The photograph was taken at the wedding of Poppy Lekatsas and Floros Demetriades at the 'Evangelismos' Greek Orthodox Church in East Melbourne on 19th April 1936. The photograph is an excellent image of the interior of the church at that time. Along with baptisms, the wedding ceremony (which also incorporates the betrothal) is a very important occasion within the Orthodox community. The service is rich with symbolism. The Evangelismos Greek Church is the oldest Greek church in Melbourne, established in the early 1900s. A copy of an original photograph of a wedding ceremony which took place at 'Evangelismos' church. The photograph is surrounded with a wide black border and part of the RH corner has been cut off in the reproduction. lekatsas, poppy, evangelismos church, demetriadis floros

A black and white photograph of a bride and groom standing outside Evangelismos Church with other wedding guests in the background.weddings, evangelismos church, unknown

The children in the picture were students at the Greek language school which was run by the Greek Community of Melbourne and were attending the '28th October' Greek national day celebration at the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church in East Melbourne. The two women, Alexandra Vrachna and Nina Black were teachers at the school. The Evangelismos Church was the first Greek orthodox Church to be established in Melbourne. The foundation stone was laid in December 1900 and church services commenced in August 1902. The 28th October is known as 'OHI' DAY', translated meaning NO DAY. It is an important national day celebrated in Greece and the Greek diaspora and commemorates the anniversary when in 1940 the then Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas said “NO” to an ultimatum made by Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini to allow Italian forces to occupy Greece. It marked the beginning of Greece's entry into WW2. The day symbolises values important to the Greek people - freedom, courage and 'filotimo'. The establishment of the Orthodox church in Melbourne in the early years of the twentieth century was was indicative of the number of Greek migrants who came to Australia in those early years of settlement in this country and the desire maintain their religious and cultural traditions. The early Greek migrants were anxious that their Australian born children maintain their language and religion in their adopted country. A black and white photograph of children with three adults standing outside Evangelismos Church in East Melbourne. Three children in the back row are displaying the Greek and Australian flags.Written in red underneath the photograph: 28th OCTOBER 1948. OUTSUDE THE GREEK CHURCH IN EAST MELBOURNE/PHOTO PROPERTY OF STATHI RAFTOPOULOS.wwii

The photograph was taken at the christening of Freda Lucas' first son, Nicholas at the Greek Orthodox church, Evangelismos. Godparents are Zaharia and Maria Morris (Moraitis). Pictured l-r, Spiro Lucas, Maria Morris, Freda Lucas (nee Benias) holding baby Nicholas, Zaharia Morris, Bill Benias and Nick Lucas (Lekatsas).The 'Evangelismos' Church in Victoria Street, East Melbourne was the first Greek Church in Melbourne. The foundation stone was laid in December 1900 and the first service was conducted in August 1902. Since that date it has been the venue for many important family celebrations. Baptism is an important family tradition for Greek families. A black and white photograph with a white border of three men, two ladies and a child standing outside outside 'Evangelismos' Church in East Melbourne

The wedding group is pictured outside the Evangelismos Church in East Melbourne following the ceremony.A black and white photograph of a bride and groom with six young attendants photographed outside a church with guests in the background.

Anastasia (Tasia) and John Raftopoulos (Patakias) are spictured outside the Evangelismos Church East Melbourne with their children Theodora and Dennis.A black and white photograph of a lady and man with a little girl and boy standing outside a church.

Lea Sikiotis and younger brother John outside Evangelismos Church, which is in Victoria Parade, East Melbourne. Leah and John were the children of Ekaterini (Erini) and Constantinos Sikiotis.A black and white photograph of a young girl with a little boy standing in the doorway of a building.

Chrisoula Kallinikos and Nicholas Sikiotis were married in 1937. Chrisoula is pictured arriving at the church with her father is Spiro Kallinikos. George Kallinikos, Spiros' younger brother is standing behind the couple. The wedding was celebrated at Evangelismos Church in East Melbourne. Until the 1950s it was the only Greek Orthodox Church in Victoria.A sepia photograph of a bride being escorted into the church by her father.

The four girls were bridesmaids at the wedding of Chrisoula Kallinikos and Niko Sikiotis. They are from L-R: Nina Black (nee Kallinikos ), Effie Cominos (nee Raftopoulos), Poppy Gabriel (nee Sikiotis) and Loula Morris (nee Sikiotis). The wedding ceremony took place at Evangelismos Church in East Melbourne in the late 1930s.A black and white photograph of four flower girls about to enter the church for the wedding ceremony.

The photo is at the wedding of Ekaterina Paxinos and Dionysios Lekatsas (Lucas), which took place at Evangelismos Church in Victoria Parade, East Melbourne in 1924. Pictured together with the bride together are her attendants: Picture on far left is Anthi (nee Mavrokefalos)) Chilianis; the others are the daughters of Dimitrios Paxinos who was one of the early Ithacans to arrive in Melbourne in 1886.For the Ithacan community the practice of the orthodox religious ceremonies helped maintain customs and traditions within in an adopted country. Celebrations such as marriages and baptisms played an important social role in the Ithacan community as they were an opportunity for families and friends to come together. A sepia studio photograph of a wedding group of the bride and her two bridesmaids and two flower girls.

The photograph was taken outside the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church East Melbourne following a celebratory eulogy marking the unification of the Heptanese (seven islands) with Greece in 1864. The Heptanese are located in Western Greece in the Ionian Sea. They include Kerkira, Zakinthos, Lefkada, Ithaca, Paxos, Kefallonia, and Kythera. The celebration is organised each year by Melbourne's Heptanesean Federation and commences with a celebratory church eulogy followed by afternoon tea and cultural activities at the host clubrooms. The women are dressed in traditional dress of each island .Ithaca (and the other islands of the Heptanese) were unified with Greece in 1864. From approx 1500 Ithaca was under centuries-long Venetian rule, which largely preserved it from becoming part of the Ottoman Empire, thus creating a distinct cultural identity with Venetian influences. Following a brief period in 1797 of French rule, Ithaca became a British protectorate from 1809 until 1864 followng which the island was reunified with the modern Greek state. Although Ithacans made up the largest number of Greek migrants who settled in Melbourne in the first half of the twentieth century, other Greeks from the neighbouring Ionian Islands also migrated to Australia during those years. In particular from Lefkada, and also from Kythera most of whom settled in regional towns in New South Wales and Queensland.A newspaper cutting mounted on white cardboard which includes a photograph taken in front of a brick building with a caption below in Greek. The photograph is of a celebration and features eight ladies dressed in Greek traditional dress in front of a group of people. The celebrations by the Heptanesian Federation of Melbourne for the 135th anniversary of the unification of the the seven Ionian islands with mother Greece, commence tomorrow with a celebratory eulogy at the The Holy Temple of the Evangelismos Church East Melbourne. The afternoon of the same day at the Lefkadian Brotherhood Hall, 12A Bell St; Coburg, the Federation has organised a cultural and musical afternoon dedicated to 'The Seven Diamonds of the Ionian'. The program will feature a talk, 'Angelos Sikelianos, an environmentalist, before his time', by Mr. N.Sofokleos; recitations from Stathis Raftopoulos and Thanasis Makrigeorgos; and Heptanesian melodies and songs from the choir and orchestra of the Educational Group of Florina, Melbourne. At the conclusion , savoury snacks, coffee and sweets will be served. Entry is free. In the photo, a snapshot of last year's event.eptanesian

A family group photo outside Evangelismos Church in East Melbourne following the wedding ceremony of Spiro and Effie Cominos nee Raftopoulos in 1951. They are front from L-R: Aspasia Raftopoulos, Spiro and Effie Cominos, Nina Collins, Ioulia and George Raftopoulos (the bride's parents) and Gerasimos and Elly Galatis. Back L-R: Nick Sikiotis holding daughter Athena, Chrisoula Sikiotis, Oreanthi Raftopoulos and on the far right Chrisoula Raftopoulos.A black and white photograph of a wedding group with the bride and groom with family and friends taken outside a church. Information about the photograph has been written on the back.

This wedding took place at the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church in Victoria Parade in East Melbourne.A black and white photograph of a bride with her flower girl.unknown

This is a wedding photograph of Dimitri and Kalypso Sofianos who were married in the Greek Orthodox Church Evangelismos on 14th February 1937.A scanned black and white studio photograph of a bride and groom taken on their wedding day.

The couple in the photograph are Nick Sikiotis and Ioulia Raftopoulos. They are attending a ceremony/service at the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church in East Melbourne.A black and white photograph of a well-dressed man and lady preparing to enter a church for a function through a gate. A little boy in a sailor's suit is standing at the gate and there are people in the background.

The photograph was taken at the wedding of Nick and Effie (nee Black-Mavrokefalos) Galatis at the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church in Victoria Parade, East Melbourne.A black and white photograph of a bride and groom and three attendants standing on the church steps after the wedding ceremony.

Loula Morris nee Sikiotis (Scotis) and her young son Jim attending a wedding at Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church in East Melbourne.Early migrants to Australia, including Ithacans, often abbreviated or changed their surnames for ease of pronunciation and to better fit in. Many chose to simplify the spelling or otherwise alter their name to relate it more closely to the English language and pronunciation. One such example is the surname Sikiotis which some families changed to Scotis, Skiotis, Skotis, Siciotis, or anglicised to Scott.A black and white photograph of a lady and little boy standing near a doorway.

Penelope Billiter (Kallinikos) is the little girl in the photograph and a very young Jim Morris is in the background. They are pictured outside the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church in East Melbourne.A black and white photograph of a little girl dressed in a light dress standing outside a church with a little boy in the background.

The bride is Rita Paizis together with her father, Nicholas Paizis arriving at the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church, East Melbourne. Rita married Dennis (Menelaos) Varigos. A black and white photograph of a bridal group showing the bride and her father with two bridesmaids.

The wedding of Dennis (Menelaos) Varigos and Rita Paizis at the Greek Church Evangelismos, in Victoria Parade East Melbourne. Dennis was a very active member of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society and was president between 1960 - 65.A black and white photograph with a white border of a wedding party standing outside a church.The bride and groom are photographed with their attendants which comprised of two bridesmaids, two flower girls and two groomsmen. Other guests are standing in the background.

The photo of the bridesmaids and flower girls is taken outside the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church. The bridesmaids are l-r: unknown, Leah Sikiotis; the flower girls are l-r Antonia Andrews, unknown, Athena Sikiotis. A black and white photograph of two bridesmaids and three flower girls standing on a pavement. A man is standing near them on the RHS and a crowd of people are in the background looking on. weddings

The bride and groom in the photograph are Costas Raftopoulos and Joyia Carange (Karantgis) who were married at the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church in East Melbourne on the 12th October 1924. They had both migrated from Ithaca.A black and white studio photograph of a wedding party. There are four men standing at the back with the bride. Seated in the front are two ladies, the bridegroom, a flower girl and a young child. There is a decorative screen used as a backdrop.

Photo taken outside the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church, East Melbourne. The bride Katerini (known as Nina or Katherine) is being escorted into the church by her father Spiros Kallinikos together with the bridesmaid, her sister Penelope. Katerini married Marcos Vlasse. A black and white photograph of a bride with her father and bridesmaid preparing to enter the church for the wedding ceremony. billeter

The people are photographed outside the Greek Orthodox church, Evangelismos in East Melbourne and were guests at a wedding. From L-R: George Coutsouvelis and his mother Anastasia Coutsouvelis, Peter Raftopoulos (Kapnisis) and his son Dennis, and Joanna Raftopoulos (Peliana).A black and white photograph with a white surrounding border of two ladies, a man and two young boys standing outside a church with other guests in the background.

A copy of the marriage certificate of Constas (Costas) and Joyia Raftopoulos nee Karanze, who were married at the Greek Orthodox Church 'Evangelismos' in East Melbourne on 12 October 1924. The priest who conducted the service was Father Irineos Cassimatis. Costas was a fruiterer and Joyia was a 'tailoress'.Constas Raftopoulos and Joyia Grarange both migrated to Australia from Ithaca in the 1920s and like many other Ithacans settled in Melbourne where they eventually married. During the years between the two world wars chain migration saw many Ithacans sponsored by family members to come to Melbourne.A photograph of a marriage certificate.

Photograph was taken outside the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox church in East Melbourne at a Kandiliotis wedding. Left to right are three Kandiliotis brothers, L-R Jim (Dimitri), Orpheus and Nick. The young boy is holding the candles and 'stefania' (wedding crowns) which are part of the traditional Greek Orthodox wedding service.Black and white photograph of 4 men dressed formally, a young man holding tray with wedding candles, and female in background.

The bride and groom are Leah and Jim Kandiliotis who celebrated their wedding at the Greek Orthodox Church, Evangelismos, in Victoria Parade. They were photographed with their immediate family and friends outside the church after the ceremony, including Leah's mother Irini Sikiotis (nee Varvarigos), and her uncle Nick Sikiotis and wife Chrysoula. A black and white photograph of a wedding party posing outside a church with family and friends.The bride's attendants were a bridesmaid, three flower girls and two page boys. The groom had two attendants.

Arthur and Aspasia (Sia) Koutsouvelis and Aspasia's mother, Ioulia Raftopoulos along with Helen and Andrew Yiannis, Arthur's sister and brother-in-law pictured outside the Evangelismos Orthodox Church in East Melbourne in 1956. Ioulia Raftopoulos nee Sicotis arrived in Australia from South Africa in 1926. She married George Raftopoulos, who migrated to Australia in 1908 from Frikes and was a founding member of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society. He and his brother Arthur worked in the Spot Cafe in the 1940s and 1950s. George and Ioulia had two daughters, Effie and Aspasia (Sia). Family celebrations were a very important part of Ithacan social life especially weddings and baptisms. A black and white photograph of three smartly ladies and two men standing outside a brick building. They are all wearing overcoats.

The photograph was taken at the wedding of Spiroa and Yiannoula Fatouros which took place on 8 August 1924 at the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church in East Melbourne. They had four children: Peter Fatouros, Rita (Aphrodite) Paxinos, Helen Vlass (past treasurer of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society and Honorary Life Member) and Sia (Anastasia) Beasley. A sepia studio wedding photograph of a bride and groom. The groom is dressed in a dark suit and is seated on a Vienna chair. His bride is standing next to him. The photograph is backed on cream board.The Hope Studiothe hope studio, fatouros wedding

The photograph was taken outside Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church in East Melbourne. Pictured are Arthur and Aspasia Koutsouvelis. Arthur is holding his baby son George and standing in the front are three year old Mary Yiannis and two year old Harry Koutsouvelis. The occasion was possibly baby George's baptism, an important event in the Orthodox Church. A black and white photograph of a family group of two ladies a man, who is holding a baby, and a little girl and boy. They are standing outside a brick building.