ELLHNIKH
ORQODOXOS MHTROPOLIS NEAS IERSEHS
|
ELLHNIKH
ORQODOXOS MHTROPOLIS NEAS IERSEHS
|
|
ΙΕΡΑ ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΗ ΑΜΕΡΙΚΗΣ
|
March 8, 2006
To the Reverend Clergy of the Holy Metropolis of New Jersey
Beloved Brothers in Christ,
I pray that my letter finds all of you spiritually sound having entered Holy and Great Lent.
In just a few weeks, Hellenes and Philhellenes the world over will be joyously celebrating the Holy Feast of the Annunciation to the Theotokos as well as Greek Independence Day. Indeed, the date of March 25th is both religiously and culturally significant as our Orthodox Faith and Greek Heritage are intermingled on this most historic day.
The Annunciation to the Theotokos is the watershed event that heralded into history and mankind our very salvation, Christ our Lord. The Immaculate Conception of our Lord signaled the beginning of our spiritual release and freedom from the bonds of sin and corruption. Likewise, March 25th 1821 ushered in a new breath of hope for the Greek Nation as it announced that it would no longer tolerate being oppressed by the Ottoman Turks. Thus, the Greek Revolution was born with its sole goal of freedom from the bonds of tyranny and slavery.
It is right for us as faithful Orthodox Christians and proud Greek Americans to celebrate with abundant pride, enthusiasm and zeal the glorious events of March 25th. To this end, I exhort all of you to participate in and lead your beloved Communities in the Annual Greek Independence Day Parades which are to be held:
Sunday, March 26, 2006 Baltimore, MD Sunday, April 2, 2006 Philadelphia, PA & New York, NY
Together, we can demonstrate to all that freedom is to be a most cherished gift from above, and that as proud Greek Americans, freedom comprises the essence of our lives.
Praying that you will be strengthened from above during this most holy time of the year, I remain
With Paternal Love and Blessings, †E V A N G E L O S Metropolitan of New Jersey
|
|
|
© 2008 Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey. Terms of Use. |
