Greece celebrates its National Day, on 25th of March, marking the start of the 1821 Greek Revolution. However, this year’s celebration in Melbourne sparked controversy. According to a Facebook post by Kostas Karamarkos, while the invitation issued by the Consulate General of Greece in Melbourne returned to tradition, featuring only the Coat of Arms of Greece, the event itself raised questions about the role of Greek diplomats abroad.
Despite being the host, Ambassador Stavros Venizelos was not the first to speak at the event. Instead, Bishop Kyriakou took the stage, followed by the Premier of Victoria, a state opposition representative, and then the Ambassador. For many, this was seen as a disrespectful deviation from protocol and an insult to the Greek state and its history.
The inclusion of advertisements on last year’s invitation—such as a gambling company’s logo—further fueled the controversy. Many are now questioning the Ambassador’s true allegiance: Is it to the Greek state and its people, or to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, which may have played a role in shaping the event?
