Yesterday, March 25th was Greek Independence Day. 193 years ago today, Bishop Germanos of Patras raised the flag of revolution over the Monastery of Agia Lavra, and the Greek War of Independence began. The cry “Freedom or Death” became the motto of the revolution.
Today, many people took to social media to redeclare “Freedom or Death.” Although we need to celebrate the bravery of the Greeks that revolted against the Ottomans in 1821, I would like to direct your attention to different words. In The Colossus of Maroussi, Henry Miller wrote the following:
It is glorious to offer one’s life for a cause, but dead men accomplish nothing. Life demands that we offer something more — spirit, soul, intelligence, goodwill. Nature is ever ready to repair gaps caused by death, but nature cannot supply the intelligence, the will, the imagination to conquer the forces of death.
It is to such an ethos that we must all dedicate ourselves to today. On this March 25th, Greece, Cyprus, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and worldwide Hellenism need a new declaration of independence. And just as 1821 started with the Filiki Eteria/Φιλική Εταιρεία, the Greek diaspora must recommit itself to its roots.
As we complete our celebrations of Greek Independence Day and the Annunciation of the Theotokos, I ask only one thing of you. Pick some way to use your intelligence, your will, your imagination to promote Hellenism. If we all do so, 2014 will one day be remembered in the same breath as 1821.
Χρόνια Πολλά
Endy Zemenides
Executive Director
Hellenic American Leadership Council
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