Home page News
Patriarch Kirill congratulates the president of&nb…

Patriarch Kirill congratulates the president of Greece on the occasion of the 200 th anniversary of the struggle for the liberation of the Greek nation

His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus Kirill sent congratulation to the president of the Republic of Greece Katerina Sakellaropoulou on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the struggle for the liberation of the Greek nation.

To: Her Excellency
Madam Katerina Sakellaropoulou
President of the Republic of Greece 

Your Excellency,
Esteemed Madam President,

Allow me to convey to you and in your person to all of the Greek nation my heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Greek independence.

In the events of two-hundred years ago the people of Greece, who endured many afflictions and trials in a state of captivity and yet who remained steadfast and strengthened throughout hardships by their native Orthodox faith, manifested great spiritual courage and heroism. The blessing of the white and blue flag of Greece in 1821 in the monastery of the Great Lavra became not only a sign of the beginning of the self-sacrificial struggle for the rights and freedom of the Greek population, but also a symbol of national unity, at the basis of which lay an ardent love for their native land. The inviolability of the people’s spirit, the will to victory and an acute sense of responsibility for the destiny of the Fatherland, which all Greeks experienced in those days, forged a united Greece from Thracia to Crete, from the Ionian islands to the islands of the Aegean Sea.

The Russian people has never been indifferent to the fate of her Greek brothers and sisters in spirit and in the faith. In feeling their pain and suffering, in closing ranks in times of hardship, in taking up arms to defend the right of Greeks to a life of peace on the land of their forefathers, Russians actively testified to their love, even unto the readiness to “lay down their lives for their friends” (Jn. 5.13). The liberation of Greek was preceded by the national revival that had come into being, including in such places as Odessa, Taganrog and Chersoneses. This became possible in many ways thanks to the previous victories of Russian arms and the support of the Russian philhellenes. The Russian Orthodox Church values highly the care which modern-day Greece takes in preserving the memory of Russian soldiers and sailors who fell in battle for the freedom of their Greek brothers. The name of Ioannis Kapodistrias alone bears witness to how the historical destinies of our respective countries are closely intertwined.

Bound by a single faith and religious culture and by similar national traditions, the peoples of Russia and Greece bear a common civilizational mission in the contemporary world. Our saints, our Orthodox forebears taught us to value sacrifice over pragmatism, friendship over advantage, truth over force and freedom over well-being.

Today, in spite of the transient political tensions, including those imposed from without, our peoples retain their adherence to the good traditions of hospitality and friendliness, to mutual aid and solidarity. I believe that the inheritors of Holy Russia and Orthodox Greece enjoy not only a common past but also a common present and without doubt will enjoy a common future.

On this important and festive day for all of Greece I wish you and all the Greek people peace and prosperity.

With respect,

+Kirill
Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'

Share:
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill sends condolences to the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Antioch over terrorist attack on Church of Prophet Elias in Damascus

22.06.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Elders

19.06.2025

Primate of the Russian Church celebrates Liturgy at the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra on the Feast of the Holy Trinity

08.06.2025

Representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches participate in Patriarchal service on the occasion of Saints Cyril and Methodius Day.

24.05.2025

Congratulatory Address by the members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on the occasion of his name’s day.

24.05.2025

Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church participates in the Paschal reception at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia

20.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill congratulates Pope Leo XIV on his election to the See of Rome

09.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro

08.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with the President of Cuba

08.05.2025

Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church awarded highest order of the Republic of Serbia

08.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić

08.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: AFU attack on the church in Belgorod region indicates lack of Christian faith of those who committed it 

07.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims’ Board

05.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev

03.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill arrives in Baku

03.05.2025

DECR Chairman: the politicization of the World Council of Churches puts its future under threat

01.07.2025

Delegation of the Moscow Patriarchate participates in the work of the WCC Central Committee in South Africa

18.06.2025

DECR Chairman meets with Russian Ambassador to South Africa

17.06.2025

DECR Chairman arrives in South Africa

16.06.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with students of the Saint Petersburg Theological Academy

12.06.2025

DECR secretary for affairs of the far abroad archpriest Sergy Zvonaryov defends doctoral dissertation.

09.06.2025

Primate of the Russian Church celebrates Liturgy at the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra on the Feast of the Holy Trinity

08.06.2025

Presidential Council for Coordination with Religious Organisations meets in Moscow

05.06.2025

Metropolitan Antony of Volokolamsk meets with the Assyrian Patriarch

31.05.2025

DECR Chairman celebrates Liturgy at St. Nicholas Church in Rome

25.05.2025

A Moleben was served before the relics of St. Cyril Equal-to-the-Apostles in Rome

24.05.2025

Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church participates in the Paschal reception at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia

20.05.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk takes part in the consecration of a church in Zahlé, Lebanon

18.05.2025

DECR chairman visits Archdioceses of Zahlé and Beirut of Antiochian Patriarchate

18.05.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with the head of the Maronite Church

17.05.2025

Metropolitan Hilarion: Many things in a person's life depend on faith

29.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Holy Spirit is the main treasure of the Christian soul

01.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ

27.06.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: God does not want to condemn, but to save us

07.03.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents

24.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord has imbued the waters of Jordan with his divine presence to wash away human sins

19.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: to repent means to change your way of life

17.01.2021

On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields  the representation of the Orthodox Church in America

07.12.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We can always show compassion for people

29.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates on commemoration day of St. Varlaam of Khutyn at the church of ‘Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God

19.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God

06.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: For God there is nothing impossible

25.10.2020

Metropoplitan Hilarion: The cross which was an instrument of dishonourable execution becomes the symbol of salvation for millions of people

27.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Eucharist is the wedding feast, to which Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us

13.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Faith alone is not enough for salvation

30.08.2020

Page is available in the following languages
Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

Send a message
Рус Укр Eng Deu Ελλ Fra Ita Бълг ქარ Срп Rom عرب