His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros

Invocation, Greetings, & Benediction

Stamford Community Flag-Raising & Celebration of the Greek Revolution

March 25, 2024

Stamford Government Center

Stamford, Connecticut

Invocation:

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Let us pray to the Lord. Kyrie Eleison.

Αὐτὸς πανάγιε Δέσποτα,
ἐπὶ τῇ ἀπελευθερώσει καὶ τῇ παλιγγενεσίᾳ τοῦ ἡμετέρου Ἔθνους, τὰς εὐχαριστηρίους ἡμῶν ταύτας δέξαι προσευχὰς καὶ ἐπάκουσον ἡμῶν ἐν πίστει δεομένων σου ἐκτενῶς. Ἡμᾶς δὲ πάντας, ὁ ὑπερασπιστὴς τῶν σωτηρίων ἡμῶν, ἀξίους τῆς ἐλευθερίας ἀνάδειξον καὶ ἐν εἰρήνῃ διαφύλαξον. Σὺ γὰρ εἶ ὁ ἄρχων τῆς εἰρήνης καὶ σωτὴρ τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν καὶ σοὶ τὴν δόξαν ἀναπέμπομεν, τῷ Πατρὶ καὶ τῷ Υἱῷ καὶ τῷ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.

English:

O all-holy Master, as we celebrate the Anniversary of the Greek Revolution of 1821, accept our prayers of gratitude for its liberation and rebirth, and hear us as we implore You with faith. O Champion
of our deliverance, grant that we may be worthy of freedom, and preserve us in peace. For You are the Lord of peace and the Savior of our souls, and to You we send up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

* * *

Greetings:

         Your Honor, Mayor Caroline Simmons,

         Honorable Representative James Himes,

         Master of Ceremonies Vasso Spanos,

         Reverend Clergy,       

Beloved Citizens of Stamford,

Sisters and Brothers of our Parishes – Annunciation and Archangels,

This remembrance of the Heroes of 1821 is a wonderful occasion for us to refresh patriotic zeal, and instill in us a passion for our own history, as well as to share and celebrate our culture and traditions with the wider community.

For our story is one of the universal human aspiration for freedom and self-determination. It can inspire our youth for generations to come, as well as our Philhellene friends. It is a narrative that we have a solemn duty to pass on.

I express my deep thanks, and the congratulations of the Greek Orthodox Community, for this initiative and the leadership of the People of Stamford to commemorate and celebrate Anniversary of the Greek Revolution.

Stamford is the very happy home to two significant Greek Orthodox Parishes. As an important constituency, Greek-Americans have made important contributions to the life of this City and its wider population. We need only mention the late Father George Poulos and Father Constantine Matthews who served in both parishes for many decades.

This celebration of the Greek Revolution of 1821 is a wonderful opportunity for the Stamford Greek community to refresh our patriotic zeal, and share our passion for freedom with our neighbors.

In hoisting the Greek Flag here at Government Center, you do great honor to the Immortal Heroes of 1821. They gathered in the Holy Lavra, the Monastery in Kalavryta, with Metropolitan Germanos – Palaion Patron Germanos – to bless their banner of liberty. On March 25, 1821, the blesséd Hierarch raised the Ensign of Greek Freedom for the first time.

The raising of the Greek National Flag today expresses tremendous solidarity between the People of Greece and the People of Stamford.

Every Greek-American feels exceptional gratitude to the United States, and here in Stamford – home to both Annunciation (which commemorates March 25th as its Feastday) and Archangels this pride is exemplified by our event today.

History is ultimately a story – the story of a people, and today in Stamford, the history of 1821 is being told with great pride and appreciation.

I want to thank the Mayor and all government officials for making this observance possible. I thank once again the Greek Orthodox Communities of Stamford for their commitment to telling our story, and I congratulate George Melikokis for his outstanding contributions to Greek Education.

And above all, we give thanks to God Who has blessed us with a free Greece, a free Cyprus, and a free America – all of them ‘lands of the free and homes of the brave.’ May we ever be worthy of the blessings of liberty, and always be happy to share them with those who yearn for it – just as in 1776 and in 1821.

May God bless you all!

Ζήτω τὸ Ἑλληνικὸ Ἔθνος! Ζήτω τὸ Εἰκοσιένα!

Benediction:

         Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.  Response: Lord have mercy.

         Archbishop: We praise You, O Christ our God, for You have gathered us together to give thanks for the mercies and blessings of freedom and the liberation of our Homeland Greece.

As You granted on this day unto the Virgin Theotokos the Announcement of the redemption of the Human Family by Your Divine Incarnation, grant unto us the knowledge of the truth of our liberation in You, and may Your Holy Angels continue to watch over us with the Good News of Your salvation.

Dismiss us in peace so that we may complete the course of the Holy Lent.

And make Your face to shine upon us and be gracious unto us.

         Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us and grant us the peace that surpasses all understanding,

         Now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Photos: GOARCH