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St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Christian Church
Publish Date: 2019-04-21
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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: 8:30am

Divine Liturgy: 10:00am


Past Bulletins


St. Spyridon Parish News, Events, Activities and Announcements

Great and Holy Week Service Schedule - Sunday, April 21st - Sunday, April 28th

Palm Sunday Evening - Bridegroom Service w/ the Procession of the Bridegroom Icon - 6:30pm

Great and Holy Monday EveningThe Bridegroom Service - 7:00pm

Great and Holy Tuesday Evening - The Bridegroom Service w/ the Hymn of Kassiani - 7:00pm

Great and Holy Wednesday Afternoon - The Sacrament of Holy Unction - 4:00pm

Great and Holy Wednesday Evening - Orthros for Thursday morning including the Procession of the Mystical Supper Icon and the Anointing of the faithful to follow - 7:00pm 

Great and Holy Thursday Morning- The Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great - 10:00am

Great and Holy Thursday Evening- The Reading of the Twelve Gospels and the Procession of the Cross of Christ - 6:00pm

Great and Holy Friday Morning - The Reading of the Royal Hours - Holding Vigil - 10:00am

Great and Holy Friday Afternoon - The Decent from the Cross/The Un-nailing - 3:00pm

Great and Holy Friday Evening - The Lamentations before the Kouvouklion of Christ - 7:00pm

Great and Holy Saturday Morning - The Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great w/ the throwing of the bay leaf - 10:00am

Great and Holy Saturday Evening - The Service of Resurrection begins at 11:00pm 

The Sunday of Pascha  - The Agape Service and Pascha Picnic at Admiral Baker Park- 11:30am 

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 

Agapae Service and Pascha Picnic

Sunday, April 28, 2019 at Admiral Baker Park (2400 Admiral Baker Road, San Diego, CA 92124). Agape Service 11:30 A.M. Traditional Greek music and dancing and picnic to follow the Agape Service until the park closes at 5:00 P.M.

Please bring your own food and drink, as none will be provided at the site. NO Glass Bottles Allowed!!!

Please see the "Inserts & Fliers" section below for more information

Philoptochos Tsoureki Fundraiser Pick Up

Please pick up your Tsoureki for Pascha in the fellowship hall following this Sunday's Palm Sunday Services. All proceeds to benefit our Philoptochos Chapter and the Kids ’n’ Cancer ministry.

Thank you for your support!

Please see the "Inserts & Fliers" section below for more information

See's Candy Orders

See's Candy orders are available for pick up after this Sunday's Divine Liturgy.  Please see Kathy Meck for your order.  Thank you for supporting the Dance and Choral School.

GOYA Palm Sunday Luncheon Has Been Sold Out

The GOYA Leadership would like to thank everyone for once again helping GOYA sell out their annual Palm Sunday Luncheon and for always supporting their youth. 

Greek Festival 2019 Cooking & Baking Schedule

Monday, May 13th at 9 am - Koulourakia & Paximadia; Monday, May 20th at 9 am - Kourambiethes & Melomakarona; Tuesday, May 28th at 9 am - Baklava; Wednesday, June 5th at 9 am - Melomata (syrup); Wednesday, June 5th at 9am - Packaging.

Come join in the fun as we prepare the delicious food and pastries that our church festival is famous for. Lunch will be provided, along with opportunity to participate in drawings for prizes! Questions? Contact Gina Balourdas 858-204-1016 or Christine Tradas 619-253-4153.

Festival Volunteer Sign-ups

Sign-up to work your favorite booth: sdgreekfestival.com/volunteer.   Questions? Contact Greg Balourdas at greg@thehanddoctor.com

50th Festival Anniversary Photos

There will be a SPECIAL EXHIBIT at the Festival where photos and memorabilia from the past 50 years will be on display. WE NEED YOUR HELP!!! Please look thru your family albums, boxes, etc. and share a picture or article of YOUR family working, playing, dancing or perhaps cooking, at any of our past Festivals. We will scan the photos and return to you asap. For more info or to submit your photos please contact Stella Weil at (858)694-0570 or 4weils@sbcglobal.net. Thank you!.

Please see the "Inserts & Fliers" section below for more information 

Calling All Past and Present St. Spyridon Dancers!!! - Be Part Of A Special 50th Anniversary Festival Showcase Performance!!

If you or your child has ever been a part of the St. Spyridon Dance Program, you are invited to participate in this once in a lifetime performance on Saturday, June 8th at 7:00 PM. Tony Petroulias, Maria Terris and Dave Weil will be putting together this memorable performance! 

All past and present dancers are welcome, no matter your age! There will be an informational meeting/practice on Friday, May 3rd in the church hall at 7:00 P.M.

For more info Contact Stella Weil at (858)442-2830 OR 4weils@sbcglobal.net. 

Please note: If you want to participate in the performance but can't make it to practice, don't despair! Please contact Stella and we'll figure something out!

And please spread the word to your family and friends! 

Please see the "Inserts & Fliers" section below for more information

Pascha Bags

Please volunteer to deliver a Pascha  bag to our Homebound Parishioners. See Stella Pappas in the lounge Sunday, April 21st after the Divine Liturgy. Thank-you for supporting St. Spyridon Philoptochos.

Great and Holy Friday Youth Retreat! Friday, April 26th

Holy Friday Youth Retreat! Friday, April 26th. NEW START TIME - 2:30 pm - 6:45 pm. Our retreat theme is "Confession Along Our Lenten Journey". Please plan on bringing your children for this wonderful afternoon. The children will attend church, have a lesson and a craft. Dinner will be provided. Registration begins at 2:30 pm. Retreat will end at 6:45 pm in time for the Lamentations Service. Grades Kindergarten - 12th. Registration forms are available in the church hall, at Sunday School, or you can call Julie at 619-618-5116.

Volunteers Needed! If you would like to help bring this amazing opportunity to our youth, please call Julie at 619-618-5116.

Please see the "Inserts & Fliers" section below for more information

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. If a ministry from the church offers fellowship then they can keep the donations for their group. Lastly, the donations collected from the coffee hour support our many ministries so please consider this when offering your donation.
 
To see which dates are available and sign up online visit our SignUp Genius page. To sign up over the phone, by email, or in person, contact Christina Vassos at cmvassos@gmail.com or 619-818-6882. Available dates can also be viewed using the fellowship calendar on the Philoptochos table in the hall. Thank you! 

Bookstore

Looking for great gifts for that Pascha basket? We’ve collected Red egg dye, resurrection icons, Lenten books, beautiful icon wooden eggs, picture books, Paschal music CD’s, Journey Through Holy Week pamphlets, and more. Come see!

Agape Meals 

Philoptochos has started a new outreach program and is looking for parishioners who are able to either cook or deliver (or both) a meal to fellow parishioners who are facing a difficult or stressful time in their life (illness, new baby, etc).  If you would like more information on how you can participate, please contact Stella Weil at (858)694-0570 or 4weils@sbcglobal.net.  Please join us as we come together as a community to help one another. Thank you.

Save The Date! - GOYA

Join us Saturday, May 11th for our monthly activity. Come hungry for dinner and a casual evening with one another. Meet at our house – 8035 Morocco Drive, La Mesa 91942 at 5 pm. Parents pick your kids up at 8:30 pm. Please RSVP by May 7th to navridesfamily@gmail.com or (619) 992-6775.

Ancient Wisdom & Modern Coffee 

Sunday School class for adults (offered by Dn. Michael Kallas). Please join us as we follow the Bible readings from Pascha to Pentecost to study the Gospel according to St. John.  Our next session is Sunday, May 19th. We meet in the lounge following the Divine Liturgy.  Please bring your Bible.

Philoptochos

Your continued support of our Chapter has kept the mission of Philoptochos alive in San Diego for over 80 years. We invite you to become a new or renewed member for 2019. Anything over $30 is kept in our chapter to help us continue to do good work with our parish. 

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 is a perfect way to honor both your family member(s) as well as an important day in the life of the Church.  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 April, and May and have icons that can be displayed:

 

  

4/21-4/23              ICON OF THE BRIDEGROOM 

4/24                      MYSTICAL SUPPER 

4/25                      THE CRUCIFIXION 

4/26                      DESCENT FROM THE CROSS 

4/27-4/28             GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA/RESURRECTION 

BRIGHT WEEK  ST. GEORGE AND/OR THEOTOKOS OF THE LIFE-GIVING SPRING

4/30                      ST. MARK THE APOSTLE 

5/5                        SUNDAY OF THOMAS 

5/5                        ST. IRENE OF THESE

5/9                        THE HOLY MARTYR CHRISTOPHOROS

5/12                      SUNDAY OF THE MYRRH-BEARING WOMEN

5/21                      STS. CONSTANTINE AND HELEN 

ATTENTION PARENTS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS!

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. or (858) 695-9772. 

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. 

Receive Back 0.5% From “Amazon Smile” Foundation

We are pleased to announce that St. Spyridon GOCnow participates in AmazonSmile.  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).    

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.  

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

Palm Sunday
The Reading is from Matthew 21:1-11; 15-17

At that time, when Jesus drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If any one says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and he will send them immediately." This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

"Tell the daughter of Zion,
Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their garments on them, and he sat thereon. Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" And when he entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?" And the crowds said, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee." But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant; and they said to him, "Do you hear what they are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read,

'Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings,
you have brought perfect praise'?"

And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there.


Epistle Reading

Palm Sunday
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4:4-9

BRETHREN, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.


Gospel Reading

Palm Sunday
The Reading is from John 12:1-18

Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazaros was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Lazaros was one of those at table with him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, "Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."

When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazaros, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazaros also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" And Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it; as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!" His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazaros out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.


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Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion for Palm Sunday in the First Mode

O Christ our God, before Your Passion, You raised Lazarus from the dead to confirm the common Resurrection for all. Therefore, we carry the symbols of victory as did the youths, and we cry out to You, the victor over death, "Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. "

Apolytikion for Palm Sunday in the Fourth Mode

O Christ, Our God, we have been Buried with You through Baptism, and by Your Resurrection made worthy of Life immortal. Praising You, we cry out, "Hosanna in the highest, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord."

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Second Mode

In Heaven, He is seated upon a Throne and on earth He rides upon a foal. O Christ our God, accept the praise of the Angels and the hymn of the Children who cry out to You, "Blessed are You who comes to recall Adam."
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Saints and Feasts

Palmsunday
April 21

Palm Sunday

On Sunday, five days before the Passover of the Law, the Lord came from Bethany to Jerusalem. Sending two of His disciples to bring Him a foal of an ass, He sat thereon and entered into the city. When the multitude there heard that Jesus was coming, they straightway took up the branches of palm trees in their hands, and went forth to meet Him. Others spread their garments on the ground, and yet others cut branches from the trees and strewed them in the way that Jesus was to pass; and all of them together, especially the children, went before and after Him, crying out: "Hosanna: Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel" (John 12:13). This is the radiant and glorious festival of our Lord's entry into Jerusalem that we celebrate today.

The branches of the palm trees symbolize Christ's victory over the devil and death. The word Hosanna means "Save, I pray," or "Save, now." The foal of an ass, and Jesus' sitting thereon, and the fact that this animal was untamed and considered unclean according to the Law, signified the former uncleanness and wildness of the nations, and their subjection thereafter to the holy Law of the Gospel.


Jcbrdgrm
April 22

Holy Monday

The holy Passion of our Saviour begins today, presenting Joseph the all-comely as a prefiguring of Christ. He was the eleventh son of Jacob, and his first son by Rachel; because he was so beloved of his father, his own brethren came to envy him and cast him into a pit. Later they sold him to foreigners for thirty pieces of silver, who later sold him again in Egypt. Because of his virtue, his master gave him much authority in governing his house; because he was fair of countenance, his master's wife sought to draw him into sin with her; because of his chastity, he refused her, and through her slanders was cast into prison. Finally, he was led forth again with great glory and was honoured as a king. He became lord over all Egypt and a provider of wheat for all the people. Through all this, he typifies in himself the betrayal, Passion, death, and glorification of our Lord Jesus Christ (see Gen., chapters 37, 39 41).

To the commemoration of Patriarch Joseph is added also the narration concerning the fig tree, which on this day was cursed and subsequently dried up because of its unfruitfulness. It portrayed the Jewish synagogue, which had not produced the fruit demanded of it, that is, obedience to God and faith in Him and which was stripped of all spiritual grace by means of the curse (Matt. 21:18-20).


Nymphios
April 23

Holy Tuesday

Today we bring to mind the parable of the ten virgins, which our Saviour related as He was coming to His Passion. This parable teaches us that the accomplishment of the great work of virginity should not make us careless in other matters, especially in almsgiving, wherewith the lamp of virginity is made radiant. Furthermore, it teaches us that we should not be remiss about the end of our life, but should be prepared for it at every moment, like the wise virgins, so that we may meet the Bridegroom, lest He come suddenly and the doors of the heavenly bridechamber be shut, and we also, like the foolish virgins, hear that dread sentence: "Amen, I say unto you, I know you not" (Matt. 25:1-13).


Xcannointing
April 24

Holy Wednesday

Two women - say the more discerning interpreters of the Gospel - anointed the Lord with myrrh; the one, a long time before His Passion; the other, a few days before. One was a harlot and sinner; the other, chaste and virtuous. The Church commemorates this reverent act today. While mentioning herein the person of the harlot, it also mentions Judas' betrayal; for, according to the account in Matthew, both of these deeds took place two days before the Passover, on Wednesday.

That woman, then, anointed Jesus' head and feet with very precious myrrh, and wiped them with the tresses of her hair. The disciples, especially the avaricious Judas, were scandalized, supposedly because of the waste of the myrrh, which could be sold for a great price and given to the poor. The Lord Jesus reproved them and told them not to trouble the woman. Indignant, Judas went to the high priests, who were gathered in the court of Caiaphas and were already taking counsel against Jesus. On agreeing with them to betray his Teacher for thirty pieces of silver, Judas sought from that time opportunity to betray Him (Matt. 26:14-16). Because the betrayal took place on Wednesday, we have received the tradition from Apostolic times to fast on Wednesday throughout the year.


Supper
April 25

Holy Thursday

On the evening of this day, which was the eve of the feast of unleavened bread (that is, the Passover), our Redeemer supped with His twelve disciples in the city. He blessed the bread and the wine, and gave us the Mystery of the Divine Eucharist. He washed the feet of the disciples as an example of humility. He said openly that one of them was about to betray Him, and He pointed out the betrayer by revealing that it was he "that dippeth his hand with Me in the dish." And after Judas had straightway gone forth, Jesus gave the disciples His final and sublime instructions, which are contained in the first Gospel Reading of the Holy Passion (John 13:31-18:1 known as the Gospel of the Testament). After this the God-man went forth to the Mount of Olives, and there He began to be sorrowful and in anguish. He went off alone, and bending the knees He prayed fervently. From His great anguish, His sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground. As soon as He had completed that anguished prayer, lo, Judas came with a multitude of soldiers and a great crowd; on greeting the Teacher guile fully with a kiss, he betrayed Him.

The Lord Jesus was then apprehended and taken prisoner to the high priests Annas and Caiaphas. The disciples were scattered, but Peter, who was more fervent than the others, followed Him even into the court of the high priest, but in the end denied thrice that he was His disciple.

Then our divine Teacher was brought before the lawless Sanhedrin and was interrogated concerning His disciples and His teaching. The high priest adjured Him before God that He tell them whether He was truly the Christ. And having spoken the truth, He was judged guilty of death, supposedly as one who had blasphemed. Then they spat in His face, beat Him, smote Him with the palms of their hands, and mocked Him in every way, throughout the whole night until the morning.


Burial
April 26

Holy Friday

When Friday dawned, Christ was sent bound from Caiaphas to Pontius Pilate, who was then Governor of Judea. Pilate interrogated Him in many ways, and once and again acknowledged that He was innocent, but to please the Jews, he later passed the sentence of death against Him. After scourging the Lord of all as though He were a runaway slave, he surrendered Him to be crucified.

Thus the Lord Jesus was handed over to the soldiers, was stripped of His garments, was clothed in a purple robe, was crowned with a wreath of thorns, had a reed placed in His hand as though it were a sceptre, was bowed before in mockery, was spat upon, and was buffeted in the face and on the head. Then they again clothed Him in His own garments, and bearing the cross, He came to Golgotha, a place of condemnation, and there, about the third hour, He was crucified between two thieves. Although both blasphemed Him at the first, the thief at His right hand repented, and said: "Remember me, O Lord, when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom," to which our Saviour answered, "Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise." As He hung upon the Cross, He was blasphemed by those who were passing by, was mocked by the high priests, and by the soldiers was given vinegar to drink mixed with gall. About the ninth hour, He cried out with a loud voice, saying, "It is finished." And the Lamb of God "Which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29) expired on the day when the moon was full, and at the hour when, according to the Law, was slain the Passover lamb, which was established as a type of Him in the time of Moses.

Even lifeless creation mourned the death of the Master, and it trembled and was altered out of fear. Yet, even though the Maker of creation was already dead, they pierced Him in His immaculate side, and forthwith came there out Blood and Water. Finally, at about the setting of the sun, Joseph of Arimathea came with Nicodemus (both of them had been secret disciples of Jesus), and they took down the all-holy Body of the Teacher from the Cross and anointed it with aromatic spices, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. When they had buried Him in a new tomb, they rolled a great stone over its entrance.

Such are the dread and saving sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ commemorated today, and in remembrance of them, we have received the Apostolic commandment that a fast be observed every Friday.


Holysaturday
April 27

Holy Saturday

On Saturday, the high priests and Pharisees gathered together before Pilate and asked him to have Jesus' tomb sealed until the third day; because, as those enemies of God said, "We suspect that His disciples will come and steal His buried body by night, and then proclaim to the people that His resurrection is true, as that deceiver Himself foretold while He was yet alive; and then the last deception shall be worse than the first." After they had said these things to Pilate and received his permission, they went and sealed the tomb, and assigned a watch for security, that is, guards from among the soldiers under the supervision of the high priests (Matt. 27:62-66). While commemorating the entombment of the holy Body of our Lord today, we also celebrate His dread descent with His soul, whereby He destroyed the gates and bars of Hades, and made His light to shine where only darkness had reigned (Job 3 8 : 17; Esaias 49:9; 1 Peter 3:18-20); death was put to death, Hades was stripped of all its captives, our first parents and all the righteous who died from the beginning of time ran to Him Whom they had awaited, and the holy angelic orders glorified God for the restoration of our fallen race.


Anastasi
April 28

Great and Holy Pascha

Mary Magdalene, and the other women who were present at the burial of our Saviour on Friday evening, returned from Golgotha to the city and prepared fragrant spices and myrrh, so that they might anoint the body of Jesus. On the morrow, because of the law which forbids work on the day of the Sabbath, they rested for the whole day. But at early dawn on the Sunday that followed, almost thirty-six hours since the death of the Life-giving Redeemer, they came to the sepulchre with the spices to anoint His body. While they were considering the difficulty of rolling away the stone from the door of the sepulchre, there was a fearful earthquake; and an Angel, whose countenance shone like lightning and whose garment was white as snow, rolled away the stone and sat upon it. The guards that were there became as dead from fear and took to flight. The women, however, went into the sepulchre, but did not find the Lord's body. Instead, they saw two other Angels in the form of youths clothed in white, who told them that the Saviour was risen, and they sent forth the women, who ran to proclaim to the disciples these gladsome tidings. Then Peter and John arrived, having learned from Mary Magdalene what had come to pass, and when they entered the tomb, they found only the winding sheets. Therefore, they returned again to the city with joy, as heralds now of the supernatural Resurrection of Christ, Who in truth was seen alive by the disciples on this day on five occasions.

Our Lord, then, was crucified, died, and was buried on Friday, before the setting of the sun, which was the first of His "three days" in the grave; observing the mystical Sabbath, that "seventh day" in which it is said that the Lord "rested from all His works" (Gen. 2:2-3), He passed all of Saturday in the grave; and He arose "while it was yet dark, very early in the morning" on Sunday, the third day, which, according to the Hebrew reckoning, began after sunset on Saturday.

As we celebrate today this joyous Resurrection, we greet and embrace one another in Christ, thereby demonstrating our Saviour's victory over death and corruption, and the destruction of our ancient enmity with God, and His reconciliation toward us, and our inheritance of life everlasting. The feast itself is called Pascha, which is derived from the Hebrew word which means "passover"; because Christ, Who suffered and arose, has made us to pass over from the curse of Adam and slavery to the devil and death unto our primal freedom and blessedness. In addition, this day of this particular week, which is the first of all the rest, is dedicated to the honour of the Lord; in honour and remembrance of the Resurrection, the Apostles transferred to this day the rest from labour that was formerly assigned to the Sabbath of the ancient Law.

All foods allowed during Renewal Week.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

But observe the wisdom of the Evangelist, how he is not ashamed to parade their former ignorance. That it was written they knew, that it was written of Him they knew not. For it would have offended them if He being a King were about to suffer such things, and be so betrayed.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 66 on John 12, 2. B#58, p.245., 4th Century

Besides, they could not at once have taken in the knowledge of the Kingdom of which He spake; for another Evangelist saith, that they thought the words were spoken of a kingdom of this world. (Matt. xx. 21.)
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 66 on John 12, 2. B#58, p.245., 4th Century

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Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

Communiqué of the Holy Eparchial Synod

04/11/2019

The Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America convened for its regular scheduled meeting in the Synodal Chamber at the Archdiocesan headquarters on April 9 and 10, under the presidency of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America and with the participation of the Members of the Synod and deliberated on the following:
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