www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Greek Independence Day

Besides being the Feast of the Annunciation according to the new reckoning, for those of Greek heritage, today marks the beginning of the successful struggle to free themselves from the Ottoman yoke in 1821.

I would like to wish all of Greek heritage not only a blessed Feast of the Annunciation, but a happy Independence Day.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

...free from four hundred years of the Ottoman yoke

Thanks, and as these two days coincide, the Blessed Mother of God, the Panayia (all holy one) herself must have sanctioned it...

In Christ,
Alice

And a happy Greek Independence Day to everyone!

Incognitus

Prayers and best wishes to all on the feast of the Annunciation and Greek Independence Day.

Indeed a happy independence day!

It is also the 85th anniversaty of the Triangle Fire. I don't think that the Blessed Moother of God, the Panayia, herself sanctioned that fire, though. I wrote a meditation or reflection on this which appears at http://willamettereds.blogspot.com/.

There is so much to remember, mark and celebrate today!

b.r.

No, though the coincidence of Greece's liberation from 400 years of Ottoman Turk occupation, with all its ensuing hardships, and the great devotion of the Greek Orthodox people to the Virgin Mary and to this great and most important feast day, does not seem arbitrary...

(...And by the way, I do not appreciate the way in which you copied my *exact* wording about the Virgin Mary as it comes across as sarcastic and condescending--atleast to me).

Blessings of the feast day of the Annunciation of the Good News,
Alice

P.S. I read your meditation about the Triangle Fire--a great tragedy for sure. May the memory of our beloved Italian brothers and sisters who perished that day be eternal in the kingdom of our God.

For sure no insult was intended! And I'm feeling pretty stupid about the typo besides. I think that this is the correct way--Blessed Mother of God, the Panayia--and common useage also, isn't it? If it's not, I've been wrong for years!!!

Yesterday (Friday) marked the assassination of Archbishop Romero. We marked that here with a simply beautiful evening of testimony, music and prayer. My favorite Sister won the door prize and the poster for event is officially a collector's item now. I pulled this together and had no idea how it would fly. Last week the Sister said to ask Archbishop Romero for help and I did and it was a huge success.

Somehow the Romero event, Ascension eve, Ascension, Greek Independence Day, our protests for immigrant rights and the Triangle Fire events all fit together in four days of exhilirating and humbling meditation and reflections--the kind that strengthens. And tomorrow is Sunday...

What did we do to deserve such blessings?!

b.r.

I have often wondered if the independence movement unfurled itself on that day in some connection with the glorious joy that we as Christians have on that day of the Incarnation.

In Christ,
Andrew

May God bless Greece and all the Greek people from all the world.

Dear Friends,

Our Toronto Greek Community had a GREAT parade on Greek Independence Day yesterday!!

Greektown is my favourite part of the city, you know! There's always lots to eat, restaurants, culture and, yes, Greek religious and cultural "chatchkas" that one may buy in the several shlocky shops there! (What would life be without those shops?)

There is also a parkette with a bust of, yes, you guessed it, ALEXANDER THE GREAT - and I sometimes buy some carnations at the flower shop across the street to adorn that statue of the famous King and General properly . . .

ELANTHERIA A THANATOS! VICTORY OR DEATH!

(Or else let's go for some ouzo - YASSOUS!!)

And to you Greeks on this forum, when you become as proud a Greek as me, then you will, once again, have the greatness of the time of Alexander . . .

Megas Alexandros

Dear Andrew you said:

"I have often wondered if the independence movement unfurled itself on that day in some connection with the glorious joy that we as Christians have on that day of the Incarnation."

I say:

I don't know! I think the Greeks might have hoped they had their Panayia's blessings. It started at the town where one of my grandmothers family originated. A town that sufferred a horrific massacre by the Nazi's in the Second World War.

My-great-granduncle was a well known nephew of the Greek revolutionist, 'Kolokotronis'. Kolokotronis' had 32 nephews that all died battling Turks. It seems their motto was: Give me liberty, or give me death.

Well had Lord Byron lived, he probably would have become king of Greece. He luckily inherited the title of Lord Byron and then married a very wealthy woman. They eventually split, but according to the law he was entitled to half of her parents estate.

Well he took it, (knowing she and his child were financially secure), and used it to help Greece attain it's independance. Well, his patronage, and a painting of the massacre of the island of Chios by the famous painter Delacroix, brought many other Philhellenes to fight the Turks. One of them was George Washington's nephew. He wanted to marry a certain Greek girl, but her father refused because of his religion.

What a pity! The young man died there, but think of it, today there might have been 'Washingtonopoulos' living there.

Zenovia

Dear Bob you said:

" is also the 85th anniversaty of the Triangle Fire. I don't think that the Blessed Moother of God, the Panayia, herself sanctioned that fire, though."

I say:

The accounts that I have read of the fire state that no one knew who the 'elegant' man was that appeared at the window and helped those women jump to their death. He is considered a mystery. Of course, I have my own suspicions. Oh and you forgot to mention that all the fire regulations that exist today came about because of that tragedy.

To understand fully what workers went through in this country, Andrew Carnegie, the great 'so called' benefactor, had his workers working 12 hours a day with only one day off a year. It was the fourth of July. When he proudly showed his friend from Scotland his industrial 'utopia', his friend responded: I have now seen hell.

Zenovia