Greece marks 86th Ochi anniversary with dawn salvos and parades in Athens and Thessaloniki

Salvos and music at dawn

The day opened at 06:47 with salutes from the Lykavittos cannon battery in Athens, while music from the Armed Forces and Security Forces played the traditional morning reveille. In Thessaloniki, 21 salvos were fired at sunrise by an artillery squad of ASDHM. Two more salvos are scheduled for 10:15, when the President of the Republic lays a wreath at the ASDHM Heroon. The cannon salutes in both cities were broadcast live on television. Municipalities across Greece plan flag displays, wreath-laying at memorials and pupil parades, though the weather will set the timetable in many places.

Ceremonies in Athens

In Athens the national flag goes up over the Acropolis at 08:00, and a doxology at the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral at 10:00 is presided over by Archbishop Ieronymos. At 10:40 officials are due to lay wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the student parade starts there at 11:00. Pupils, scouts, guides and people with disabilities are due to march, and the education minister, a woman, is expected to attend. The flag will be lowered over the Acropolis at sunset. Forecasts of heavy rain could prove decisive for the Athens programme.

Thessaloniki prayer and military parade

In Thessaloniki, Metropolitan Filotheos leads a memorial prayer at the ASDHM Heroon at 10:15, after which the President lays a wreath. The grand military parade begins at 11:00 on Megalou Alexandrou avenue, running from the Georgiou Papandreou street junction to the White Tower, in the presence of the President. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is also due to attend the parade. Military, pupil and civilian units are to take part, and a separate military parade is to follow.

Student parade and attendance on 27 October

The student parade in Thessaloniki began on Tuesday 27 October at 11:00, with pupils from 22 public and private schools accompanied by the Thessaloniki Municipal Philharmonic Orchestra. Crowds gathered alongside Tsimiski street in good weather. Attendees included Deputy Minister for Macedonia and Thrace Kostas Gioulekas, Deputy Education Minister Nikos Papaioannou, Deputy Minister for Social Cohesion and Family Elena Rapti, Deputy Development Minister Stavros Kalafatis, New Democracy parliamentary spokesman Stratos Simopoulos, New Democracy state MP Nefeli Chatzigiannidou and PASOK Thessaloniki A MP Rania Thraskia. A lyceum pupil of Nigerian descent carried the flag for the first time at the parade and said he was delighted to represent both his school and Greece.