For many Greek Australians the Greek Orthodox church of The Holy Annunciation of Our Lady – commonly known as “Evangelismos” is an iconic symbol of our Greek community in Melbourne. Occupying a small parcel of land on the corner of Lansdowne Street and Victoria Parade, East Melbourne, it was described by Alexander Vangeli Maniachi, the first President of the Greek Community of Melbourne, as the “Free corner of Hellenism” (Ελεύθερη γωνία του Ελληνισμού).
Thousands of residents of Melbourne, irrespective of their race or religious affiliation, know it [Evangelismos] as the “Greek church on the corner…”
A robust red brick construction, with an almost medieval architectural flare, that dominates a busy corner of the Melbourne city fringe. Its footprint seems insignificant in comparison to churches of other denominations that dominated the Melbourne skyline at the commencement of the 20th century. Despite its so-called lack of aesthetic beauty,