Archbishop Apostolos of Canada addressed an Oxi Day Toronto event at St Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church on Sunday 18 October, calling the 1940 “No” a symbol of freedom.
Titled “Hours of Freedom – Acts of the Greeks”, the event took place at the Polymenakion Cultural Centre. The Greek Community of Toronto organised it.
Archbishop Apostolos attended at the invitation of community president Betty Skoutakis. It was also his first visit to the Greek Orthodox community of St Demetrios.
Among the guests were Greece’s Minister of the Interior, Theodoros Livanios, and Deputy Minister of Finance Dimitris Markopoulos.
Oxi Day Toronto address on 1940
Each year, Greeks mark Oxi Day on 28 October. It recalls the day in 1940 when Greek leader Ioannis Metaxas rejected an ultimatum from Benito Mussolini’s Italy, according to Wikipedia. Italian troops then attacked from Albania, and Greece entered the Second World War.
In his Oxi Day Toronto address, Archbishop Apostolos reflected on the historical weight of that date. He described the “Oxi” as a symbol of freedom, national dignity, courage and sacrifice.
Keeping historical memory alive among Greeks who live abroad also matters, he said. For the Archbishop, the anniversary should not only recall the past but also call people to uphold basic human values.
He set out that message in a series of refusals and affirmations.
“No to war, no to violence, no to injustice, no to division and to every form of violation of human dignity. Yes to peace, yes to democracy, yes to freedom of speech, yes to unity, yes to solidarity and mutual respect.”
Archbishop Apostolos of Canada
Diakos and the call to freedom
The Archbishop then paid tribute to Lieutenant Alexandros Diakos, the first Greek officer killed in the 1940 campaign. Diakos came from the Dodecanese, which is also the Archbishop’s own place of origin.
At the Oxi Day Toronto gathering, Archbishop Apostolos held up Diakos’ sacrifice as an example of courage and dedication to freedom.
Drawing on the Apostle Paul, he quoted “For you were called to freedom, brothers” from Galatians 5:13. Freedom is a gift from God, he said, but it must come with responsibility, justice, respect for others and love.
Language, faith and the next generation
Beyond the history, the Archbishop spoke about the future of the community. In particular, he urged that younger Greek Canadians keep the Greek language, cultural heritage and Orthodox faith.
Unity also featured in his address. He encouraged cooperation within the Greek community, because preserving Greek Orthodox traditions requires mutual respect and a shared sense of responsibility, he said.
Children and young people took part in the Oxi Day Toronto cultural program, which included traditional Greek music and dance. Archbishop Apostolos praised their involvement and called the younger generation essential to the future of Hellenism in Canada.
He congratulated Skoutakis and event coordinator Michalis Moratidis, as well as the cultural associations and volunteers who contributed to the program.
Finally, he thanked the organisers, participants and members of the Greek Community of Toronto for their warm welcome. The Archbishop also praised their commitment to Greek cultural and religious traditions in Canada.
A meeting on Greek schools
On the same Sunday, Archbishop Apostolos received Livanios at the offices of the Holy Archdiocese in Toronto. Greece’s new Ambassador to Canada, Vassilios Vikas, and Consul General Ioannis Chatzantonakis also attended.
Their talks focused on Greek-language education, support for Greek schools and ties between younger Greek Canadians and Greece. Livanios said Greek-language education abroad needs strengthening, and he acknowledged the Church’s role in linking the diaspora with Greece.
The Oxi Day Toronto visit came only weeks into the Archbishop’s ministry. Greek City Times reported his election and enthronement plans in August.
According to that report, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elected the former Metropolitan of New Jersey on 22 July 2026. His enthronement was set for 19 September at the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Toronto.
Source: Orthodox Times
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