Evzones Raise Greek Flag at OXI Day ANZAC Memorial Ceremony in Sydney

SYDNEY, Sunday 25 October 2026 — The Hellenic Presidential Guard (Evzones) raised the Greek flag at the OXI Day ANZAC Memorial ceremony in Hyde Park on Sunday 25 October, hosted by the Kalymnian Association of NSW.

The Evzones marched from Elizabeth Street to the memorial, joined by community members in traditional dress, before the flag raising and wreath laying ceremony began. The Kalymnian Association of NSW hosted the ceremony with special thanks to Hellenic Club Sydney, which hosts the Guard’s Sydney visit with support from the NSW Government.

Evzones in traditional uniform in front of a Lemnos 1915 banner in Hyde Park, Sydney — The Evzones in Hyde Park, Sydney, with community members in traditional dress. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

The OXI Day ANZAC Memorial ceremony marked the 86th anniversary of OXI Day, when Greece rejected the Axis ultimatum on 28 October 1940. It also honoured Australians and Greeks who fought together in the campaigns of Greece and Crete in the Second World War.

George Karantonis, vice president of the Kalymnian Association of NSW, served as master of ceremonies. He opened with an Acknowledgement of Country to the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation and later thanked the President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos Tasoulas, for consenting to the Guard’s visit.

Karantonis noted the absence of Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who was leading 250 Australian pilgrims in Constantinople. The pilgrimage honours the 35th anniversary of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s election in October 1991.

Crowd gathered around the Pool of Reflection at the ANZAC Memorial for the OXI Day ceremony — The crowd gathered along the Pool of Reflection at the ANZAC Memorial. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

OXI Day ANZAC Memorial flag raising

Following the flag raising at the OXI Day ANZAC Memorial ceremony, combined students of All Saints Grammar, St Euphemia College and St Spyridon College performed the Australian and Greek national anthems. The Guard then moved to its ceremonial position at the memorial.

Dignitaries and military officers saluting during the OXI Day ceremony at the ANZAC Memorial in Sydney — Dignitaries and officers salute during the OXI Day ceremony. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

Rev Father Dimitrios Papaoikonomou, representing Archbishop Makarios, gave the first address. Greek Ambassador to Australia Stavros Venizelos and Commander Michail Tzinieris, head of the Presidential Guard mission, followed him.

Con Apoifis, president of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW, also addressed the crowd. Finally, Kalymnian Association secretary Nectaria Melas delivered an address written by association president George Michailou, who was among the pilgrims in Constantinople.

ANZAC Memorial across the Pool of Reflection during the OXI Day ceremony in Hyde Park, Sydney — The ANZAC Memorial across the Pool of Reflection during the ceremony. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

Commander Michail Tzinieris, Head of the Mission of the Hellenic Presidential Guard, speaking in front of the Evzones on the ANZAC Memorial steps — Commander Michail Tzinieris, Head of the Mission of the Hellenic Presidential Guard, addresses the ceremony in front of the Evzones. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

During the wreath laying, Father Papaoikonomou laid the first wreath. Ambassador Venizelos, Consul General of Greece in Sydney Georgios Skemperis and Defence Attaché Colonel Kyriakos Kyriakakos then laid a joint wreath.

Evzones standing beside the Pool of Reflection during the OXI Day ceremony in Sydney — The Evzones beside the Pool of Reflection during the ceremony. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

Evzones lined up in front of the Pool of Reflection at the ANZAC Memorial in Sydney — The Evzones lined up in front of the Pool of Reflection. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

Kalymnian Association treasurer John Billiris, Hellenic Club Sydney vice president James Stevens and director Bill Maloukis, as well as Apoifis, also laid wreaths. Karantonis then recalled the words of wartime British Prime Minister Winston Churchill:

“Hence we will not say that Greeks fight like heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks.”
Winston Churchill, quoted by MC George Karantonis

Guests and the Guard’s program

After a moment of silence, Karantonis closed the OXI Day ANZAC Memorial ceremony and thanked the Evzones, the NSW Police Force and memorial staff. “It is the commemoration of a principle,” he said of OXI Day.

Guests included Major Panagiotis Mimikos, deputy commander of the Presidential Guard, Lieutenant Evangelos Galanakis, NSW Police Superintendent Despa Fitzgerald and Bayside Councillor Fiona Douskou. Descendants of the 2nd/1st Infantry Battalion AIF also attended, alongside James Jordan, chair of the Committee of the Battle of Crete and Greek Campaign. Michael Kyriakou of the High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus in Canberra also attended. Members of the Kalymnian Association’s executive committee and the Kalymnian Youth Society, presidents of Greek community associations, students and staff of the three schools, and Greek dancing groups also attended.

Evzones and dignitaries gathered behind the wreaths on the ANZAC Memorial steps in Sydney — The Evzones and dignitaries on the steps of the ANZAC Memorial. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

Community members in traditional dress and guests gathered on the ANZAC Memorial steps with the wreaths — Community members and guests on the memorial steps. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

Video: Greek City Times

The OXI Day ANZAC Memorial ceremony was the flagship event of the Guard’s Sydney program, which began with a Guard of Honour at the Martin Place Cenotaph on 22 October. Greek City Times reported the Guard’s arrival and its visit to NSW Parliament House.

Evzones in full dress uniform in front of the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park, Sydney — The Evzones in full dress uniform at the ANZAC Memorial. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

The Evzones travel to Canberra for OXI Day on Wednesday 28 October, before an 11am Doxology at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady in Redfern on Thursday 29 October. Visitor details are on the memorial’s official website.

Photo gallery of the OXI Day ANZAC Memorial ceremony

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All photos are copyrighted by Nick Bourdaniotis for Greek City Times

Hellenic Presidentiual Guard (Evzones) Australia Copyright Bourdo Photography — The OXI Day ceremony at the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park, Sydney. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis