On the occasion of the 19th of May, a day of remembrance and honor for Hellenism around the world, students from the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) Schools visited an exhibition organized by the Educational Institution “Hellenism of Anatolia – from the Aegean Sea to Pontos” titled “In the Footsteps of Digenis Akritas” during the week of May 20-25. This exhibition is part of a ten-day tribute to the Hellenism of Anatolia and aims to promote the common elements of history and culture that unite the Greeks of Cyprus, Pontus, Crete, Cappadocia, and Asia Minor in general, especially on the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Notably, some exhibits were creations of students who excelled in the “Stories of Asia Minor” competition held during the 2023 school year. An award ceremony for the competition winners, including GCM schools’ students Christoforos Nadal and Eleni Kalymniou, was also held at the exhibition on Sunday, May 26.

During their visit, students from the Mathesis, Bentleigh, and City Campuses were given information about the museum exhibition “In the Footsteps of Digenis Akritas,” toured the premises, and participated in educational programs presented by the exhibition’s organizers. They had the opportunity to study written elements, images, and objects of the time to learn about tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The visit concluded with a revival of traditional games, bringing the children joy and enthusiasm.

Ms. Bakalidou, the principal of GCM schools, expressed, “We try to transfer the experience and keep the memory alive for future generations. We would like to thank the exhibition organizers for warmly welcoming and guiding our students. We extend our warm congratulations for their remarkable work and plan similar visits for our other schools in the future, as we firmly support every worthwhile initiative aimed at preserving Greek culture and promoting Greek heritage.”