In a powerful encyclical marking Greece’s national OXI Day, Archbishop Sotirios of Canada urged Greek Orthodox faithful to celebrate the “epic of 1940” not only with pride, but with renewed commitment to the values and responsibilities that define Hellenism.
“The epic of 1940 fills the hearts of the Greek with national pride,” the Archbishop wrote. “And how right they are to feel this way! They demonstrated to and showed the world that ‘Greeks do not fight like heroes, but heroes fight like Greeks.’”
Reflecting on Greece’s enduring legacy, Archbishop Sotirios emphasized that national pride is not inherited but forged through effort and perseverance.
“The Greeks did not steal their national pride. Nor was it simply given to them. They did not find it. They created it. They nurtured it. They reared it. They preserved it. They passed it on even greater to forthcoming generations — brighter, more beautiful.”
He linked this pride to the enduring spirit of Hellenism — the same spirit that “gave birth to national pride,” “established democracy,” and “produced philosophy.” “Does anything exist in the world better than this spirit that the Greeks have had?” he asked, invoking names from Homer and Socrates to Alexander the Great.
Yet, the Archbishop cautioned, pride must not lead to complacency.
“National pride does not give rights and privileges. It creates duties and obligations. It makes the face glow, but it is a heavy burden to carry. It brings joy to the heart, but it is an ordeal to the mind.”
Archbishop Sotirios reminded the faithful that commemorating OXI Day — Greece’s defiant “No” to fascism in 1940 — is not merely a matter of rituals and parades, but a call to moral renewal and unity.
“They will chant the memorial services. They will offer doxologies. They will lay wreaths. There will be parades, dances, and other celebrations. These are all necessary. They strengthen morale. They raise up convictions. They cultivate national pride.”
At the same time, he warned against cynicism and apathy: “Let them stop who complain and stay outside and only make barren and negative criticisms. Let them enter the celebration and the dance of our national anniversary. This is more sincere than criticism.”
The Archbishop outlined several guiding principles for preserving the dignity of Greece’s legacy: “Not to soil our past. Not to blacken it. Not to shame it. To walk worthy of the calling of our nation and of God. Not to retreat from the principles of our nation and faith. To be awake on the ramparts. There is no time for a truce.”
Looking to the future of the Greek diaspora in Canada, Archbishop Sotirios urged Hellenes abroad to uphold their identity through education, culture, and faith.
“For our children to learn the Greek language. For Greek Christian ideals to be taught and lived. For our traditions to be passed on. For our elderly to be taken care of. For all of our organizations to shine with Greek-Christian beauty.”
He concluded with a stirring call to action that united faith and national duty: “We are the descendants of heroes; let us live like those very heroes themselves. The present and future generations are not made for pleasure, but for heroism. Let us never forget, not even for a single moment, that we are Greeks and Christians. Let us say Yes to the success of Hellenism. Yes to a life of Greek Orthodoxy.”
