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St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Christian Church
Publish Date: 2017-03-26
Bulletin Contents
St. Spyridon Parish News, Events, Activities and Announcements
Inserts and Fliers
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Saints and Feasts
Hymns of the Day
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News
Climicus
Organization Icon
St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Christian Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (619) 297-4165
  • Fax:
  • (619) 297-4181
  • Street Address:

  • 3655 Park Boulevard

  • San Diego, CA 92103

Contact Information

Parish Priest Fr. Andrew S.

frandrew@stspyridon.org | 619-297-4165

Parish Office For General Office Information

office@stspyridon.org | 619-297-4165

Services Schedule

Sunday Services

Orthros/Matins: 8:30am

Divine Liturgy: 10:00am

Past Bulletins


St. Spyridon Parish News, Events, Activities and Announcements

Great and Holy Week and Pascha Service Schedule 2017

Saturday, April 8th - Saturday of Lazarus

Orthros 9:00 AM - Divine Liturgy - 10:00 AM

Sunday, April 9th - Palm Sunday

Orthros 9:00 AM & Divine Liturgy - 10:00 AM

Bridegroom Service with the procession of the icon - 6:00 PM

Monday, April 10th

The Bridegroom Service - 7:00 PM 

Tuesday, April 11th

The Bridegroom Service with the Hymn of Kassiani - 7:00 PM 

Wednesday, April 12th

The Holy Unction Service - 4:00 PM

The Orthros for Great & Holy Thursday w/ anointing to follow - 7:00 PM

Thursday, April 13th

The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great - 10:00 AM

The Reading of the 12 Gospels w/ the procession of the Crucifix - 6:00 PM

Friday, April 14th

Decoration of the Kouvouklion - 9:00 AM

Great and Holy Week Sunday School Retreat - 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM

The Reading and Chanting of the Royal Hours - 10:00 AM

The Unnailing Vespers Service - 3:00 PM

The Lamentation Service - 7:00 PM

Saturday, April 15th

The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great -10:00 AM

The Services for the Resurrection Begin - 11:00 PM

Sunday, April 16th

The Agape Service - 11:30 AM

followed by the community Pascha Picnic

at Admiral Baker Park

For more information, please see the "Inserts and Fliers" section below

Lenten Services for the Month of March

This Friday, March 24th - 4th Salutations to the Theotokos - 7:00 PM

Saturday, March 25th - The Annunciation - Orthros: 9:00PM - Divine Liturgy - 10:00PM

Wednesday, March 29th - Pre Sanctified Gifts - 6:00 PM

Friday, March 31st - Akathistos/Hymn Without Sitting - 6:30 PM

PHOTO MAKE-UP DAYS!!  NEW PARISH DIRECTORY!!

Due to high demand, 2 additional days have been added for photographs - Sat/Sun April 1st and 2nd. Schedule your appointment on our church website (stspyridon.org), or by contacting Stella directly (858)694-0570 or 4weils@ sbcglobal.net. THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE - DON’T BE LEFT OUT - SIGN UP NOW!

Icons Left in the Holy Altar for a Blessing

Please reflect upon if you have left/forgotten your icons in the Holy Altar to be blessed.  If you have please let Fr. Andrew know and he will offer the blessing over them and return them to you.  

Body Basics Parking Spaces

Please be reminded that one of our tenants, Body Basics, has been given permission to use two parking spaces off the alley near Park Blvd. on Sunday mornings.  Please be respectful of that agreement and do not park in these two marked spaces on Sunday mornings. Please know that we are working diligently and moving forward to provide more parking for our church members.  In the meantime, please pay attention to the signs marking the two spaces for Body Basics and do not block their customers from using those two designated spaces. Thank you.

Paschal Tsoureki Bread Sales!

This Sunday, March 26th, you can order your paschal bread (Tsoureki) that will be made by the loving hands of the Ladies of Philoptochos, and will be available for pickup on Palm Sunday. See Sofia Samouris and Francesca Captain following Divine Liturgy to place your PAID orders of Tsoureki for $15 each. Proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit our Philoptochos Chapter and the Kids ’n’ Cancer ministry. Thank you for your support! please see the "Inserts and Fliers" section below for a "Tsoureki Reservation Form"

MOCHAS for MISSIONS

Be a STAR this Great Lent and Offer your BUCKS to Missions!  We’ve raised $620 so far! We are over 30% to our goal. 

Won’t you consider curbing your coffee purchases during Great Lent and give just $20 towards Mochas for Missions to support new and growing mission parishes in our Metropolis? If every family in our parish gives only $20, we can easily reach our $2,000 goal by Pentecost Sunday, June 4, 2017!  

Kindly place your donation in the canisters on Sundays or mail to the church office, payable to St. Spyridon Orthodox Church (note Mochas for Missions). Our collection will run through June 4th. With questions contact Soula De La Riva at soula.delariva@cox.net or (760) 521-0471. 

God Bless You! A mission parish thanks you for your generosity! 

Soula De La Riva

Mochas for Missions Chair

Please see the "Inserts and Fliers" section below 

2017 Greek Festival Baking/Cooking Schedule

Sunday, April 23rd - Prep for Dolmathes (After Church); Monday, April 24th - Assemble the Dolmathes 9:00 am; Sunday April 30th - Prep for Galaktobouriko (After Church); Monday, May 1st - Assemble the Galaktobouriko 9:00 am; Monday, May 15th - Kourambiethes & Melomakarona 9:00 am; Monday, May 22nd - Koulourakia & Paximathia 9:00 am; Tuesday, May 30th - Baklava 9:00 am; Wednesday, May 31st - Kataifi 9:00 am. 

Ancient Wisdom & Modern Coffee

Sunday School class for adults (taught by Michael Kallas, MA, MDiv).  Please join us as we follow the bible readings from Pascha to Pentecost to study the gospel according to St. John (Sunday, April 2nd, April 23rd, April 30th, and May 7th).  We meet in the lounge immediately following the Divine Liturgy. Coffee and tea is provided.Bring your bible.

Bookstore

Please visit us and pick up you new 2017 Daily Lives, Miracles, and Wisdom of the Saints and Fasting Calendar.

GOYA Palm Sunday Luncheon

Join us on Sunday, April 9th for the GOYA Palm Sunday Luncheon in the Church Hall following the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.  Luncheon tickets are $20 for Adults and $8 for children under 12.  Tickets will NOT be sold at the door.  If payment is received by March 28th you will be entered in an opportunity drawing.  Please see the GOYA table in the Church hall today to purchase tickets and write your check to St. Spyridon GOYA.  For more information please contact Bill Navrides at 619-992-6775 or bill.navrides@sharp.com.  Thank you for always supporting the GOYA ministry at St. Spyridon GOC!

SAVE THE DATE! -- Hellenic Fairways Golf Classic

Save The Date! Hellenic Fairways Golf Classic. Friday, October 27, 2017 at Willowbrook Golf Course. For more information cotact Rhad Brown: brownrhad@gmail.com or 619-573-2304. Please see the "Inserts and Fliers" section below

Your Legacy and Your Church

...to whom much is given; from them much more is required (Luke 12:48).   Please remember to include your Saint Spyridon parish in your estate plan and bequest.

Philoptochos and Coffee Hour

The Philoptochos would like to extend a huge thank you to all the families and organizations of the St. Spyridon community that have offered the coffee hour over the past several years. This has been a beautiful tradition for many years where the community has time to visit with their family and friends after liturgy. We thank you for your continued participation and would like to ask if you are interested in offering for an upcoming name day, birthday. anniversary, memorial, etc, please email Marian Dougenis at mkdougenis@prodigy.net to check the available dates. There will be a fellowship calendar in the hall so please pick a date that works for you. Thank you for your participation. 

Youth & Young Adults Social Media

Program Description: Connect with the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries through social media to stay current with all the most recent news & events. We are all living and working in the mobile age, and the Metropolis Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries is committed to building its presence on the internet. These sites serve as a unified place to connect our youth, young adults, clergy, youth workers, and parents throughout our very geographically diverse Metropolis. It will also be a place for everyone to share their ideas. Please be sure to check out these sites! 

Receive Back 0.5% From “Amazon Smile” Foundation

We are pleased to announce, St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church of San Diego now participates in AmazonSmile.  AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon that lets you enjoy the same wide selection of millions of products, low prices, and convenient shopping features as on Amazon.com.  The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church.  That’s right, every eligible purchase you or someone else makes at AmazonSmile 0.5% will be donated back to our parish!!!

Register by visiting AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com) and select “St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church” before you make your first purchase (be sure to select St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church - San Diego, California).  Amazon will remember your selection and each time a purchase is made AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% back to our parish.  

For more information about AmazonSmile, go to http://smile.amazon.com/about 

We hope you’ll consider this easy way to support your beloved parish.  Everyone is eligible to participate so tell your friends and relatives and spread the word about this wonderful program.  It takes little effort and with our collective participation and God’s continued blessings, our parish can benefit from this program. 

A short video will be available on the parish website demonstrating how to select St. Spyridon GOC as your charity in your Amazon user account.

Live Stream Broadcast  

If you know someone who may be in the hospital or home bound or for whatever reason just cannot get to church, don’t forget about the Live Stream Broadcast of our Divine Services.  You can watch our Live Broadcast by going to our parish website and clicking on the “Live Broadcast” tab on the top tool bar.  Remember, our Live Stream Broadcast is for those who absolutely cannot physically make the divine services of the church and is not a substitute for being present.  Also, please be aware that conversations, crying babies, etc. can be heard on the broadcast.  We have a wonderful cry room facility, which is located off the Narthex behind the candle stand, and is comfortable and provided for your convenience. 

The Live Stream divine services of Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church of San Diego, CA may not be recorded, retransmitted or reproduced without the express written consent of the Parish Council of Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church of San Diego, CA. Thank you for your consideration.

Donations toward the digital ministries of the parish are warmly welcomed.  If you would like to help support the ministries of Saint Spyridon please contact the church office.  Again, thank you.

Decorated Feast Day Icons

Philoptochos invites you and your family to commemorate a special Feast Day by sponsoring the floral adornments around the blessed icons.  Throughout the liturgical year there are many opportunities to offer a decorated feast day icon on any scheduled feast day.  Please consider honoring the saint or event of the liturgical year, ie Epiphany, The Nativity of our Lord, St. Nicholas, etc.  This offering is a perfect way to not only honor a feast Day and a family member as well.  Suggested donation for each decorated feast day icon is $75.00, and the donation needs to be mailed to the church office three (3) weeks prior to the feast/saints day.   If you are interested please contact the church office for available scheduled feast day opportunities.

 

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Inserts and Fliers

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Seventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:1-10

At that time, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 28.11,1.
The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 6:13-20.

BRETHREN, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. John Climacus
The Reading is from Mark 9:17-31

At that time, a man came to Jesus kneeling and saying: "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise."

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Wisdom of the Fathers

Seest thou how He now proceeds to lay beforehand in them the foundation of His doctrine about fasting? ... See, at any rate, how many blessings spring from them both. For he that is praying as he ought, and fasting, hath not many wants, and he that hath not many wants, cannot be covetous; ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

... he that is not covetous, will be also more disposed for almsgiving. He that fasts is light, and winged, and prays with wakefulness, and quenches his wicked lusts, and propitiates God, and humbles his soul when lifted up. Therefore even the apostles were almost always fasting.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

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Saints and Feasts

Climicus
March 26

Sunday of St. John Climacus

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on March 30, where his biography may be found. He is celebrated today because his book, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, is a sure guide to the ascetic life, written by a great man of prayer experienced in all forms of the monastic polity; it teaches the seeker after salvation how to lay a sound foundation for his struggles, how to detect and war against each of the passions, how to avoid the snares laid by the demons, and how to rise from the rudimental virtues to the heights of Godlike love and humility. It is held in such high esteem that it is universally read in its entirety in monasteries during the Great Fast.

Matrona
March 27

The Holy Matrona of Thessalonica

This martyr was the servant of a certain Jewish woman named Pantilla, the wife of the Governor of Thessalonica. When Matrona refused to follow her mistress into the synagogue Pantilla beat her so severly that she died in a few days, and thus received the crown of her confession.

Allsaint
March 28

Hilarion the New

Saint Hilarion took up the monastic life from his youth and lived in seclusion. Later, as Abbot of the Monastery of Pelecete in Asia Minor (believed to be in Bithynia, not far from Triglia), he suffered much from the Iconoclasts, and reposed in the year 754.

Allsaint
March 29

Mark, Bishop of Arethusa

Saint Mark was Bishop of Arethusa in Syria. In the days of Saint Constantine the Great, Saint Mark, moved with divine zeal, destroyed a temple of the idols and raised up a church in its stead. When Julian the Apostate reigned, in 361, as the pagans were now able to avenge the destruction of their temple, Saint Mark, giving way to wrath, hid himself; but when he saw that others were being taken on his account, he gave himself up. Having no regard to his old age, they stripped him and beat his whole body, cast him into filthy sewers, and pulling him out, had children prick him with their iron writing-pens. Then they put him into a basket, smeared him with honey and a kind of relish of pickled fish, and hung him up under the burning sun to be devoured by bees and wasps. But because he bore this so nobly, his enemies repented, and unloosed him.

Iconclimacus
March 30

John Climacus the Righteous, author of The Divine Ladder of Ascent

This Saint gave himself over to the ascetical life from his early youth. Experienced both in the solitary life of the hermit and in the communal life of cenobitic monasticism, he was appointed Abbot of the Monastery at Mount Sinai and wrote a book containing thirty homilies on virtue. Each homily deals with one virtue, and progressing from those that deal with holy and righteous activity (praxis) unto those that deal with divine vision (theoria), they raise a man up as though by means of steps unto the height of Heaven. For this cause his work is called "The Ladder of Divine Ascent." The day he was made Abbot of Sinai, the Prophet Moses was seen giving commands to those who served at table. Saint John reposed in 603, at eighty years of age. See also the Fourth Sunday of the Fast.

Hypatius
March 31

The Holy Hieromartyr Hypatius, Bishop of Gangra

This Saint, who was from Cilicia of Asia Minor, became Bishop of Gangra, the capital of Paphlagonia. He was present at the First Ecumenical Council. Because of his confession of the Orthodox Faith, he was put to death by the Novatians, a sect which denied that sins committed after Baptism could be forgiven.

01_mary2
April 01

Mary of Egypt

When Mary was only twelve years old, she left her parents and departed to Alexandria, where she lived a depraved life for seventeen years. Then, moved by curiosity, she went with many pilgrims to Jerusalem, that she might see the Exaltation of the venerable Cross. Even in the Holy City she gave herself over to every kind of licentiousness and drew many into the depth of perdition. Desiring to go into the church on the day of the Exaltation of the Cross, time and again she perceived a certain invisible power preventing her entrance, whereas the multitude of people about her entered unhindered. Therefore, wounded in heart by this, she decided to change her way of life and reconcile herself to God by means of repentance. Invoking our Lady the Theotokos as her protectress, she asked her to open the way for her to worship the Cross, and vowed that she would renounce the world. And thus, returning once again to the church, she entered easily. When she had worshipped the precious Wood, she departed that same day from Jerusalem and passed over the Jordan. She went into the inner wilderness and for forty-seven years lived a most harsh manner of life, surpassing human strength; alone, she prayed to God alone. Toward the end of her life, she met a certain hermit named Zosimas, and she related to him her life from the beginning. She requested of him to bring her the immaculate Mysteries that she might partake of them. According to her request, he did this the following year on Holy and Great Thursday. One year after this, Zosimas again went thither and found her dead, laid upon the ground, and letters written in the sand near her which said: "Abba Zosimas, bury here the body of wretched Mary. I died on the very day I partook of the immaculate Mysteries. Pray for me." Her death is reckoned by some to have taken place in 378, by some, in 437, and by others, in 522. She is commemorated also on the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent. Her life was recorded by Saint Sophronius of Jerusalem.

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode

By your cross you destroyed death, and opened paradise to the thief. You transformed the sorrow of the Myrrh-bearers, and commanded the apostles to proclaim that you have risen from the dead, Christ our God, granting to the world great mercy.

Apolytikion for Annunciation of the Theotokos in the Fourth Mode

Today marks the crowning of our salvation and the revelation of the mystery before all ages. For the Son of God becomes the son of the Virgin, and Gabriel proclaims the grace. Wherefore, we also cry out with him, "Hail, O full of grace, the Lord is with you."

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"
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Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

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Archdiocese Takes Active Role during International Women’s Commission

03/10/2017

NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is greatly involved in the 61st United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, continuing its decades-long work in promoting women’s rights. The functional commission is held annually in New York City at U.N. headquarters, and is generally aimed at advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women worldwide. During the two-week commission, the Archdiocese is co-sponsoring three parallel events that will focus on various topics related to women’s economic empowerment. All three events are open to the public. See more at: https://www.goarch.org/-/archdiocese-takes-active-role-during-international-women-s-commission
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