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St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Christian Church
Publish Date: 2018-11-11
Bulletin Contents
St. Spyridon Parish News, Events, Activities and Announcements
Inserts and Fliers
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News
Menas
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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

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

This Sunday's Memorial

Theodore Papas - 40 Days 

Altar Server Team for Sunday, November 11, 2018

St. Basil: Captain: Dimitri Gilpin, Manolis Andronikos, George Burrell, James Burrell, John Burrell, Eric Dahl, George Dougenis, Jack Dougenis, Andrew Kaitson 

Philoptochos and Fellowship

We hope you continue to enjoy the long standing tradition of fellowship throughout the year. Philoptochos is thankful for the continued support from all the families and organizations that offer every week. We kindly ask that you consider offering at least once per year, so think of name days, celebrations, memorials, fundraisers, etc. Offering fellowship should be kept simple (bagels, cream cheese, fruit and cookies) as it is a light snack to enjoy  with family and friends following the Divine Liturgy.  Therefore, the cost of fellowship should be approximately $100-$150 . You are also more than welcome to share your fellowship hour with another family or friend. Lastly, the donations collected from the coffee hour support our many ministries so please consider this when offering your donation.

Please contact Christina Vassos at 619-818-6882 or cmvassos@gmail.com to see which dates are available. There is also a calendar in the hall. Thank you! 

COLLEGE CONNECTION

Attending college or university is something a lot of young adults look forward to. Here at St. Spyridon Philoptochos we want to make sure that our college students, whether staying here in San Diego or going away, don’t lose their connection to St. Spyridon. With that in mind, we have created “College Connection”. College Connection will reach out to our college students a couple of times per year with inspiring notes, care packages, etc. to let those students know that we are cheering them on from home. If your son or daughter will be attending college in the fall (including community college, undergraduate or graduate school), we would like to reach out to them with some love from their St. Spyridon Philoptochos family. Please send their postal mailing address and email address while they are in college, as well as the name of the school they are attending to Michelle Defelippi at mdefelippi@san.rr.com. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact Michelle at the above email or (858) 695-9772.

Calling All Military Veterans!

One of our parishioners will be hand-stitching a new military service banner to honor Post-WWII veterans. If you, or a loved one, would like to be included in this banner, please submit your full name, branch of service, phone number or email address to Soula De La Riva at (760) 521-0471 or soula.delariva@cox.net. 

Bookstore: EIKONA CD’s 

For those of you who missed the Eikona Concert or who want to relive the Concert, the Bookstore is now selling a variety of their CD’s.  A favorite seller is “Paraklesis: The Mother of Light." Come visit! 

Seniors Gathering

Our next get together will be Tuesday, November 13th at 11:00 a.m. Lunch will be provided. You must call Cynthia Samarkos at ( 619 ) 582 - 4109 OR email at tedcynsam@cox.net so we can plan.

Pan Arcadians

The Pan Arcadians cordially invite you to their annual Christmas party to be held Wednesday, December 5th at the Admiral Baker Field Officers Club; 7:00 - 11:00 PM. This event is jointly sponsored with the Hellenic Cultural Society, the Choir and the Greek School. It will feature appetizers, a dinner buffet  with a choice of a beef or fish entree  and dessert.  We  will also be collecting new or gently used men’s clothing for the homeless at Gods Extended Hand. The price is $45.00 per person prepaid.  No money can be accepted at the door.  For reservations and further information please contact Pam Limneos at (858)344-4138. 

St. Spyridon Adult and Youth Choirs

St. Spyridon Adult and Youth Choirs present "A Festive Christmas Flourish!" Friday, December 14th at 7:00 PM in the Cypress Room. Complimentary admission. Opportunity Drawing for a live decorated Christmas tree. Shop by Chance. Dessert reception.

Please see the "Insert and Fliers" Section below for more information.

Attention GOYANS!

Please join us for the GOYA Christmas Party on Sat, Dec 15th at the home of William and Dimitri Gilpin (6677 Maycrest Ln San Diego, 92121 858-457-2723), from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm. We will share a potluck dinner so please keep an eye out for the email with a sign-up sheet. This year we will again be stuffing Christmas stockings for the Philoptochos Angels Christmas dinner. Please RSVP by December 12th to Navridesfamily@gmail.com or (619) 825-6750 to let us know you’re coming and bring your families!

SAVE THE DATE! - 2019 Annual Epiphany Cross Dive

2019 Annual Epiphany Cross Dive– Sunday, January 6th – join your fellow parishioners at the 41st Annual Epiphany Cross-Dive Luncheon taking place at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina. 2019 Leon Balaban Volunteer of the year honorees are Patricia Kouris and Maria Terris. Please purchase your tickets today (adults $35 and children under twelve $10) as this event sells out EARLY every year. Paid reservations must be received in the Church office no later than Monday December 31st. DIVERS NEEDED: Please contact Bill Navrides 619-992-6775 or bill.navrides@sharp.com to participate (divers MUST be GOYA age and stay for the luncheon) diver confirmations must be made by Wednesday, December 12th.

Dance & Choral News

Practice continues! Providing lunch did not prove to be productive with the different food preferences and allergies so we ask that parents please provide something for your children if they are hungry after choir from 1:10-1:30 pm. Youth Choir (3rd-12th grades) - 12:20-1:10 pm; Limani (3rd-5th grades) - 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the Goya Room; Ionians (6th-8th grades) - 2:30-4 p.m. in the Goya Room; Aegeans (9th-12th grades) - 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. in the Church Hall;We hope to see everyone there! 

Decorated Feast Day Icons

Philoptochos invites you and your family to commemorate a special Feast Day by offering a donation towards the cost of a beautifully decorated icon which will be displayed in the church Narthex for all to venerate. This offering, a floral adornment around the blessed icon, is a perfect way to honor both your family member(s) as well as an important day in the life of  the Church.  Throughout the liturgical year there are many opportunities to select a decorated icon, so please reserve your dates now.  A suggested donation of $75 is much appreciated. Please contact Stella Weil at 4weils@sbcglobal.net or (858)694-0570 to reserve your icon/date or if you have any questions. Thank you. 

The following Saints and Feast Days will be celebrated during December and January and have icons that can be displayed:

 

  

12/4                 St. Barbara 

 

12/25               The Holy Nativity Of The Lord

1/1                   St. Basil the Great

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. 

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. 

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.

 

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Inserts and Fliers

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Second Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back, for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 67.35,26.
God is wonderful among his saints.
Verse: Bless God in the congregations.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15.

Brethren, it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

Gospel Reading

8th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 10:25-37

At that time, a lawyer stood up to put Jesus to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?" And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live."

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

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Wisdom of the Fathers

For the One Maker fashioned us, the One Creator breathed life into us; we all enjoy the same sky and air, the same days and nights, and, though some be good, others bad, some righteous, others unrighteous, yet GOD is bountiful to all, kind to all.
St. Gregory the Dialogist
Sermon 12, On the Fast, 6th century

The example of the good Samaritan shows that we must not abandon those in whom even the faintest amount of faith is still alive.
St. Ambrose of Milan
Two Books of St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Concerning Repentance, Chapter 11

He who truly wishes to believe in God must be lifted above himself, his mind, and even the whole world. For this reason, the value of faith is considered higher than the value of man. It is even higher than the value of the whole world. Therefore, the reward of faith should be higher than all of man's possessions along with the glories of this world. The reward of faith is God.
Fr. Matthew the Poor
Orthodox Prayer Life: The Interior Way, p. 74, 20th century

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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 Martyr Menas in the Fourth Mode

Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Today, the most pure temple of the Savior, the precious bridal chamber and Virgin, the sacred treasure of God, enters the house of the Lord, bringing the grace of the Divine Spirit. The Angels of God praise her. She is the heavenly tabernacle.
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Saints and Feasts

Menas
November 11

Menas of Egypt

Saint Menas, who had Egypt as his fatherland, contested in Cotyaeion of Phrygia in 296 during the reign of Diocletian and Maximian. A soldier distinguished for his valour in war, he renounced his rank and withdrew to devote himself to ascetical struggles and prayer in the mountains. Filled with zeal and more than human courage, he presented himself in the midst of a pagan festival in Cotyaeion and declared himself to be a Christian. After terrible torments which he endured with astonishing courage, he was beheaded. His martyrium in Egypt became a place of universal pilgrimage; evidence of ancient journeys to his shrine have been found as far away as Ireland. The glory and refuge of the Christians of Egypt, he has been revealed to be a worker of great miracles and a swift defender for all who call on him with faith; besides all else, he is also invoked for help in finding lost objects.

Johnmerciful
November 12

John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria

Saint John was born in 555 on the island of Cyprus in the city of Amathus; his father, Epiphanius, was a ruler of Cyprus. The Saint was consecrated Archbishop of Alexandria in 608. A man of exemplary uprightness, in his zeal for Orthodoxy he strove mightily to fight the many heresies among the Christians in Egypt; but above all, he was famous for his singular generosity, humility, and sympathy towards all, especially the poor. His mercy was so great that the report of it reached the Persian invaders of Jerusalem, who desired to see him because of it. Saint John reposed in 619, at the age of sixty-four.

Johnchry
November 13

John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople

This greatest and most beloved of all Christian orators was born in Antioch the Great in the year 344 or 347; his pious parents were called Secundus and Anthusa. After his mother was widowed at the age of twenty, she devoted herself to bringing up John and his elder sister in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. John received his literary training under Anthragathius the philosopher, and Libanius the sophist, who was the greatest Greek scholar and rhetorician of his day. Libanius was a pagan, and when asked before his death whom he wished to have for his successor, he said, "John, had not the Christians stolen him from us." With such a training, and with such gifts as he had by nature, John had before him a brilliant career as a rhetorician. But through the good example of his godly mother Anthusa and of the holy Bishop Meletius of Antioch (see Feb. 12), by whom he was ordained reader about the year 370, he chose instead to dedicate himself to God. From the years 374 to 381 he lived the monastic life in the hermitages that were near Antioch. His extreme asceticism undermined his health, compelling him to return to Antioch, where Saint Meletius ordained him deacon about the year 381. Saint Meletius was called to Constantinople later that year to preside over the Second Ecumenical Council, during which he fell asleep in the Lord. In 386 Bishop Flavian ordained John presbyter of the Church of Antioch. Upon his elevation to the priesthood his career as a public preacher began, and his exceptional oratorical gifts were made manifest through his many sermons and commentaries. They are distinguished by their eloquence and the remarkable ease with which rich imagery and scriptural allusions are multiplied; by their depth of insight into the meaning of Scripture and the workings of God's providence; and, not least of all, by their earnestness and moral force, which issue from the heart of a blameless and guileless man who lived first what he preached to others. Because of his fame, he was chosen to succeed Saint Nectarius as Patriarch of Constantinople. He was taken away by stealth, to avoid the opposition of the people, and consecrated Patriarch of Constantinople on February 28, 398, by Theophilus, Patriarch of Alexandria, who was to prove his mortal enemy.

At that time the Emperor of the East was Arcadius, who had had Saint Arsenius the Great as his tutor (see May 8); Arcadius was a man of weak character, and much under the influence of his wife Eudoxia. The zealous and upright Chrysostom's unsparing censures of the lax morals in the imperial city stung the vain Eudoxia; through Theophilus' plottings and her collaboration, Saint John was banished to Pontus in 403. The people were in an uproar, and the following night an earthquake shook the city; this so frightened the Empress Eudoxia that she begged Arcadius to call Chrysostom back. While his return was triumphant, his reconciliation with the Empress did not last long. When she had a silver statue of herself erected in the forum before the Church of the Holy Wisdom (Saint Sophia) in September of 403, and had it dedicated with much unseemly revelry, Saint John thundered against her, and she could not forgive him. In June of 404 he was exiled to Cucusus, on the borders of Cilicia and Armenia. From here he exchanged letters with Pope Innocent of Rome, who sent bishops and priests to Constantinople requesting that a council be held. Saint John's enemies, dreading his return, prevailed upon the Emperor to see an insult in this, and had John taken to a more remote place of banishment called Pityus near the Caucasus. The journey was filled with bitter sufferings for the aged bishop, both because of the harshness of the elements and the cruelty of one of his 310 guards. He did not reach Pityus, but gave up his soul to the Lord near Comana in Pontus, at the chapel of the Martyr Basiliscus (see May 22), who had appeared to him shortly before, foretelling the day of his death, which came to pass on September 14, 407. His last words were "Glory be to God for all things." His holy relics were brought from Comana to Constantinople thirty-one years later by the Emperor Theodosius the Younger and Saint Pulcheria his sister, the children of Arcadius and Eudoxia, with fervent supplications that the sin of their parents against him be forgiven; this return of his holy relics is celebrated on January 27.

Saint John was surnamed Chrysostom ("Golden-mouth") because of his eloquence. He made exhaustive commentaries on the divine Scriptures and was the author of more works than any other Church Father, leaving us complete commentaries on the Book of Genesis, the Gospels of Saints Matthew and John, the Acts, and all the Epistles of Saint Paul. His extant works are 1,447 sermons and 240 epistles. Twenty-two teachers of the Church have written homilies of praise in his honour. Besides his feasts today and on January 27, he is celebrated as one of the Three Hierarchs on January 30, together with Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory the Theologian.

It should be noted that, because September 14 is the Exaltation of the Cross, the Saint's memory has been transferred to this day.

Philipapostle
November 14

Philip the Apostle

This Apostle, one of the Twelve, was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and was a compatriot of Andrew and Peter. He was instructed in the teachings of the Law, and devoted himself to the study of the prophetic books. Therefore, when the Lord Jesus called him to the dignity of apostleship, he immediately sought out and found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of Whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph" (John 1.45). Having preached Jesus the God-man throughout many parts of Asia Minor, and having suffered many things for His Name's sake, he was finally crucified upside down in Hierapolis of Phrygia.

Allsaint
November 15

Nativity Fast Begins

The Nativity Fast is one of four main fast periods throughout the ecclesiastical year. Beginning on November 15 and concluding on December 24, the Nativity Fast gives individuals the opportunity to prepare for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior in the Flesh on December 25. By abstaining from certain food and drink, particularly from meat, fish, dairy products, olive oil, and wine, as well as focusing more deeply on prayer and almsgiving, we can find that the primary aim of fasting is to make us conscious of our dependence upon God.

Mattevng
November 16

Matthew the Apostle & Evangelist

This Apostle, who was also called Levi, was the son of Alphaeus and had Galilee as his homeland. A publican before being called by Christ, he became one of the Twelve Apostles, and an Evangelist. While still in Palestine, he wrote his Gospel first in Hebrew, being also the first of all to write the Gospel. When he is depicted in icons, there is portrayed next to him the likeness of a man, one of the symbolic living creatures mentioned by Ezekiel (1.10), which, as Saint Irenaeus writes, is a symbol of our Saviour's Incarnation.

Gregwonderjohnmercy
November 17

Gregory the Wonderworker & Bishop of Neo-Caesarea

Saint Gregory was born in Neocaesarea of Pontus to parents who were not Christians. He studied in Athens, in Alexandria, in Beirut, and finally for five years in Caesarea of Palestine under Origen, by whom he was also instructed in the Faith of Christ. Then, in the year 240, he became bishop of his own city, wherein he found only seventeen Christians. By the time the Saint reposed about the year 265, there were only seventeen unbelievers left there. Virtually the whole duration of his episcopacy was a time of continual, marvellous wonders worked by him. Because of this, he received the surname "Wonderworker"; even the enemies of the truth called him a second Moses (see Saint Basil the Great's On the Holy Spirit, ch. 29).

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Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

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Archdiocesan Council Convenes First Meeting for 2018-2020 – Archdiocese on Firm and Promising Ground

10/20/2018

NEW YORK – The Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America convened for its first meeting of the 2018-2020 term, Thursday Oct. 18 and Friday, Oct. 19 at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel.
https://www.goarch.org/-/archdiocesan-council-convenes-first-meeting-for-2018-2020-archdiocese-on-firm-and-promising-ground

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE HOLY EPARCHIAL SYNOD

10/19/2018

The Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America was convened for its regular fall meeting at the Synodal chamber of the Holy Archdiocesesan headquarters in New York City on October 17 and 18, 2018 and was presided by his Eminence Archbishop Demetrios Geron of America with the participation of all the Metropolitans members of the Synod.
https://www.goarch.org/-/announcement-of-the-holy-eparchial-syn-7
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