The bonds between the Greek and Serbian communities of Sydney will be on full display this coming Sunday 14 September with the 31st Annual Greek-Serbian Orthodox and Cultural Friendship Day.
The event has become a staple in the cultural calendar since its establishment in 1993, with the event ready to once more showcase the wonders of Greek and Serbian food, dance, and entertainment.
The event will commence at the St Stephen the Archdeacon Serbian Orthodox Church in Rooty Hill with a divine service from 9-11am before proceeding to the parish hall from 12pm onwards for a myriad of food and drink and a rich program of music and dancing groups.
Dimitrios Kametopoulos, one of the committee coordinators and MCs for the event, expressed his view that this year’s event promises to be its biggest yet.
“This is the 31st year of this important cultural event and it is the biggest one thus far with a record of participating dancing groups!” he told Neos Kosmos.
He remarked that the day will be “a ‘true blue’ Balkan affair” that incorporates music and performances from various regions in Serbia and Greece alongside some from Cyprus as well as participation from the Sydney Bulgarian community.
“This ‘mega show’ will be a continuous flow of interchanging groups, Balkan sights and Balkan sounds.”
Kametopoulos remarked that the events timing this year lines up perfect with another Greek/Serbian combined initiative, that being the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament which will see Panathinaikos BC and KK Partizan come to Sydney the week after.
“A wonderful coincidence of two events for cultural and sports lovers!”
The MC and one of its committee coordinators since the event’s inception stated it serves a strong role in highlighting the connection between Greece and Serbia that has been cultivated through historical bonds and shared experiences (struggles for freedom, alliances in Balkan wars, common faith etc).
“On another level, the local Serbian diaspora is very appreciative and indebted to the Greek diaspora because families in Greece and Cyprus had opened their arms and their homes to host thousands of orphaned children from Serbian families when the civil wars had erupted in Yugoslavia in the early 1990’s, displacing people and destroying towns and villages,” Kametopoulos said.
On a personal level, Kametopoulos noted the event is one based on celebrating that friendship between two nations and communities that have many similarities.
“The Balkans, despite their dark pages in history with wars and differences, are still a fascinating part of Europe and we could say that the nations and communities living there have a lot to share amongst themselves on many levels and they are able to do this by respecting and appreciating each other.”
In addition to the food and entertainment, there will be official formalities which will include the national anthems of Australia, Greece/Cyprus and Serbia, the blessing of the local Parish priest and welcoming speeches by the Parish President and diplomats from the High Commission of Cyprus in Canberra, the Consulate General of Serbia in Sydney and the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney.
