This Sunday's Memorial
Constantin Schiopu - 1 year
The Stewardship Committee Thanks You!
The Stewardship Committee once again thanks you for helping your parish finish strong in our stewardship efforts for 2018. We as a parish had another fruitful year and it's becuase of your attentiveness and positvie response and so once again we THANK YOU!
With the new 2019 calendar year upon us we respectfully ask you to reflect upon and pray about your 2019 pledge commitment. We thank you in advance for doing so.
Saint Spyridon GOC Stewardship Committee:
John T. Kalas: Stewardship Chair Fr. Andrew Scordalakis
Ben De La Riva, Jim Gilpin, Greg Kostas, Bill Navrides, Stephen Thiros and Spero Tzathas
This Sunday's Altar Servers
St. Demetrios: Captain: William (Vasilios) Gilpin, Theo Couris, Kosta Kalamaras, Will Kalas, Nikos Kapetanios, Petros Kapetanios, Tasos Kapetanios, Milton Kromydas, Dean Lahanas
ARCHONS TO HOLD VIRTUAL TOWN MEETING ON UKRAINE AUTOCEPHALY
SATURDAY, JANUARY 26th
NEW YORK – On Saturday, January 26, 2019, (1-3 p.m. EST), the Order of Saint Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, is hosting the first-ever nationwide call-in Virtual Town Meeting. The Archons are prominent and dynamic members of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and are organizing this meeting on the very important issue of autocephaly (independence) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the prerogatives and responsibilities of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
For more than a century serious religious, social and political conditions have challenged Orthodox Christianity in Ukraine. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, worked to heal these wounds, he has shown pastoral care and granted autocephaly to the Church in Ukraine. The issue is complex and its complexity is often amplified by misinformation circulated through social media. The Virtual Town Meeting will be an opportunity for an informative discussion with experts who will explain this all-important issue
The principal speaker will be His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, who was appointed by His All-Holiness to be Chair of the Patriarchal Commission that reviewed and advised the Holy and Sacred Patriarchal Synod on the question of Ukraine’s autocephaly. Thus, he is very familiar with all aspects of the process which led to the issuance of the Tomos for Ukraine autocephaly, and he is well equipped to explain why this issue is so crucial today, for the Orthodox Church as a whole.
Also speaking will be the Rev. Deacon Nicholas E. Denysenko, PhD, a professor of theology at Valparaiso University who specializes in Orthodox Christianity with a recent book titled The Orthodox Church in Ukraine: A Century of Separation. Denysenko is an ordained deacon of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), since 2003.
A third speaker is Vera Shevzov, PhD, a Professor of Religion, Russian, East European and Eurasia Studies at Smith College. Her regular course offerings include Eastern Christianity, and The Russian Icon: Culture, Politics, and the Sacred. Her book Russian Orthodoxy on the Eve of Revolution was awarded the Elizabeth D. Brewer Prize of the American Society of Church History. Her research and publications have dealt with contemporary Orthodoxy in Russia.
The panel discussion will be moderated by Archon George E. Demacopoulos, PhD, Co-Director of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center atFordham University. He is a specialist in the history of Christianity.
The Order’s National Commander, Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, said: “The importance of this issue, and therefore of this Virtual Town Meeting, cannot be overstated. I strongly urge everyone to dial in, listen to the panel, and ask questions.”
The Town Hall will be conducted via telephone conference call on January 26, 2019, from 1 to 3 p.m. Call toll-free international: 1-888-902-6588, or international number 1-412-317-5444. Then enter the passcode: 7993514. Participants may ask questions to the panelists via telephone, or fill out the form here by Friday, January 25, 2019, 5 p.m. EST. The LAST DAY to ask questions will be Friday, January 25, 2019 at 5 p.m. EST. For more details, go to Archons.org/townhall.\
Please see the "Insert and Fliers" Section below for more information.
Philoptochos and Fellowship
Be The Bee BEETREAT! - Please Mark Your Calendars From Now
And on the website, it can be found here: https://www.y2am.org/beetreats
Please see the "Insert and Fliers" Section below for more information.
Bookstore
Ring in 2019 with Daily Lives, Miracles and Wisdom of the Saints and Fasting Calendar; it includes insightful quotes from the saints, saint commemorated each day, Gospel and Epistle readings, and fasting guidelines.
Greek School
Spring Semester Greek School classes for adults and children begin January 31st and February 1st. Please visit our school website for more info and to register at http://www.stspyridongreekschool.org.
Dance & Choral News
Save the Date! “Show the Love” FDF Dessert Preview on Saturday, February 9th at 7:30 p.m. at St. Spyridon Church Hall. Dessert & Coffee and a Live Band. Our kids have been working hard to prepare for FDF. Please come Show the Love and preview their FDF performances. Suggested Donation: $10*. (*All funds go toward costumes, musicians and research)
Also, practice continues on Saturdays (times vary, please check email) and Sundays as follows: Youth Choir - 12:20-1:10 p.m. in church, Limani - 1:30-2:30 p.m. in Goya room, Ionians - 2:30-4:00 p.m. in Goya room, Aegeans - 1:30-3:00 p.m. in the church hall. See you there!
February Acolyte Retreat
There will be an Altar Servers' Winter/Spring Retreat on February 23, 2019 @11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at our Church. Father Andrew will begin the retreat in Church discussing the movement of the Divine Liturgy. In that we have many, new, young acolytes joining the Altar teams, we strongly encourage all to attend this informative retreat; and for those who are the more experienced Altar Servers, it is a good refresher for the significant role your participation plays in the Divine Services of the Church.
Lunch will be provided for the boys, therefore, please RSVP to me at jgilpin@san.rr.com by February 20, 2019.
Looking forward to seeing you all.
May God keep watch over your families,
Angel Gilpin,
Acolytes Chairperson - 858-457-2723
GOYA - Save The Date
Bowling on Saturday, February 23rd at Mira Mesa Bowl (8210 Mira Mesa Blvd) then dinner at Fuddruckers nearby (8285 Mira Mesa Blvd). Please let us know by Monday February 19th if you are coming so we can properly prepare. The cost is $10 per person. We will meet at 5 pm at the bowling alley and then carpool or walk over to the restaurant where parents can pick you up at 8 pm.
ARE YOU A MILITARY VETERAN?
If you are a post-WWII veteran or currently serving in the military and would like to be included in the NEW hand-stitched service banner that is being planned for the church hall, please submit your full name, branch of service, and phone number or email address to: Soula De La Riva at (760) 521-0471 or soula.delariva@cox.net. The deadline to be included is March 31, 2019. Don’t miss this special opportunity. We don’t want anyone left out!
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.
2/2 PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD
2/10 ST. HARALAMBOS
2/17 SUNDAY OF THE PUBLICAN AND THE PHARISEE
2/24 SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON
3/3 JUDGMENT SUNDAY
3/10 FORGIVENESS SUNDAY
3/17 SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY
3/24 ST. GREGORY PALAMAS
3/25 ANNUNCIATION OF THE THEOTOKOS
3/31 SUNDAY OF THE ADORATION THE HOLY CROSS
ATTENTION PARENTS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS!
We are happy to report that Philoptochos’ College Connection ministry is in full swing, make sure your children don’t miss out!! Philoptochos will reach out to our college students a couple of times per year to let our students know that we are cheering them on from home. If your son or daughter is attending college, either in San Diego or away, including community college, undergraduate or graduate school, we want to reach out to them with some love from their St. Spyridon Philoptochos family.
Please send your students 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, please contact Michelle at the above email or (858) 695-9772.
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.
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.
BEETREAT! Saturday, March 9, 2019 Register Today!
WeShare Online Giving
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.
Prokeimenon. First Mode. Psalm 48.3,1.
My mouth shall speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart shall bring forth understanding.
Verse: Hear this all you nations.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 7:26-28; 8:1-2.
Brethren, it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did this once for all when he offered up himself. Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever. Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the sanctuary and the true tent which is set up not by man but by the Lord.
15th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 19:1-10
At that time, Jesus was passing through Jericho. And there was a man named Zacchaios; he was a chief collector, and rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaios, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." And Zacchaios stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost."
The Hymn of Saint Spyridon
At the first of the Synods, you appeared as a champion, * and Wonderworker, our God-bearing Father Spyridon. * Wherefore, you addressed the dead one in the grave, * and a serpent you changed to gold. * And while chanting * in service your sacred prayers, * you joined the angels concelebrating, most holy one.* Glory to Christ who glorified you, * glory to Him who crowned you, * glory to the One who works through You, * healings for everyone.
Τής Συνόδου τής πρώτης ανεδείχθης υπέρμαχος, * καί Θαυματουργός Θεοφόρε Σπυρίδων πατήρ ημών. * διό νεκρά σύ έν τάφω προσφωνείς, * καί όφιν είς χρυσούν μετέβαλες. * καί έν τώ μέλπειν τάς αγίας σου ευχάς, * Αγγέλους έσχες συλλειτουργούντας σοι Ιερώτατε, * Δόξα τώ σέ δοξάσαντι Χριστώ * δόξα τώ σέ στεφανώσαντι. * δόξα τώ ενεργόυντι, διά σου πάσιν ιάματα.
This event took place on this day in the year 438, when Saint Theodosius the Younger had been Emperor for thirty years; he was the son of Arcadius, and Eudoxia, who had exiled Saint John. The Archbishop of Constantinople at that time was Proclus, who had been the Saint's disciple (see Nov. 13 and Nov. 20).
Saint Ephraim was born in Nisibis of Mesopotamia some time about the year 306, and in his youth was the disciple of Saint James, Bishop of Nisibis, one of the 318 Fathers at the First Ecumenical Council. Ephraim lived in Nisibis, practicing a severe ascetical life and increasing in holiness, until 363, the year in which Julian the Apostate was slain in his war against the Persians, and his successor Jovian surrendered Nisibis to them. Ephraim then made his dwelling in Edessa, where he found many heresies to do battle with. He waged an especial war against Bardaisan; this gnostic had written many hymns propagating his errors, which by their sweet melodies became popular and enticed souls away from the truth. Saint Ephraim, having received from God a singular gift of eloquence, turned Bardaisan's own weapon against him, and wrote a multitude of hymns to be chanted by choirs of women, which set forth the true doctrines, refuted heretical error, and praised the contests of the Martyrs.
Of the multitude of sermons, commentaries, and hymns that Saint Ephraim wrote, many were translated into Greek in his own lifetime. Sozomen says that Ephraim "Surpassed the most approved writers of Greece," observing that the Greek writings, when translated into other tongues, lose most of their original beauty, but Ephraim's works "are no less admired when read in Greek than when read in Syriac" (Eccl. Hist., Book 111, 16). Saint Ephraim was ordained deacon, some say by Saint Basil the Great, whom Sozomen said "was a great admirer of Ephraim, and was astonished at his erudition." Saint Ephraim was the first to make the poetic expression of hymnody and song a vehicle of Orthodox theological teachings, constituting it an integral part of the Church's worship; he may rightly be called the first and greatest hymnographer of the Church, who set the pattern for these who followed him, especially Saint Romanos the Melodist. Because of this he is called the "Harp of the Holy Spirit." Jerome says that his writings were read in some churches after the reading of the Scriptures, and adds that once he read a Greek translation of one of Ephraim's works, "and recognized, even in translation, the incisive power of his lofty genius" (De vir. ill., ch. CXV).
Shortly before the end of his life, a famine broke out in Edessa, and Saint Ephraim left his cell to rebuke the rich for not sharing their goods with the poor. The rich answered that they knew no one to whom they could entrust their goods. Ephraim asked them, "What do you think of me?" When they confessed their reverence for him, he offered to distribute their alms, to which they agreed. He himself cared with his own hands for many of the sick from the famine, and so crowned his life with mercy and love for neighbor. Saint Ephraim reposed in peace, according to some in the year 373, according to others, 379.
Saint Ignatius was a disciple of Saint John the Theologian, and a successor of the Apostles, and he became the second Bishop of Antioch, after Evodus. He wrote many epistles to the faithful, strengthening them in their confession, and preserving for us the teachings of the holy Apostles. Brought to Rome under Trajan, he was surrendered to lions to be eaten, and so finished the course of martyrdom about the year 107. The remnants of his bones were carefully gathered by the faithful and brought to Antioch. He is called God-bearer, as one who bare God within himself and was aflame in heart with love for Him. Therefore, in his Epistle to the Romans (ch. 4), imploring their love not to attempt to deliver him from his longed-for martyrdom, he said, "I am the wheat of God, and am ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found to be the pure bread of God."
Saint John Chrysostom has a homily in honour of the translation of the Saint's relics (PG 50:587).
This common feast of these three teachers was instituted a little before the year 1100, during the reign of the Emperor Alexis I Comnenus, because of a dispute and strife that arose among the notable and virtuous men of that time. Some of them preferred Basil, while others preferred Gregory, and yet others preferred John Chrysostom, quarreling among themselves over which of the three was the greatest. Furthermore, each party, in order to distinguish itself from the others, assumed the name of its preferred Saint; hence, they called themselves Basilians, Gregorians, or Johannites. Desiring to bring an end to the contention, the three Saints appeared together to the saintly John Mavropous, a monk who had been ordained Bishop of Euchaita, a city of Asia Minor, they revealed to him that the glory they have at the throne of God is equal, and told him to compose a common service for the three of them, which he did with great skill and beauty. Saint John of Euchaita (celebrated Oct. 5) is also the composer of the Canon to the Guardian Angel, the Protector of a Man's Life. In his old age, he retired from his episcopal see and again took up the monastic life in a monastery in Constantinople. He reposed during the reign of the aforementioned Emperor Alexis Comnenus (1081-1118).
These Saints lived during the years of Diocletian. Saint Cyrus was from Alexandria, and Saint John was from Edessa of Mesopotamia. Because of the persecution of that time, Cyrus fled to the Gulf of Arabia, where there was a small community of monks. John, who was a soldier, heard of Cyrus' fame and came to join him. Henceforth, they passed their life working every virtue, and healing every illness and disease freely by the grace of Christ; hence their title of "Unmercenaries." They heard that a certain woman, named Athanasia, had been apprehended together with her three daughters, Theodora, Theoctiste, and Eudoxia, and taken to the tribunal for their confession of the Faith. Fearing lest the tender young maidens be terrified by the torments and renounce Christ, they went to strengthen them in their contest in martyrdom; therefore they too were seized. After Cyrus and John and those sacred women had been greatly tormented, all were beheaded in the year 292. Their tomb became a renowned shrine in Egypt, and a place of universal pilgrimage. It was found in the area of the modern day resort near Alexandria named Abu Kyr.
The Holy Martyr Trypho was from Lampsacus in Phrygia, and as a young man he tended geese. Being filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, he also healed sufferings and cast out demons. During the reign of the Emperor Decius, about the year 250, he was betrayed as a Christian and taken to Nicaea, where he was beaten, bound to horses and dragged over rough ground, then dragged naked over nails; his sides were burned with torches; finally he was sentenced to beheading, but gave up his holy soul in his torments before the stroke of the sword. Saint Trypho is one of the Holy Unmercenaries, and is also invoked for the protection of gardens from insects and pests.
When the most pure Mother and Ever-Virgin Mary's forty days of purification had been fulfilled, she took her first-born Son to Jerusalem on this, the fortieth day after His birth, that she might present Him in the temple according to the Law of Moses, which teaches that every first-born male child be dedicated to God, and also that she might offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons, as required by the Law (Luke 2:22-24; Exod. 13:2; Lev. 12:6-8). On this same day, a just and devout man, the greatly aged Symeon, was also present in the temple, being guided by the Holy Spirit. For a long time, this man had been awaiting the salvation of God, and he had been informed by divine revelation that he would not die until he beheld the Lord's Christ. Thus, when he beheld Him at that time and took Him up into his aged arms, he gave glory to God, singing: "Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, O Master. . ." And he confessed that he would close his eyes joyfully, since he had seen the Light of revelation for the nations and the Glory of Israel (Luke 2:25-32). From ancient times, the Holy Church has retained this tradition of the churching of the mother and new-born child on the fortieth day and of the reading of prayers of purification.
The Apodosis of the Feast of the Meeting in the Temple is usually on the 9th of February. This, however, may vary if the Feast falls within the period of the Triodion. Should this occur, the Typicon should be consulted for specific information concerning the Apodosis of the Feast.
NEW YORK – On Saturday, January 26, 2019, (1-3 p.m. EST), the Order of Saint Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, is hosting the first-ever nationwide call-in Virtual Town Meeting. The Archons are prominent and dynamic members of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and are organizing this meeting on the very important issue of autocephaly (independence) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the prerogatives and responsibilities of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.