Celebration of the Greek National Day in Belgrade

On the occasion of the Greek National Day, the Liberation Day from Turkish yoke, and in remembrance of Greek liberation uprisings in1821, His Grace Bishop Arsenije of Toplica, Vicar  Bishop of the Serbian Patriarch, officiated Hierarchal Liturgy in the chapel of Saint Symeon the Myrrh-Gusher at the Serbian Patriarchate yesterday on the 4th Sunday of Lent.

The Holy Liturgy was attended by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej, Ambassador of Greece Mr. Konstantinos Ikonomidis, Ambassador of Cyprus Mrs. Nasfika Krusti, Greek military attaché Colonel Antonios Kostakis, representatives of the Greek-Serbian Friendship Association and members of the Greek community in Serbia.

In his address His Grace Bishop Arsenije pointed out the significance of faith and emphasized the strength of faith of Forty Martyrs of Sebastia, celebrated on that day, who witnessed their faith by laying their lives. Bishop Arsenije congratulated the Greek people the Day dedicated to the memory of Greek liberation from Turkish yoke in 1821, stressing that especially the Serbian people understood the brotherly Greek people because they already in 1804 had made efforts, for the first time, to liberate themselves from Turkish oppression, and in 1815 as well, for the second time, with the uprising that led to the establishment of the Principality of Serbia, after long-lasting slavery and tyranny.