An encyclical for the celebration of OHI Day was issued by Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain.
As he emphasizes, “The land of democracy and the cradle of Western civilization could not accept the yoke of slavery and a foreign master. We, as the inheritors of this legacy, are called to remain true and loyal to the universal values, ideals, principles, and basic truths of our ancestors, especially in these days and times when the world seems to have lost its path and we see the rise of populism. The values of acceptance, respect, and so many other virtuous ideals are challenged.”
The Archbishop of Thyateira emphasizes that in every moment and time of injustice and in the struggle for truth, honour, and justice, the Church has gathered her children to stand up and defend truth.
“And she now invites them to hear the stories of the past and also to sing praises to God in thanksgiving for the gift of freedom. Hellenes throughout the world – in Greece, on Cyprus, here in the United Kingdom, and all philhellenes, are all called to mark the day and honour the heroes of the past and their struggles and dreams,” he points out.