Flag Doxology/ Archbishop Joan: A service of gratitude to God for the homeland

2025-11-27 11:20:00, Aktualitet CNA

His Beatitude John explained the meaning of the Service of the Doxology of the Flag, which takes place on November 28 in all Orthodox Churches, emphasizing the connection between love for God and for country.

In an interview with the media outlet "Ngjallja", Archbishop Joan stated that the Doxology is an expression of gratitude to God, who has given us a country rich in nature, resources, and history, and at the same time it is a lesson about the responsibility that every citizen has for the prosperity and prosperity of the homeland.

Archbishop Joan emphasized that love for the country is not just a feeling, but is expressed through concrete actions to help its development and preserve its values.

“It is impossible to love God and not love your homeland,” said His Holiness, adding that caring for the place where we live is part of the overall love we have for people and for God.

He also underlined that nationalistic rhetoric that is not accompanied by true love for people can be harmful, while true patriotism is expressed through dedication and concrete deeds for the country.

The Flag Doxology service is a tool of patriotic education and a call to every citizen to act for the good of his country, uniting love for God with love for community and nation.

“In all the Orthodox Churches of the world there is a day on which they do Doxology, and from the word you know that Doxology means praising God. The purpose of what is done is first of all a gratitude to God, because God has given us a very beautiful place, a place that has everything; there are mountains, there are fields, forests, rivers and hills, seas and lakes, so, it has everything. For this we should be grateful and thank God.

But that's not all. In the Orthodox sense, as I mentioned a little while ago, that the earth belongs to God, we are also stewards of a part of the earth. Which means that a true patriot is the person who strives to make this country flourish; and to make a country flourish, you must first love it, love the people, and of course, you must love God.

I often tell people an episode from the Gospel and I retell it over and over again, because it is very important. Before the Lord gave Saint Peter a very important task to shepherd His flock, to take care of his sheep, as a metaphor for the Christian flock and for the flock of all people, He asks him a question three times and says: "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" And after Peter answers: "Yes, Lord, I love you." Then He says: "Feed my sheep."

Which means that, in order to love people, you must love God, and loving God means loving all the values ??that come from God's teaching.

Today we are faced with something: people have abandoned values, those traditional values ??that have existed for centuries, that have shaped civilizations and kept people, people. By subverting these values, love in the soul diminishes, because if we do not love God, we will undoubtedly have difficulty loving other people. It does not enrich the family either, if we do not love people.

Often, unfortunately for us, people who have responsibility for the country do not have this love and the most dangerous thing is when this is masked with nationalist slogans. A person who does not love his people cannot be a patriot and a patriot! A person who does not love his country, who does not try with all his heart to make it prosperous, how can he be a patriot?! It cannot be covered with rhetoric, cursing other people and other nations. Therefore, on these days we remind believers of these two things:

First, to be grateful to God, and second, to love the country as a responsibility to God. If we are to be good stewards, we will undoubtedly do something; but in order to try to do something, you must love someone. A person who loves God will also love people. It is impossible to love God and not love your homeland and the country where you live, where you were born and raised, where your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents lived.

That is impossible! A person who loves God with all his soul will love them too. This Doxology also serves as a part of patriotic education so that people love their country and feel responsible for it, because true love is not just a feeling, but true love is accompanied by deeds.

A parent for a child is not satisfied with just saying "I love the child", but tries to help him, does deeds. Deeds are what speak. If our deeds do not show patriotism, it can be hypocrisy. Therefore, it is very important for us to love our country, as part of the general love of God's love", said Archbishop Joan./ CNA