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Published by
The Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of America, July 4, 2004
Encyclical of
Archbishop Demetrios for Independence Day
Protocol 52/04
July 4, 2004
Independence Day
To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend
Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the
Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of
the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Day,
Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos
Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic
Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox
Family in America
My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On this Day of Independence, I greet you in the
spirit of love and joy inspired by our gracious
God, the giver of life and liberty. Our annual
celebration of July 4th as a national holiday
commemorating the independence and founding of the
United States of America is an occasion to affirm
the necessity of freedom for promoting loving and
lasting relationships with others and with God. As
such, it is also an occasion to consider the
tremendous blessings of God in our lives, and
especially the great gift of true freedom and
national independence.
Our cultural and religious legacy as Greek
Orthodox Christians in America speaks directly to
the real sources of freedom and independence, as
we have been blessed by the double advantage of
adhering to the Hellenic culture of freedom and of
living in a free and democratic country, while
also living as citizens of the kingdom of Heaven,
enjoying "the glorious freedom of the children of
God" (Romans 8:21). Thus, our citizenship in both
these earthly and heavenly domains places upon us
the awesome responsibility to promote liberty and
freedom for all, and to call others into a loving
fellowship with us and with one another in a
spirit of freedom enriched by love, and love
enriched by freedom.
As we proclaim the necessity of personal freedom
and national independence in the world,
celebrating them with all our might on this great
Day of Independence, I invite all of us to be
mindful of this our charge as Orthodox Christians
"to proclaim to others that which we have seen and
heard" (I John 1:3), that which we have inherited
from our ancestors, and that which we happily
experience in this blessed land of freedom which
is America. May God bless every one of you on this
important day of freedom. May He grant unto you
liberty, prosperity, and peace, and may He offer
continued strength to our American nation in
advancing His gift of liberty unto all peoples and
all nations of the world.
With paternal love in Christ,
+DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America
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