Archbishop Elpidophoros of America refers to the true, deepest and timeless message of NO on October 28, 1940 in his encyclical on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the historic anniversary.

The Archbishop emphasizes that “The brave Greeks raised an unequivocal and sacred NO in the face of the threat of fascist intervention and in the face of the suffering that was to follow after the resistance they offered to the Axis powers, culminating in the inhumane Nazi occupation.”

Besides, he points out that if there has ever been an example in the long history of the Greek nation that “NO is a real NO, this is the big NO of October 28, a NO that was meant by expressing not only the denial of slavery, but also a dynamic affirmation, an all-powerful YES to freedom and truth”.

The Archbishop of America, in fact, parallels the heroes of 1940 with the immortal heroes of 1821 and notes that “as they gave their lives for the freedom of the country, so they also watered the tree of freedom with their sacrifice, without some of them enjoying its fruits”.

Additionally, he refers to their shared vision “which transcends the limits of this world, for it extends to the kingdom of heaven, where justice, peace and true freedom reign. They shouted NO to the tyrants of this world, because their hearts were singing YES to our Lord Jesus Christ”.

In addition, he calls on the faithful to renew “with humility and determination their path in the footsteps of the heroes of 1940 and to express a true and unalterable NO against tyranny, injustice, cruelty and every form of evil, so that the voice of YES constitutes a practical confession of truth, freedom, kindness of morals and true patriotism, who loves the country without hating others.”

Finally, he exhorts the faithful to be worthy successors of the heroes of 1940, with a heroic NO to every abuse of power and a brave YES to the freedom that our Lord bestows on those who follow him.