WASHINGTON – Archbishop Demetrios of America will lead the Greek-American community today in a White House celebration and reception hosted by President Barack Obama.

While in Washington and following his very successful meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday March 23, the Archbishop continued with a series of meetings.

Yesterday, March 24, His Eminence was the honored guest and speaker in a round-table discussion hosted by The Brookings Institution. The off-the record discussion coincided with a lunch and included about 35 individuals such as Brookings scholars, representatives of the U.S. faith community, the international environmental community and the community of U.S. politics and foreign policy. The conversation revolved around matters of concern to all Americans, including the role of faith, tolerance and civil discourse in American politics and abroad, and the engagement of faith communities on global issues such as climate change and poverty.

In mid-afternoon Archbishop Demetrios visited U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin from Illinois, at his office in the U.S. Capitol. Senator Durbin and the Archbishop discussed several issues of mutual concern pertaining to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the unresolved Cyprus issue.

In the evening His Eminence met with Senator Robert Menendez from New Jersey over dinner, in which other prominent members of the Greek-American Community participated.

To see photos of the Archbishop’s visit to Washington go to:

http://photos.goarch.org/main.php?g2_itemId=2422

The American people join Hellenes today in commemorating
the 188th anniversary of Greece's independence. As we celebrate
the establishment of the Hellenic Republic, we honor the
historic contributions of Greeks and Greek-Americans.
Americans celebrated the cause of Greek independence
during the new nation's earliest years. In 1824, summarizing
support for the Greek struggle among the American people,
then-Representative Henry Clay declared, "That it is felt with
the deepest intensity, expressed in almost every possible form,
and that it increases with every new day and passing hour." His
words are echoed today as Americans celebrate the anniversary of
this struggle for independence. 

The relationship between Greece and the United States owes
much to the vision of democracy and liberty forged in Greece.
In constructing a modern democratic framework, our Nation's
founders drew upon the immutable principles of the ancient
Greeks. All who cherish the ideal of democratic governance
are beneficiaries of the Greek legacy.
From the literary classics taught in our children's
classrooms to the gleaming monuments of our Nation's capital,
Greek cultural traditions have also found a home in the
United States. In classrooms across the country, many of our
students still immerse themselves in the epics of Homer, the
dramas of Sophocles, and the philosophical innovations of Plato
and Aristotle. Among the Greek-influenced structures in
Washington, D.C., our Nation's Capitol Building draws upon the
architectural legacy of the ancient Greeks.
In recent history, Greece and the United States have
stood together to meet the challenges of our times. Greeks
and Americans fought for common causes over the course of the
20th century and continue to collaborate in this century,
including through membership in the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization.

The strength of the bond between Greece and the
United States is exemplified by the Greek-American community,
which enriches our Nation with its cultural heritage and helps
maintain the living relationship between our countries.
On the anniversary of Greece's independence, we celebrate
this friendship and look forward to realizing our common goals
and aspirations. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in
me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby
proclaim March 25, 2009, as "Greek Independence Day: A National
Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy." I call
upon the people of the United States to observe this day with
appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord
two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States
of America the two hundred and thirty-third. 

Mr. President,

On behalf of the Greek American Orthodox Community of this blessed Land, I have the great honor to wholeheartedly congratulate you upon historic ascendance to the Presidency of the United States. In addition to our warmest congratulations to you and the First Lady, you have our fervent prayers and support as you proceed with the awesome task of leading our Nation in accomplishing its great mission in our troubled world.

You also have our deepest thanks for kindly and personally inviting us to the White House for this commemoration of Greek Independence Day, a Presidential celebration of Greek and American Democracy.

It was on this day, the 25th of March, in the year 1821 that the Greek People, after suffering nearly 400 years of tyrannical occupation, stood up – a David against a Goliath, and declared their independence.  They fought with astonishing bravery and against all odds, and established the free, modern Greek Nation among the Nations of the Earth, bringing democracy once again to its very birthplace of democracy.

Today, as we offer tribute to the heroes who, with the help of God, produced the miracle of the March 25, 1821, we honor them in this unique place, which constitutes a pre-eminent symbol of freedom and peace, justice and democracy, life and abundance of life, to use the words of  Jesus  from the Gospel of John.

In this spirit, and in full awareness of the tremendous power, both personal and institutional, of the President of the United States, we feel that we can kindly ask you for your special assistance. An assistance in resolving chronic injustices related to issues of religious freedom, human values, peaceful coexistence, democratic rule of law, and the pursuit of happiness.
I am specifically referring to the following three cases:
First:  The case of the religious freedom of our Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.  This means the free and unfettered exercise of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s purely spiritual mission of leading the leading Orthodox Christian world of over a quarter of a billion people.  Furthermore, his possibility to proceed freely and effectively in his is pioneering work for the environment, and his passionate promotion of inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue.
Second:  The case of the well-known issue of the Republic of Cyprus, and
Third: The case of the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

We are confident, Mr. President,  that you, following the brilliant example of Alexander the Great, will be able to cut the Gordian knot of these unresolved issues, and by so doing, enhance  peace and reconciliation among the peoples included and involved.
The history of unbreakable ties and sincere friendship between the United States and Greece is well known, but there is a special connection prior to 1821. I speak of the famous “Barbary War” in Tripoli, Libya, North Africa, that involved the newly established Marine Corps in April 1805.  A detachment under the command of a L For the rest of this News Release, visit the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America website

Archbishop Demetrios Meets with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
March 24, 2009