Our American society is comprised of persons from an exceedingly wide array of cultures, races, religions, and ethnicities--persons with whom we live side by side as neighbors. This reality, a social phenomenon known as pluralism, is perhaps one of the most distinguishing and valuable characteristics of our nation. Pluralism is more than just a social phenomenon, however; it is an entity that entirely surrounds us. As such, pluralism presents us with particular challenges, in the most positive sense of the term. These challenges come from the understanding that our Orthodox Christian voice is but one of many voices within an ever diverse and complex American society. In the face of this reality, we are challenged as Greek Orthodox Christians living in the United States of America to consider courageously the question, “Where is the strength of our Orthodox Christian voice when it is but one of many voices in a diverse society?”
In considering this question, we bring to mind the manifold diversity of Roman society during the days of the Apostles, who surely asked themselves the very same question. Their voice, like that of our own, was the voice of a minority; yet its strength revealed itself in universal and unequivocal terms. The Book of Acts gives us a sampling of the tremendous diversity of people who were present and who each heard the message of the Gospel in their own languages at the miracle of Pentecost: “Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappodocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians…”(Acts 2:9-11). The significance of this miracle rests in the knowledge that it is the Holy Spirit who alone imparts to us every strength and ability to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in universal terms, no matter how diverse the audience.
The voice of the Gospel has not only encountered pluralism since Apostolic times; it has repeatedly demonstrated its inclination to thrive especially within pluralistic societies such as ours. This was the case also with the Apostle Paul, who preached Christ’s Gospel of love and salvation to people from all walks of life, “becoming all things to all people, that [he] might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22).
In living our Orthodox Christian faith in contemporary America, each of us is encouraged to follow in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul, to recast, with new eyes, our everyday encounters with pluralism as tremendous opportunities for preaching the Gospel through demonstrations of love and kindness for all persons--encounters which take place in even the most routine or leisurely of daily circumstances.
As we continue to live in this incredibly diverse and beautiful land, and as we consider the true power of our voice amidst the many voices of our neighbors, let us not forget its tremendous relevance and proven ability to speak to all people. Let us grow in the knowledge that the strength of our voice, which we proclaim every day through our love for others, rests not in its sheer volume or raw intensity, but in the gentleness and universal truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Lord. May that truth embrace, guide, and liberate you; and may it impart unto all humanity an ultimate freedom and eternal salvation.
+DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America