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St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Christian Church
Publish Date: 2024-02-18
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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






Services Schedule

Sunday Services

Orthros/Matins: 9:00am

Divine Liturgy: 10:00am


Past Bulletins


St. Spyridon Parish News, Events, Activities and Announcements

Parish Oratorical Festival 

Only two weeks away! Sunday, March 3rd after Divine Liturgy. Students in grades 3-12 can participate. All Parish participants will receive a $20 gift certificate and our Parish winners at the Junior and Senior levels will receive the George M. Platis Oratorical Scholarship Award, offered by Michael and Maria Platis in memory of their son George, who proudly participated in the parish Oratorical Festival. Sign up today to present your speech on one of the topics found online at https://www.goarch.org/documents/32058/12241508/2024_Topics_Final.pdf  To sign your student up, please reach out to parish festival chairperson, Timmy Paraskevopoulos at 714-931-2431 or t_nicolaou@hotmail.com. 

See the attached flyer in the Inserts & Flyers section.

 

Philoptochos Complimentary Membership Luncheon

Join us for a day of fellowship and fun! Make your reservations for our Annual Philoptochos Membership Drive and Complimentary Lunch on Saturday, March 2nd at 11:00 am by calling the church office 619-297-4165 or emailing office@stspyridon.org.

See attached letter and flyer in the Inserts & Flyers section.

  

 St. Nicholas Ranch Summer Camp

Registration is now open for camp! St. Nicholas Camp fills up fast! St. Spyridon will be organizing a bus trip for transportation to and from camp for Week 1 from July 7th - July 13th. For more information contact Bill Navrides at 619-992-6775 or bill.navrides@sharp.com or Julie Dennis at youthministries@stspyridon.org

See attached flyer in the Inserts & Flyers section. 

 

CrossRoad Summer Program

Application deadline is February 20th. Learn more today about CrossRoad Institute Summer Program, a 10-day academic institute made just for Orthodox Christian students in the United States or Canada who are in 11th and 12th grade! Travel to Boston, Northern California, or Chicago to connect with other Orthodox Christians as you prepare to make big life decisions and start new adventures. Learn more today at www.CrossRoadInstitute.org 

See attached flyer in the Inserts & Flyers section.

 

 GOYA Laser Tag

February 25th, 1:30pm - 3:30pm. GOYA kids grades 7 - 12, come have a fun afternoon with us at Invasion Laser Tag in San Marcos! We can carpool from Church. We will have pizza at the venue. RSVP required for this event! Email youthministries@stspyridon.org or text Julie Dennis at 619-618-5116 to RSVP. 

See attached flyer in the Inserts & Flyers section. 

 

 Festival Save the Dates! 

The next general festival meeting is next Sunday, February 25th following the Divine Liturgy in the Hellenic Cultural Society Room, 1st floor in the Education Building.
 
Our Festival Kick-Off is Sunday, March 10th, also following the Divine Liturgy in the Church Hall. All are welcome! Any questions, Contact Marian Dougenis 619-520-3660. 
 
 

Coffee and Conversation for High School Juniors and Seniors

Next session is February 25th in the Hall Lounge from  12:10-1:00. Light lunch and coffee or hot chocolate provided! We are working on the second book in the Relationship Project, an Orthodox Curriculum designed for teens to talk about hard topics such as Understanding Identity, Intimacy, and Mental Health. Register via email to youthministries@stspyridon.org. 

 

Metropolis Young Adult Lenten Retreat

Let's begin Great Lent together with Orthodox Young Adults (ages 18-39) from across the West Coast for a Lenten Retreat at St. Nicholas Ranch & Retreat Center in Dunlap, CA from March 22 - 24, 2024. Young Adults from all Orthodox traditions are welcome to attend. We will spend time having discussions and fellowship at St. Nicholas Ranch, as well as visiting and helping the Sisters at the Monastery of the Life-Giving Spring with a work project and other engaging activities throughout the weekend. To register: https://gosfyouth.org/young-adult-lenten-retreat

Speaker: Archon George Psefteas
Theme: "Discovering Our Spiritual Heritage - The Ecumenical Patriarchate"

"We know many things about our faith, but do we appreciate how unchanged it has been since the time of Christ? Do we know the contributions of Constantinople and its Patriarchs in the Apostolic succession from the time of St. Andrew, the First Called? We invite you to come join us to discuss these questions and ask and answer others. We also invite you to join us in discussing and seeing the beauty and holiness of Constantinople and exploring how each of you have the opportunity to experience it firsthand.”

See attached flyer in the Inserts & Flyers section. 

 

Philoptochos Decorated Feast Day Icons 

We invite you to commemorate a Feast Day or special event in the life of your family by offering a beautifully decorated icon to be displayed in the Narthex for all to venerate. The suggested donation amount is $85. Please make checks payable to the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society. To reserve an icon, contact the church office: (619) 297-4165

Icons Available for Decoration: 

02/25 - The Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee
03/03 - The Sunday of the Prodigal Son
03/10 - Judgement Sunday
03/24 - The Sunday of Orthodoxy
 
 
Papanicolaou Scholarship­
 
Attention: High School Seniors. The deadline for submittal of all applications for the St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox / George & Rose Papanicolaou Scholarship Fund, a 501(c)3 Not-for-profit organization, is: March 31, 2024. The Application,  Eligibility Factors, and Basis of Selection are available on the Church’s website: https://www.stspyridon.org/ministries/scholarship.
 

Zathas Foundation Scholarships

One of the primary purposes of the Zathas Foundation is to provide financial assistance to high school graduating seniors, community college students transferring to a 4-year college and to full-time undergraduate college/university students. The amount of the scholarship awards, to be granted to a few qualifying students, varies from $500.00 to $1,500.00 each.

The requirements are as follows:
1. Completed applications must be received before May 1, 2024.
2. Eligibility is limited to high school graduating seniors, community college students transferring to a 4-year college and to full-time undergraduate 4-year college/university students.
3. Scholarships will be granted only to qualified members of the Greek Orthodox faith residing in the County of San Diego.
4. Scholarships MUST be applied for tuition.
5. Scholarships will be paid directly to the college/university on the student’s behalf.
6. The criteria for granting scholarships will be financial need. Other criteria will be prior academic performance, scores of tests, character, motivation, potential, honors, and activities.

If you would like an application, please contact Spero Tzathas at spe1@cox.net.

 

Church Parking Lot

As a reminder, when you park your car in the church lot, do not double-park or block any of the exits. Please, only park in a marked parking spot.  Also, parking in the alley is not permitted. Your consideration and cooperation are greatly appreciated by your fellow parishioners. 

 

Fellowship and Coffee Hour

Please consider sponsoring a Sunday Fellowship Hour with your friends and family by providing simple refreshments (donuts or bagels, fruit, and juice).  This is a beautiful way to honor family members or celebrate special occasions. See details below in the attached flyer and QR Code to sign up or contact Christina Frangos, 858-220-0071, christinafrangos1@gmail.com.
 
With appreciation, 
 
Anthousa Chapter of Philoptochos

The following Sundays are currently available:

April 14th

May 26th

June 2nd

June 23rd

June 30th

See the attached flyer in the Inserts & Flyers Section.

 

Agape Meals
Philoptochos provides meals to St. Spyridon community members in need following hospitalizations, the death of a family member, or the birth of a child. Please reach out to Marian Dougenis (619) 520-3660 if you or someone you know is in need.
 
  
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. 

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Inserts and Flyers

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Fourth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:1-12

On the first day of the week at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking spices, which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." And they remembered His words and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the Apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:16-18; 7:1.

Brethren, you are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Canaanite
The Reading is from Matthew 15:21-28

At that time, Jesus went to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.


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Archdiocese News

Sunday Sermon Series Sunday of the Canaanite February 18

02/13/2024

This week, find insights about the upcoming Gospel reading, where we learn about Jesus encountering the Canaanite woman whose daughter is possessed by an evil spirit. But why would Jesus compare the woman to a dog? And what does the word “me” refer to in the Jesus Prayer?


Fully Human Podcast Blessed Kevin a Fool for Christ - Part 2

02/16/2024

What would our lives look like if we embraced our bodily limitations and understood that they could be offerings to the Lord? Dr. Aaron Haney and Brian Whirledge continue their conversation with Pres. Melanie on such a life - that of their friend Kevin McCarty.


The 47th Metropolis of San Francisco Folk Dance Festival (FDF) Welcomes Participants at Opening Ceremony

02/16/2024

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco welcomed the children and visitors to the 47th Metropolis of San Francisco Folk Dance Festival (FDF) being held in Anaheim, CA.


Metropolis of San Francisco Ordination of Rev. Father Spyridon Rice

02/15/2024

The faithful from Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Tacoma, WA witnessed the ordination of Spyridon Rice to the Holy Diaconate by His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, on Saturday, February 3, 2024.


Philoptochos Wear Red for Heart Health Awareness Month

02/14/2024

On Sunday, February 4, 2024 Philoptochos spread agape, heart health awareness, and support by wearing red. Philoptochos chapters from across the country in Anaheim, California to Atlanta, Georgia participated.


Congressional Hellenic Caucus Initiative with POTUS on Cyprus Applauded

02/14/2024

The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (Order of AHEPA) commends the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues for its initiative to urge President Joe Biden to formally welcome President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides to the White House for a formal state visit, announced Supreme President Savas C. Tsivicos.


Ionian Village Applications Open for the Archdiocesan Youth Summer Camp Scholarship Fund

02/14/2024

The Office of Ionian Village, with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, is pleased to announce applications for need-based scholarships for those wishing to attend Ionian Village 2024. 


The Association of Byzantine Chanters and Friends of Florida “Ioannis Koukouzelis” Present 18th Annual Concert of Byzantine Hymns and Greek Songs

02/14/2024

The Association of Byzantine Chanters and Friends of Florida “Ioannis Koukouzelis” presented their 18th Annual Concert of Byzantine Hymns and Greek Songs under the direction of Choral Director George E. Pappas. After chanting in the newly built church, the choir and audience moved into Matheos Hall for dinner and sung Greek songs.


Archbishop Elpidophoros Camping Scholarship Funds to be Distributed

02/12/2024

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese is pleased to announce that the Archbishop Elpidophoros Camping Scholarship Fund has netted $400,000 through the inaugural Nameday Gala for His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America that was held in November 2023 in New York City.


From Wonder to the Will of God: A Story of Holy Ordination

02/12/2024

He was fifteen years old. A slight rail of a teenager, a wisp of experience, Sam found himself drawn to the Greek Festival at Saints Constantine and Helen Cathedral in Richmond, Virginia.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

She had a great perfection of faith. She had no uncertainty about His divine majesty. She had no small measure of the virtue of patience. Yet the pitying Physician of the pitiful disdained her petitions. He kept her waiting for answer in order to demonstrate to us the perseverence of this woman that we can always imitate. She had the characteristics of constancy and humility. She willingly embraced the indignity she received, and even confirmed the Lord`s statement. This woman rightly signifies the faith and devotion of the Church gathered from the nations
Saint Bede
Hom. I. 22, In Lent, Homilies on the Gospels, Bk. One, 216, 217.

He kept her waiting for an answer in order to declare that the minds of His disciples should also be merciful. As human beings they were ashamed of the clamor of the woman as she pursued them publicly, but He Himself knew the character of His mercy.
St. Bede
Hom. I. 22, In Lent, Homilies on the Gospels, Bk. One, 216

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode

The joyful news of your resurrection was told to the women disciples of the Lord by the angel. Having thrown off the ancestral curse, and boasting, they told the apostles: death has been vanquished, Christ our God. is risen, bestowing on the world great mercy.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

A protection of Christians unshamable, intercessor to our Holy Maker, unwavering, please reject not the prayerful cries of those who are in sin. Instead, come to us, for you are good; your loving help bring unto us, who are crying in faith to you: hasten to intercede and speed now to supplicate, as a protection for all time, Theotokos, for those who honor you.
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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
February 18

Leo the Great, Pope of Rome

According to some, this Saint was born in Rome, but according to others in Tyrrenia (Tuscany), and was consecrated to the archiepiscopal throne of Rome in 440. In 448, when Saint Flavian, Archbishop of Constantinople, summoned Eutyches, an archimandrite in Constantinople, to give account for his teaching that there was only one nature in Christ after the Incarnation, Eutyches appealed to Saint Leo in Rome. After Saint Leo had carefully examined Eutyches's teachings, he wrote an epistle to Saint Flavian, setting forth the Orthodox teaching of the person of Christ, and His two natures, and also counseling Flavian that, should Eutyches sincerely repent of his error, he should be received back with all good will. At the Council held in Ephesus in 449, which was presided over by Dioscorus, Patriarch of Alexandria (and which Saint Leo, in a letter to the holy Empress Pulcheria in 451, was the first to call "The Robber Council"), Dioscorus, having military might behind him, did not allow Saint Leo's epistle to Flavian to be read, although repeatedly asked to do so; even before the Robber Council was held, Dioscorus had uncanonically received the unrepentant Eutyches back into communion. Because Saint Leo had many cares in Rome owing to the wars of Attila the Hun and other barbarians, in 451 he sent four delegates to the Fourth Ecumenical Council, where 630 Fathers gathered in Chalcedon during the reign of Marcian, to condemn the teachings of Eutyches and those who supported him. Saint Leo's epistle to Flavian was read at the Fourth Council, and was confirmed by the Holy Fathers as the Orthodox teaching on the incarnate person of our Lord; it is also called the "Tome of Leo." The Saint wrote many works in Latin; he reposed in 461. See also Saint Anatolius, July 3.


Philothea
February 19

Philothea the Righteous Martyr of Athens

Saint Philothei was born in Athens in 1522 to an illustrious family. Against her will, she was married to a man who proved to be most cruel. When he died three years later, the Saint took up the monastic life and established a convent, in which she became a true mother to her disciples. Many women enslaved and abused by the Moslem Turks also ran to her for refuge. Because of this, the Turkish rulers became enraged and came to her convent, dragged her by force out of the church, and beat her cruelly. After a few days, she reposed, giving thanks to God for all things. This came to pass in the year 1589. She was renowned for her almsgiving, and with Saints Hierotheus and Dionysius the Areopagite is considered a patron of the city of Athens.


Allsaint
February 20

Leo, Bishop of Catania

This Saint, who was from Ravenna in Italy, lived during the reign of Leo the Wise and his son Constantine Porphyrogenitus (end of the ninth and beginning of the tenth centuries). He struggled especially against the paganism and sorcery still prevalent in those regions.


Allsaint
February 21

Timothy the Righteous

Saint Timothy took up the monastic life from his youth, became a vessel of the Holy Spirit, and reposed in deep old age.


Allsaint
February 22

Finding of the Relics of the Holy Martyrs of Eugenios

The holy relics of these Saints were found in the quarter of Constantinople called Eugenius when Thomas was Patriarch of that city (607-610).


Allsaint
February 23

Polycarp the Holy Martyr & Bishop of Smyrna

This apostolic and prophetic man, and model of faith and truth, was a disciple of John the Evangelist, successor of Bucolus (Feb. 6), and teacher of Irenaeus (Aug. 23). He was an old man and full of days when the fifth persecution was raised against the Christians under Marcus Aurelius. When his pursuers, sent by the ruler, found Polycarp, he commanded that they be given something to eat and drink, then asked them to give him an hour to pray; he stood and prayed, full of grace, for two hours, so that his captors repented that they had come against so venerable a man. He was brought by the Proconsul of Smyrna into the stadium and was commanded, "Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent, and say, 'Away with the atheists.'" By atheists, the Proconsul meant the Christians. But Polycarp, gazing at the heathen in the stadium, waved his hand towards them and said, "Away with the atheists." When the Proconsul urged him to blaspheme against Christ, he said: "I have been serving Christ for eighty-six years, and He has wronged me in nothing; how can I blaspheme my King Who has saved me?" But the tyrant became enraged at these words and commanded that he be cast into the fire, and thus he gloriously expired about the year 163. As Eusebius says, "Polycarp everywhere taught what he had also learned from the Apostles, which also the Church has handed down; and this alone is true" (Eccl. Hist., Book IV, ch. 14,15).


07_john2
February 24

First & Second Finding of the Venerable Head of John the Baptist

The first finding came to pass during the middle years of the fourth century, through a revelation of the holy Forerunner to two monks, who came to Jerusalem to worship our Saviour's Tomb. One of them took the venerable head in a clay jar to Emesa in Syria. After his death it went from the hands of one person to another, until it came into the possession of a certain priest-monk named Eustathius, an Arian. Because he ascribed to his own false belief the miracles wrought through the relic of the holy Baptist, he was driven from the cave in which he dwelt, and by dispensation forsook the holy head, which was again made known through a revelation of Saint John, and was found in a water jar, about the year 430, in the days of the Emperor Theodosius the Younger, when Uranius was Bishop of Emesa.


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