From St Nicholas to Anzac Parade

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From St Nicholas to Anzac Parade


The Hellenic Presidential Guard, the Evzones, made their first official visit to Canberra on Oxi Day 2026, following a full program of commemorations across the national capital on Wednesday 28 October.

Must-watch Video: The Evzones at the Australian War Memorial. Video: Greek City Times

In the video, the loud sound created by the nails in the soles of their heavy leather shoes, the tsarouchia, is a symbolic way of letting the fallen heroes and ancestors know that the Greek nation is still alive, strong and free.

The Evzones Canberra visit was approved by His Excellency the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr Kostas Tasoulas. It was the first time a detachment of the Hellenic Presidential Guard had been present in the Australian capital.

Read more: Evzones Arrive in Sydney for OXI Day Celebrations and Canberra Visit

The Evzones’ visit to Australia coincides with Hellenic Club Sydney’s centenary year. In Sydney, the Guard joined the club’s Centenary Celebrations Gala Ball at the Hyatt Regency on Saturday 24 October. The club hosts the Sydney program with support from the NSW Government, and the Canberra visit followed as part of the wider tour.

The program began at the Greek Embassy in Canberra on the eve of Oxi Day. On the day itself, the Evzones attended a doxology at St Nicholas Church and a reception at Australian Parliament House. They then laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier at the Australian War Memorial and visited the Australian Hellenic Memorial on Anzac Parade.

The day concluded with the official dinner at the Hellenic Club of Canberra, while buildings across the city were lit in blue to mark Oxi Day.

The Embassy of Greece in Australia said the anniversary “was celebrated with great splendour and emotion”. The Australian Embassy in Greece described the occasion in similar terms: “In Canberra, Oxi Day takes on special significance this year as the Evzones make their first official visit to the Australian capital.”

The Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra hosted the Evzones, while the Hellenic Club of Canberra sponsored the visit. Described by organisers as historic, the visit drew community members from across Australia.

Oxi Day marks 28 October 1940, when Greece rejected Fascist Italy’s ultimatum. This year marks the 86th anniversary of Oxi Day and the 85th of the Battle of Crete. As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese put it in his Oxi Day message, the bond between our nations is “a friendship that grew into something even greater after that day in 1940”.

A first for the Greek Embassy in 80 years

The visit began on the eve of Oxi Day. There, Ambassador of Greece to Australia Mr Stavros Venizelos welcomed the detachment of the Hellenic Presidential Guard to the Embassy of Greece.

On Tuesday 27 October, six Evzones visited the Greek Embassy in Canberra. In fact, it was the first time the Guard has been to the embassy in its 80 years, as we reported from the Greek Embassy in Canberra.

A line of Evzones and guests, including officers and clergy, stand together on a paved area in front of red shrubs and a tall flagpole flying the Greek flag.
Community guests and officials with the Evzones. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

Mr Venizelos hosted the guests at the Embassy. Among them were Stergitsa Zamagias-Hill, CEO of The Hellenic Initiative Australia (THI), and Mr Stavros Kartsonas, President of the Hellenic Club of Canberra.

Arthur Spyrou also attended. He is first assistant secretary for protocol and international visits at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and previously served as Australian Ambassador to Greece. In addition, Marinis Pirpiris came from Victoria. He is a director of South Melbourne Hellas and secretary of the Greek Community of Melbourne.

Group photo on the steps of a government or official building with varied attire including formal suits, military uniforms, and casual wear, suggesting a ceremonial or community event in Greece.
Guests and the Evzones gather on the embassy steps. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis
Greek ceremony with traditionally dressed performers and a man in a suit speaking into a microphone in front of a Greek flag.
Greece’s Ambassador to Australia, Stavros Venizelos, addresses invited guests. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

Before the visit, Mr John Loukadellis, President of the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra, said: “Their presence will be truly historic in Canberra.”

Greek City Times: formal award ceremony with a military officer presenting a plaque to a suited man, flanked by a woman in red and flags of Australia and the European Union in the background.
Lieutenant Commander Michail Tzinieris exchanges a commemorative plaque at the embassy. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis
Greek official in military uniform shakes hands with European diplomat, ceremonial setting with flags in the background.
Major Panagiotis Mimikos presents a gift during the ceremony. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis
Greek officials and guards in traditional attire stand in a row in front of a historic building, with flags visible in the background.
Organizers of the Hellenic Presidential Guard Visit in Australia, 2026: Nick Bourdaniotis and John Loukadellis. Photo: Father Petros Kipouros
Group of Greek and military officials standing in a line outside a building, wearing traditional costumes and uniforms, with a clock on the wall behind them.
The Evzones with Greek officers and a guest in front of the Greek Embassy in Canberra. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

Doxology at St Nicholas, Kingston

On Oxi Day itself, Wednesday 28 October, the Evzones began at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Kingston. There, His Grace Bishop Athenagoras of Canberra presided over the Doxology.

The Evzones, the Ambassador of Greece and the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus to Australia, Mr Charalambos Kafkaridis, were all present. Father Petros Kipouros, the parish priest of St Nicholas, had also joined us at the embassy the day before.

Indeed, the Evzones’ visit was a major highlight of the inaugural Hellenic Week in Canberra.

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Video: Greek City Times

Evzones (Hellenic Presidential Guard) at the entrance of St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Kingston, Canberra
Evzones at the entrance of St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Kingston, Canberra. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis
Evzones (Hellenic Presidential Guard) standing before the iconostasis at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Kingston, Canberra
Evzones standing before the iconostasis at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Kingston, Canberra. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis
Evzones (Hellenic Presidential Guard) and a young boy in traditional dress before the sanctuary of St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Kingston, Canberra
Evzones and a young boy in traditional dress before the sanctuary at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Kingston, Canberra. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis
Evzones (Hellenic Presidential Guard) leaving the entrance beneath Australian and Greek bunting at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Kingston, Canberra
Evzones leaving the church entrance beneath Australian and Greek bunting at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Kingston, Canberra. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

Evzones Canberra welcome at Parliament House

From Kingston, the Guard headed to Australian Parliament House for an Oxi Day morning tea at Parliament House. Bishop Athenagoras of Canberra and other clergy also attended.

According to the Embassy of Greece in Australia, the visit culminated at Parliament House. It said this marked “a special chapter in the history of parliamentary relations between the two countries”.

A large group of guests and clergy stands between two Evzones in the foyer of Parliament House in Canberra.
A large group of guests and clergy pose with the Evzones in Parliament House. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis
The Evzones walk in a line beside a reflection pool in the courtyard of Parliament House in Canberra.
The Evzones in the courtyard of Parliament House in Canberra. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis





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