Doxology for the Greek Day of Independence – Cathedral of Saint George, Cape Town

ZITO HELLAS! Celebrating Greek Independence Day The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution of 1821, was once again heralded on 25 March  by Greek communities around the world where Greek pride was on display at church services and festive events which underlined the indomitable Greek spirit that endured 400 years of Turkish tyranny and was never extinguished. All the suffering, deprivation and humiliation of those lost centuries simply encouraged that flame to become a raging inferno of nationalism which finally destroyed their oppressors. Let us not forget that the Greek Church played a pivotal role in the preservation of our national identity, developing Greek society and upholding our Faith and traditions while keeping Greek nationalism alive under the most horrific and difficult circumstances before the final overthrow of the tyrannical Ottoman rule. The Annunciation of the Theotokos by the Archangel Gabriel is one of the most important Feast Days of the Greek Orthodox Church and is also celebrated on March 25 so as we honour the Day of the Annunciation ( or Evangelismos in Greek) we are  reminded of the  war of independence waged by Greek revolutionaries which was  started in 1821 to rid our nation of the Turkish yoke. It is a unique and blessed relationship that we share with the Mother of God whose help and protection led the Greeks to their final victory. The Cape Town Greek community paid tribute and celebrated this double blessing of the 193^rd annual   Greek Independence Day on Sunday March 30. The day began with a service of the Holy Eucharist, followed by the Doxology for the National day served by Reverend Fr. Nikolaos and Deacon Fr. Michael at the Cathedral of St George. The flags of Greece and South Africa were paraded into the church by the Greek School students and the choir sang the national anthems of both countries. The Greek Consul of Cape Town, Mr. Thomas Matsoukas, read out an official greeting from the President of Greece, Mr. Karolos Papoulias, in which he said that it alarmed and hurt him to see Greece suffering under the recent dreadful economic problems. Also Greek youth are leaving Greece to find employment elsewhere and this is tragic for Greece. But that as a nation we are fighters and our will to win and to overcome all obstacles will always help us to succeed. He also made mention of the troubles in Cyprus and wished every Greek strength and courage to keep up the good fight. …..Phillopou of the Greek School read a stirring English version and then everyone in the Church saluted our motherland with  thunderous  shouts of “Zito!” Afterwards, at the Hellenic Community Club in Green Point, there were delightful performances of Greek dancing and poetry by the  students of the Greek School before everyone sat down to a splendid  nistisimo lunch. The afternoon was rounded out by a screening of Part 1 of  “Who were the Greeks”, an acclaimed BBC series that  was very informative, entertaining and absorbing while giving us an unprecedented insight into the psyche of the ancient Greeks which still drives our DNA to this day. In fact, 25 March marks two revolutions for Greeks : the one against  political freedom and one against spiritual freedom. The Greek struggle against the Ottoman Empire was not only a struggle for freedom for the poor and oppressed, it was also a fight for equality and justice, which are the rights of every human being. Prof. Dr Aristotle Papanikolaou, a respected and celebrated academic and Orthodox Theologian at Fordham University in New York, sees the Annunciation of the Theotokos as also the beginning of a revolution. What better day to start a revolution than on this Holy Day of our Lord’s conception, the day of Good News. Because that’s what  Evangelismos means — good news! The message that Archangel  Gabriel gave the Theotokos was, in effect, a message of freedom because her son, Jesus Christ, would be our saviour from the tyranny of injustice, sin and death. Her glorious answer is  the well-loved  Magnificat Prayer: “ My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my saviour……… He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.”(Luke 1:46-55). Jesus was the ultimate revolutionary as he ministered to the “real” people so he was a threat to those in power and he died a revolutionary’s death. So, it is no coincidence that the Greek Revolution against the Turks started on that auspicious day of 25 March 1821. By  Pepe Sofianos.