Military parade marking Greece's Independence Day in Athens (photos + videos)

The military parade marking the anniversary of March 25, the Greek Independence Day, started today at 11.00 am in downtown Athens.

President of Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos attended the doxology at the Church of St. Dionysios at 10.00 am, along with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Parliament Speaker Zoi Konstantopoulou and ND leader Antonis Samaras. Then, he laid a wreath at the Monument of the unknown soldier.

Police has arrived early and cordoned off traffic from boulevards leading to central Syntagma square.

Roads closed off are:

From 06.00 until the end of the doxology at the Church of St. Dionysios

- Skoufa Avenue, between Sina Street and the Church

- Likavitou Avenue, all of it

- Dimokritou Avenue, between Skoufa and Solonos Streets

- Omirou Avenue, between Skoufa and Akadimias Streets
From 06.30 until the end of the parade:

- Amalia Avenue, both lanes.

- Vas. Sofias Avenue

- Vas. Georgiou A, all of it.

- Vas. Georgiou B, all of it.

- Eleftheriou Venizelou (Panepistimiou St.), all of it.

- Stadiou Street, between Aiolou Street and Syntagma Square.

- Vas. Olga St., all of it both lanes of traffic.

- Syngrou Avenue, between Amb. Frantzi and Dionyssiou Areopagitou Streets.

- Panepistimiou Avenue, all of it

- Irodou Atikou Street

- Pireos, between Omonia square and Iera Odos

- Athinas, all of it

Public transport has been affected by the parade with changes to the network.

What to expect from today's celebrations

The annual March 25 festivities marking Greek Independence Day and the Feast of the Annunciation will be different to what Greeks are used to. The...