The head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, Archbishop Makarios, has issued a message to mark the Greek national anniversary on October 28.
In it, he urges the faithful to view OXI Day not only as an opportunity to celebrate courage and resilience, but also as an opportunity to reflect on whether their actions honor the Greek fighters who shouted “ NO” 83 years ago.
Neos Cosmos publishes the full message sent by the press office of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, as follows:
Today marks the 83rd anniversary of the 1940 campaign, one of the most illustrious pages in modern Greek history.
By courageously rejecting the brutal ultimatums of the Axis Powers, the proud Greek people redefined the word “NO” and made it an international synonym for patriotism, dignity and dedication to the universal ideals of freedom and democracy. In this historic “NO” of our ancestors, their voices joined those of the myriad people across the world who refused to cower and bravely resisted the Nazi invasion. Furthermore, in this historic “NO”, the Greek and Australian people have united again, because they share common values and ideals over the centuries.
We therefore easily understand what great heritage our heroic ancestors left us. A legacy that, on the one hand, strengthens our sense of national pride and, on the other, charges us with the responsibility of keeping intact the ideals for which they fought and sacrificed their lives. That said, today’s anniversary is on the one hand an occasion for celebration and on the other hand an occasion for reflection.
Let us take this opportunity to ask ourselves whether, through our actions and work, we are paying homage to those who proudly shouted “NO” 83 years ago. Let us also ask ourselves if we are helping to keep the memory of our national campaign alive among the younger generations, who are the present and future of our Hellenic nation. And, at the same time, let us not forget to prostrate ourselves and express our gratitude to Our Lady the Theotokos, for her encouragement and protection in all the struggles of our ancestors, including the heroic campaign of 1940.
With these thoughts, I wish many blessed years to all Greek men and women. And also many years for our beloved homeland, Greece!
