New York– Archbishop Demetrios of America, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, offered the Invocation at the Republican National Convention yesterday afternoon, September 4, 2008, the last day of the convention during which the Republican nominee for President gave his acceptance speech. Archbishop Demetrios had also offered an invocation at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado last week.

In his Invocation, Archbishop Demetrios included all of the participants of the Convention saying, “Almighty God… we ask that You bless all the delegates as they nominate the candidates for the offices of President and Vice-President of the United States. Remember these noble candidates, Your servants, and grant them wisdom and courage as they confront challenges, both known and unknown, in service to our nation and our world. Guide them in their awesome task, a task of building a sustainable peace, prosperity, and security for our country and all the nations of the Earth.” (FULL TEXT BELOW)

While at the Convention Archbishop Demetrios met privately with former Mayor of New York Rudolph Giuliani, Senator Olympia Snow (R- ME), the Ambassadors of Greece and Cyprus to the United States Alexandros Mallias and Andreas Kakouris respectively and former US Ambassador to Spain George Argyros, as well as other preeminent Orthodox Christians who were delegates to the Convention.

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Invocation of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America
At the 39th Republican National Convention
Thursday, September 4, 2008 – Minneapolis / St. Paul, Minnesota

Good Evening ladies and gentlemen.
Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

Almighty and Loving God, we bow our heads before you in deepest gratitude for the abundant blessings which You have bestowed continually upon our great American nation. We thank You for the opportunity of being the privileged inhabitants of this land, in which peace and liberty prevail. These conditions are made possible because of the great diversity of our country, ever-mindful that we are all created in Your divine image and likeness. Lord, we know that the peace and freedom which we enjoy is the result of many sacrifices made by those who offered their lives in defense of our nation. We pray that You keep alive their memory and that You protect those who valiantly serve today in our armed forces, as they continue to make freedom possible for us.

We thank You, Lord, for bringing us together at this Republican National Convention, and we ask that You bless all the delegates as they nominate the candidates for the offices of President and Vice-President of the United States. Remember these noble candidates, Your servants, and grant them wisdom and courage as they confront challenges, both known and unknown, in service to our nation and our world. Guide them in their awesome task, a task of building a sustainable peace, prosperity, and security for our country and all the nations of the Earth; for You, O Lord, are the source of all that which is good and true and praiseworthy, and to You we ascribe glory and thanksgiving, now and forever and ever. Amen.