{"id":24688,"date":"2026-10-31T07:00:43","date_gmt":"2026-10-31T07:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/31\/from-st-nicholas-to-anzac-parade\/"},"modified":"2026-10-31T07:00:43","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T07:00:43","slug":"from-st-nicholas-to-anzac-parade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/31\/from-st-nicholas-to-anzac-parade\/","title":{"rendered":"From St Nicholas to Anzac Parade"},"content":{"rendered":"


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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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Must-watch Video: The Evzones at the Australian War Memorial. Video: Greek City Times<\/em><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Read more: Evzones Arrive in Sydney for OXI Day Celebrations and Canberra Visit<\/p>\n

The Evzones\u2019 visit to Australia coincides with Hellenic Club Sydney\u2019s centenary year. In Sydney, the Guard joined the club\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Embassy of Greece in Australia said the anniversary \u201cwas celebrated with great splendour and emotion\u201d. The Australian Embassy in Greece described the occasion in similar terms: \u201cIn Canberra, Oxi Day takes on special significance this year as the Evzones make their first official visit to the Australian capital.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Oxi Day marks 28 October 1940, when Greece rejected Fascist Italy\u2019s 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 \u201ca friendship that grew into something even greater after that day in 1940\u201d.<\/p>\n

A first for the Greek Embassy in 80 years<\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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Community guests and officials with the Evzones. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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Guests and the Evzones gather on the embassy steps. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Greece\u2019s Ambassador to Australia, Stavros Venizelos, addresses invited guests. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Before the visit, Mr John Loukadellis, President of the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra, said: \u201cTheir presence will be truly historic in Canberra.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Lieutenant Commander Michail Tzinieris exchanges a commemorative plaque at the embassy. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Major Panagiotis Mimikos presents a gift during the ceremony. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Organizers of the Hellenic Presidential Guard Visit in Australia, 2026: Nick Bourdaniotis and John Loukadellis. Photo: Father Petros Kipouros<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Evzones with Greek officers and a guest in front of the Greek Embassy in Canberra. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Doxology at St Nicholas, Kingston<\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Indeed, the Evzones\u2019 visit was a major highlight of the inaugural Hellenic Week in Canberra.<\/p>\n

View this post on Instagram<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Video: Greek City Times<\/p>\n

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Evzones at the entrance of St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Kingston, Canberra. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Evzones standing before the iconostasis at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Kingston, Canberra. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Evzones and a young boy in traditional dress before the sanctuary at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Kingston, Canberra. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Evzones leaving the church entrance beneath Australian and Greek bunting at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Kingston, Canberra. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Evzones Canberra welcome at Parliament House<\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

According to the Embassy of Greece in Australia, the visit culminated at Parliament House. It said this marked \u201ca special chapter in the history of parliamentary relations between the two countries\u201d.<\/p>\n

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A large group of guests and clergy pose with the Evzones in Parliament House. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Evzones in the courtyard of Parliament House in Canberra. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n