Liberated from all bondage

By Metropolitan Sotirios

            There are many kinds of freedom . Let us mention a few. There is religious freedom, national freedom, personal freedom, and economic freedom. Whoever is free is never a slave – and whoever is a slave, in not free. Freedom is a blessing bestowed by God to humanity. Without freedom, there is no significance to the works of man. Freedom can be compared to “the image of God” within us, according to which man has been created. The good and proper use of freedom through one’s choices, develops “the likeness” of God in us”.

            … The Byzantine Empire reaches its zenith and exists for over a thousand years. it lives in freedom, and protects the freedom of its citizens. The uncivilized and barbaric crusades from the west attack Constantinople in 1204, and temporarily occupy and control it until 1261. Byzantium throws off the yoke of the Latins and is again free, but now she is gravely wounded and weakened. In 1453, she is vanquished and succumbs to the Ottoman Turkish conqueror, and is enslaved for almost five hundred years. The victors destroy the greatest that once was Byzantium, and wipe out its Hellenic Christian culture. The Great Church of Christ, for which many songs have been written and proudly sung – the Great Cathedral of Hagia Sophia – is turned into a mosque. The Ottomans attempt to trample her soul – to enslave her spirit – to literally wipe her off the face of the earth. But they do not succeed.

            The year 1821 is a watershed in human history. The wave of the Hellenic Christian Spirit is now fortified with the hope for liberation, and the Greeks bravely throw off their oppressing yoke that suffocated and pressed upon their collective being. The Greek National is re-born like a phoenix from her ashes. She again begins a beautiful journey which leads her today to being an equal to all the other nations of the European Community. The barbarian conqueror still remains a barbarian. It tries hard to enter the European Community as an equal member nation like the rest – but we will see when and if ever they will succeed.

            The Greek Nation today lives according to a new reality. Three-fifths of her people live within her borders, while two-fifths live beyond. Both those who live in Greece and those outside her borders have progressed in a marvelous way. This is a new dimension to her history, which is noteworthy.

            … Today, the Greek has his national freedom as well as his political. Does he in fact live in true freedom? If he does, then he must constantly strive that the freedom he himself enjoys must also be enjoyed by his neighbour whether he is near or far. He cannot be free when he does not respect or tramples upon or takes away the freedom of others.

            The blessing of freedom demands that the Greek-Canadian live in true freedom. He must respect the liberty of others… He should strive for the freedom of every Cypriot and every Epiroti brother and sister, and for the freedom of every brother and sister in the world who does not enjoy true freedom. In freedom, he must work for the progress of Hellenism and Orthodoxy in Canada. In freedom and progressively let him assist in all community projects…

            Let us celebrate again this year our dual feast – both our religious and our national feasts while striving to put these thoughts into action. The Feast of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary means for us the announcement of our own personal liberation from the bonds of sin as well as the announcement to the Greek Nation of the beginning of our national freedom. Celebrating these two feasts this year, let us make sure that we are truly free from every kind of bondage that may limit and enslave us.

            With fatherly love and best wishes,

Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios

Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto (Canada)