the ideals of the Greek Revolution.
He said: “The Revolution is a historical event, but we must not forget that it is also a church event. We cannot separate the Greek Revolution from the Church. The Church took the lead! The swearing-in ceremony took place in the Church. The Struggle started with a church banner and the fighters put their hands on an Orthodox Gospel to fight for faith and homeland.”
At the same time, he stressed that “the Greek Revolution and Greek freedom is not an event that concerns only the Greeks,” but an event that concerns “world history and world culture.”