History connects us to our homeland with invisible but strong ties. Although far from our second home, celebrations of the past still unite us, encourage us to keep our traditions alive, and proudly celebrate our heritage.
One such example took place recently in Melbourne, where Epirotes and their friends celebrated the liberation of Ioannina.
This well-established celebration is proof that the Panepirotic Union of Melbourne and Victoria keeps the traditions and history alive each year with great dedication. While time passes and human relations and culture evolve, the love for the old country remains unchanged.
On Sunday, 18 February, members and friends of the Panepirotic Union of Melbourne and Victoria, in the presence of the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Mr. Emmanuel Kakavelakis, and the wider Greek community, gathered at the Axion Esti Church in Northcote to honour the memory of their ancestors and celebrate the liberation of Ioannina. This was followed by a reception at the Panepirotic House in Abbotsford, where with songs, dances, and traditional foods, the Union renewed its connection to its history and tradition.
We must keep these traditions alive so that new generations can continue to build on and preserve them. With each new generation that contributes to this tradition, we as Greeks of the Diaspora, strengthen our cultural heritage and enrich our culture for the future.
Today, February 21, we celebrate the liberation of Ioannina, which was the most important military confrontation between Greece and the Ottoman Empire on the front of Epirus during the First Balkan War (October 5, 1912 – May 18, 1913).
