New York, NY - His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, spiritual leader of 1.5 million Greek Orthodox in America, offered the Benediction at the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia on August 2nd.
His Eminence met with President George Bush and Mrs. Bush and other dignitaries. During their conversation, President Bush expressed his love and respect for Former Archbishop Iakovos and His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. They also discussed issues of special interest to the Greek American community.
Congressman J.C. Watts of Oklahoma, Convention co-chairman, graciously introduced His Eminence by stating he had been elected one year ago as Archbishop of America and Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and also serves as Chairman of the Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), representing over 6 million Orthodox Christians in America. The text of the Benediction is attached.
Benediction
Offered by Archbishop Demetrios
Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America
August 2, 2000
Philadelphia, PA
Eternal God and Father, governor of the entire universe, enthroned in the hearts and minds of all the people everywhere, we gratefully acknowledge Your invisible presence among us asking You to remain in our midst as we come together with brotherly and sisterly love in this great City of Philadelphia for the Republican National Convention.
We offer heartfelt prayers for your faithful servants, Governor George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, who have been called to become the dynamic leaders of this Party and the champions of American democracy and benevolence. We ask You to inspire them to take the high road of excellence in politics and governmental action, to advance the sacred principle of one Nation under God and with God, and to establish a political approach which takes care of all people and includes all peoples regardless of gender, race, color or creed.
We ask You to help them become the architects and builders of a prosperity with a purpose -- a prosperity offering freedom, dignity, happiness and peace to all fellow Americans and fellow citizens of the world.
We also pray, O Physician of our souls and bodies, for President Gerald Ford asking you to restore him to good health and grant him and Mrs. Ford many years of joy, health, and peace.
O God and Savior, guide our beloved American Nation to humbly lead by example all the Nations of the earth, so that one day we may see a world where global neighbors will live by Your divine commandment to love one another. Lead us, omnipotent God, in our following the superb dream of our founding fathers, so that we may see the streets of this Nation and highways and byways of this world, be filled with mercy and justice.
Lead us, O Father, so that we, the citizens of this planet earth and the millennium members of the human family, may finally abide in You, and walk humbly with You, our God. Amen.