Never mind the Holy Saints and Martyrs the Church celebrates this day, or that it is the Apostles Fast (or does the new Greek church have one anymore? I don't know), no none of these things are relevant - July 4th is the Feast of Independence Day. Could anything be more worldly than this?
Don't think there will be any attempt to draw correlations between Christ, the real rebel of the world, and the American rebels; or some attempt to draw a person into an Orthodox way of thinking by stretching ones imagination that there were similarities between the American founding fathers and the Holy Fathers. No, not at all. This is not an Encyclical on the greatness of Orthodoxy or Christ, or how America is not our country or home at all or about what struggles we face living around and fighting all the passions this culture so fiercely promotes.
No silly, this is not an Orthodox bishop after all. You will read about the values of and asked to reflect on the greatness of America and what it has to offer us; and about the enormity of Hellenism and the pride and satisfaction we should have for its wonderful legacy; about our strong and unflinching commitment to democratic values. And yes, there was some afterthought of an evaporated Christian message somewhere but I think only to justify something being issued in the name of Christ at all; but also perhaps to suggest that our “inalienable rights” are only that in which our “great” laws provide.
This encyclical is a travesty.
Protocol 67/05
July 4, 2005
Independence Day
To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America
My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Our annual celebration of American Independence on the Fourth of July is an opportunity for us to grow in our appreciation of the principles of democracy, liberty, and freedom for all humankind. We celebrate these principles as Greek Orthodox Christians who are blessed to call America our home. As inheritors of a proud Hellenic legacy, we have been indelibly influenced by the principle of democracy. As citizens and residents of America, our democratic worldview has been enhanced by our stalwart commitment to liberty and freedom. Throughout our history, we have learned firsthand of the necessity of these principles for promoting peace, civic prosperity, and authentic relationships with God and with others. For us then, July 4th is not only a day to celebrate with friends, families, and neighbors; it is also a day to reflect upon the significance of our cultural, national, and religious identity within American life.
Today, we acknowledge the significance of the Fourth of July as a community of Greek Orthodox Christians through prayer and service. We are moved to consider freedom and liberty as gifts from God that He has lovingly given to all persons, and as inalienable rights that He has endowed upon all men and women throughout our world. Our festivities on this day may therefore be viewed not only as occasions to participate in an important national observance, but also as opportunities to recognize God’s abiding presence in our lives and to comprehend the meaning of freedom in its ultimate sense, as expressed by St. Paul that "where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Corinthians 3:17).
As we celebrate this historic and ever-significant Day of American Independence, let us continue to enshrine in our hearts the true meaning of liberty and freedom, both as responsible citizens and residents of our country and as faithful Greek Orthodox Christians. Let
us also pray that the freedom we enjoy in this land may enable us to grow in our love for God and for others, and in our commitment to freedom for all humankind. May His perfect peace abide in your hearts always, and may His gift of freedom ring throughout our world.
With paternal love in Christ,
+DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America
You're still making a mountain out of a molehill. It isn't like bishops are calling for Church-wide fasting/prayer/processions in support of the war effort, or something like that. Talk about wordly! Oh wait, Russians, Greeks, etc. did that type of stuff... 