Reverend Fathers, Brothers and sisters in the Lord,
To hear the words of the Declaration of Independence can still bring a shiver to us. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” These words sparked the American Revolution, providing our nation with an ideal that still inspires. We live in a nation founded on a set of principles, enshrined in that Declaration ratified on July 4, 1776.
The Founding Fathers of the United States rank among some of history’s most prominent figures. Together, they united the 13 colonies, won the Revolutionary War, established a new nation, and wrote some of the most notable documents in American history, including the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
The July 4th holiday is a time to look forward with that same vision as the founding fathers. Let us, therefore, celebrate this day as American citizens or new immigrants. Let us also celebrate that we are Orthodox Christians. In the Book of Psalms we read, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance,”(Psalm 33:12).
Have a Blessed Independence Day!
+ Metropolitan Nicolae
