With great solemnity and enthusiastic participation from the youth, a festive event was held on Saturday, October 25, at the Parish of the Transfiguration of the Saviour in Thomastown, Melbourne, in honor of the Greek Flag and the National Anniversary of “Ohi Day.”
Bishop Evmenios of Chora presided over the Doxology, conveying the paternal blessings and love of Archbishop Makarios of Australia to the hundreds of attendees.
In his homily, His Grace emphasized that the “Ohi” of 1940 remains an eternal “Yes”: “Yes to freedom. Yes to peace and democracy. Yes to human dignity and our faith.”
“The heroes of 1940 teach us to say ‘No’ to injustice and fear,” he noted, “and at the same time to say ‘Yes’ to all that unites, uplifts, and sanctifies the human person.”
Children from St Kosmas of Aetolia School, Lalor North Primary School, St John’s College, Panagia Soumela Whittlesea, and the Aristotelis Dance Academy proudly paraded with Greek flags and performed traditional dances, honoring Greek history, faith, and identity.
The event was attended by local MPs Lily D’Ambrosio and Bronwyn Halfpenny, the President of the Greek Orthodox Community of Whittlesea, Kris Pavlidis, Helen Koukoulas from the Women’s Association, as well as other representatives of the Greek diaspora.
