The unveiling of the Greek-Australian Memorial of the Northern Suburbs, a Memorial dedicated to the Battle of Crete and the ANZACs, took place on Sunday, 26 May 2024, at the Parish of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in Thomastown, in the Archdiocesan District of Northcote, Victoria, in the presence of a Delegation from the Armed Forces of Greece.
More specifically, on Sunday morning, at the Church of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in the Melbourne suburb of Thomastown, His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta, Archiepiscopal Vicar of Northcote, presided over the official Memorial Service for the repose of the souls of those who fell during the Battle of Crete.
Afterwards, in the forecourt of the Church, the unveiling of the Greek-Australian Memorial of the Northern Suburbs took place, as part of the official events for the 83rd Anniversary of the Battle of Crete, which were organised by the Holy Archdiocese of Australia in collaboration with the Coordinating Council of the Battle of Crete and the Rest of Greece. This is a memorial, which consists of a marble plaque with a tribute to all the ANZACs, placed on a bluestone.
The unveiling was lead by His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta, representing His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, together with the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the National Defence of Greece, Vice-Admiral Mr. Christos Sasiakos, head of the Delegation of the Hellenic Armed Forces which is in Australia for the celebrations of the Anniversary of the Battle of Crete. The Vice-Commander of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff was accompanied by Captain Pavlos Angelopoulos, Staffer of the D3 department of International Relations of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, lieutenant commander Stylianos Mitsiotis, Staffer of the 1st Department of the department of Public Relations of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, and Colonel Ioannis Fasianos, Military Attaché of Greece in Canberra.
His Grace Bishop Evmenios, after conveying to those present the blessings and warm greeting of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, prayed the Memorial Service, assisted by the Parish Priest, Fr. George Frangos. Wreaths were then laid by Bishop Evmenios, on behalf of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Mr. Emmanuel Kakavelakis, on behalf of the Greek State, the Deputy Commander of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, Vice-Admiral Mr. Christos Sasiakos, on behalf of the Armed Forces of Greece, and representatives of Cretan associations and the Cretan Youth. The event was honoured, among others, by the presence of the President of the World Council of Cretans, Mr. Nikolaos Markogiannakis, and the President of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand, Mr. Emmanuel Mountakis.
Finally, the chanter of the Parish of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, Mr. Anastasios Filippou, recited the Ode for the Fallen, while students of the Greek Orthodox Colleges “Saint John College” and “Oakleigh Grammar” of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, as well as from the Greek School of the Holy Archdiocese “Aetolian College”, sang the National Anthems of Greece and Australia.
