The Feast of the Annunciation is always a double celebration in the Greek Orthodox Church because on this day in 1821 the Greek people proclaimed their liberation from the oppression of the Ottoman yoke. On this day 195 years ago, our ancestors began a struggle that led to the creation of the modern Greek State. Both of these events follow theme of freedom. In the Feast of the Annunciation, Mary freely accepted the news that the angel Gabriel brought her: she would give birth to the Savior. Her words, “let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38) were freely spoken. On the Celebration of Greek Independence, our ancestors fearlessly proclaimed their freedom and began to overthrow their Ottoman captors. In both cases, the freedom that Mary and the Greek people sought was a freedom that would serve their people. For Mary, her freedom began our salvation. For the Greeks, their freedom restored our people to lives of dignity and possibility.

Freedom is a gift of God, but a gift that we cannot just use as a slogan. There are still people in our world who long for freedom, especially of religion. The Christians in the Middle East, our brothers and sisters, hope for a day when they can practice their faith openly and without fear of persecution. They are fleeing persecution and oppression, abandoning their homes, risking their lives in the hope to find freedom and peace. We who live in one of the freest societies in history should first celebrate and cherish the gift we have been given and the opportunities it offers. We must then work to insure that those who long for freedom of religion or freedom from oppression may secure these blessings.

Singing the songs and retelling the stories from those historic days during the struggle for Greek Independence need not become an act that only a segment of our community finds meaningful. While perhaps just some of us are the descendants of that struggle, all of us can share in the bravery and sacrifices that were made for the cause of freedom. Our true nature is one of freedom, for our Creator is free and as His children we share His attributes. Thus, even under the most oppressive circumstances, men and women have placed their lives at great risk for liberty.

As we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation and Greek Independence Day, turn to the Lord in prayer and thank Him for the gift of freedom, remember the bravery of those who have risked or given their lives for it, and ask Him for strength and inspiration to support those who still hope for the day of their liberation.

With Love in Christ,
+ G E R A S I M O S
Metropolitan of San Francisco