St. Spyridon Parish News, Events, Activities and Announcements

This Sunday's Acolyte Serving Team

St. John: Captain: Michael Angeles, Luke Billings, Luke Georggin, Theo Huntalas, Konstantino Mellos, Alexios Savvides, John Savvides, Nektarios Sissons

Stewardship - "Do A Good Turn Daily"

Two weeks ago I spoke to you from the solea on this coming summer and the importance of remembering two things as we enter the “summer season”:

Make every effort to attend church regularly and participate in our Eucharistic Liturgy as you grow in faith as a part of your spiritual walk with Christ. Father Andrew reminds us regularly and I take this opportunity to remind you as well that this is the essence of whom we are and what we do – participate in the Divine Liturgy!
And, remember, as the Boy Scout Slogan states, “do a good turn daily”: as Orthodox Christians every person who crosses our path is our “neighbor” while in our presence. Do a good turn- and assist him or her- as best you can with your resources and energy – and remember, the forty three (43) ministries of St. Spyridon GOC tangibly support each of us in being a “good neighbor” and “doing a good turn” – and your support of these ministries through your pledge is the best and most practical way to put a footprint to your words as you walk in faith with Christ.

In closing, I encourage you to fulfill your honorable pledge, made at the beginning of this calendar year, throughout the summer months. In doing so, you will help sustain these ministries and allow the parish to meet you in your moment of need. “Do a good turn daily.”

The Stewardship Committee thanks you in advance,

John T. Kalas, Chairperson

Save The Date - Festival Appreciation Dinner

Festival Appreciation Dinner, Thursday, July 11th at 6:00 PM in the Cypress Room. Please join us as we thank all who made this year’s 50th Anniversary Greek Festival such a great success.

Festival Deli Sale

Festival Deli Sale in the Church hall Sunday, June 30th immediately following the Divine Liturgy. Please see Michael and Maria Platis.

Metropolitan Gerasimos - Save the Date for the YAL Conference August 29th -Sept. 2nd

Beloved in the Lord,

May the grace and peace of Jesus Christ be with you!

It is a joy and blessing for our Metropolis to be hosting the Young Adult League Conference over Labor Day Weekend 2019. Many of you will recall the vibrancy of the YAL movement in our Archdiocese, and it is our hope that events like this will inspire even more young adults in their faith, while forming bonds of fellowship with other Greek Orthodox Christians.

The YAL Conference will be a wonderful opportunity for the young adults ages 18 – 35 in your community. Please share the information found on our website, (www.sanfran.goarch.org/events), share the information electronically with your fellow parishioners, etc.

We are grateful for the inspirational leadership of over 50 young adults who are working hard to make this conference a success, but it will take the encouragement of our clergy and layity in our parishes to bring together hundreds of young adults at this event. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Beseeching the blessings of God upon this ministry, and asking for His watchful care over you and your parish, I remain,

With Love in Christ,

+Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco

The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco presents YAL Conference Long Beach, August 29 - September 2, 2019. Labor Day Weekend.

For more information please contact yal2019reg@gmail.com.

For more information see "Inserts and Fliers" below

Philoptochos and Fellowship

We hope you continue to enjoy the long standing tradition of gathering for fellowship in the hall following the Divine Liturgy throughout the year. Philoptochos is thankful for the continued support from all the families and organizations that offer every week. We kindly ask others to consider offering fellowship 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. 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. Thank you!

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.

Bookstore

Summer reading for young readers is upon us. Come check out our latest book: Spyridon’s Shoes-- take a short trip back in time to the Greek island of Corfu and discover the real reason for the mystery surrounding St. Spyridon’s shoes.

Seniors Gathering

Please join us Tuesday, July 9th at 11:00 AM in the Cypress Room for a PIZZA PARTY!

You don’t have to call. Hope to see you with us!

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 July and August and have icons that can be displayed:

7/17 - St. Marina

7/20 - Elias the Prophet

7/25 - Dormition of St. Anna

7/26 - St. Paraskevi

7/27 - St. Panteliemon

8/6 - Holy Trasfiguration of our Lord

8/15 - Falling Alseep of the holy Theotokos

8/27 - St. Phanourios the Great Martyr

8/29 - The Beheading of St. John the Baptist

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.

Inserts and Fliers

YAL Conference Long Beach

The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco Presents YAL Conference Long Beach August 29 - September 2, 2019

Parish Pay Is Now WeShare

WeShare Online Giving

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

Sermon of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America on Sunday of All Saints, June 23, 2019

06/23/2019

Today, then, begins a new liturgical cycle of our Church, one in which we must make every effort to live the witness of all the Saints of our Church, which stretches across ceaseless centuries since the Day of Pentecost, and which draws a straight line of our faith from the time of the Holy Apostles and the Holy Martyrs – men and women.

https://www.goarch.org/-/sermon-of-his-eminence-archbishop-elpidophoros-of-america-on-sunday-of-all-saints-june-23-2019

Enthronement Address of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros

06/22/2019

Indeed, my heart, soul, and mind are ready and eager to embark on this great challenge and charge that our Thrice-Holy God has granted to me by His grace, with my election, at the recommendation of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, by the most reverend members of the Holy and Sacred Synod, in order that I might serve you, the beloved faithful of America, as your spiritual father and pastor, the seventh Archbishop of the Holy Archdiocese of America.

https://www.goarch.org/-/enthronement-address-archbishop-elpidophoros

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. Plagal Fourth Mode. Psalm 18.4,1.
Their voice has gone out into all the earth.
Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 4:9-16.

Brethren, God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off-scouring of all things. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.

Gospel Reading

Synaxis of the Twelve Holy Apostles
The Reading is from Matthew 9:36, 10:1-8

At that time, when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaios, and Thaddaios; Simon the Cananaean. and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And preach as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay."

Wisdom of the Fathers

But of what laborers doth He speak here? Of the twelve disciples...He sent them out alone. ...Because though they were but twelve, He made them many from that time forward, not by adding to their number, but by giving them power. ...He Himself at once ordains them...Whence it is evident that Himself is the husbandman, Himself the Lord of the harvest...Still the Spirit was not yet given...How then did they cast out the spirits? By His command, by His authority. ...Seest thou the greatness of their ministry? Seest thou the dignity of apostles?...See how He provides for their conduct, and that no less than for their miracles, implying that the miracles without this are nothing. Thus He both quells their pride by saying, "Freely ye have received, freely give;" and takes order for their being clear of covetousness.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 32 on Matthew 9, 4th Century

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Mode

Though the tomb was sealed by a stone and soldiers guarded your pure body, you arose, O Savior, on the third day, giving life to the world. Therefore, O giver of life, the heavenly powers praise you: Glory to your resurrection, O Christ, glory to your kin

Apolytikion for Synaxis of the 12 Apostles in the Third Mode

O Holy Apostles, intercede to our merciful God, that He may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

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.

Saints and Feasts

June 30

Synaxis of the Twelve Holy Apostles

The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew, the First-called; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, who was also the Evangelist and Theologian; Philip, and Bartholomew (see also June 11); Thomas, and Matthew the publican, who was also called Levi and was an Evangelist; James the son of Alphaeus, and Jude (also called Lebbaeus, and surnamed Thaddaeus), the brother of James, the Brother of God; Simon the Cananite ("the Zealot"), and Matthias, who was elected to fill the place of Judas the traitor (see Aug. 9).

July 01

Cosmas & Damian the Holy Unmercenaries

These Saints, who are different from those that are celebrated on the 1st of November, were from Rome. They were physicians, freely bestowing healing upon beasts and men, asking nothing from the healed other than that they confess and believe in Christ. They ended their life in martyrdom in the year 284, under the Emperors Carinus and Numerian.

July 02

Deposition of the Precious Robe of the Theotokos in Blachernae

During the reign of Leo the Great (457-474) two patricians and brethren on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land lodged with an old widow, a Christian of Jewish descent. Seeing the many miracles wrought at a small shrine in her house, they pressed her until she revealed to them that she had raiment of the most holy Theotokos kept in a small coffer. Our Lady had had two virgins in her lifetime who attended upon her; before her holy dormition, she gave each of them one of her divine garments as a blessing. This old widow was of the family of one of those two virgins, and it had come through the generations into her hands. With the permission of God, that this holy relic might be had for the profit of many, the two men took the garment by stealth and brought it to Blachernae near Constantinople, and building a church in honor of the Apostles Peter and Mark, they secretly enshrined the garment therein. But here again, because of the multitude of miracles that were worked, it became known to the Emperor Leo, and a magnificent church was built, as some say, by that same Leo, but according to others, by his predecessors Marcian and Pulcheria, and enlarged by Leo when the holy raiment was found. The Emperor Justin the Younger completed the church, which the Emperor Romanus IV Diogenes raised up immediately again after it had burned in 1070. It burned again in 1434, and from that time it remained a small house of prayer together with the renowned holy spring. After the seventh century, the name Blachernae was given to other churches and monasteries by their pious founders out of reverence for this famous church in Constantinople. In this church John Catacuzene was crowned in 1345; also, the Council against Acindynus, the follower of Barlaam, was convoked here (see the Second Sunday of the Great Fast).

July 03

Hyacinth the Martyr of Caesarea & Theodotos and Theodota the Martyrs

The Martyr Hyacinth, who was from Caesarea of Cappadocia, was the chamberlain of the Emperor Trajan. On being constrained by the Emperor to partake of the sacrifices offered to idols and not wishing to do so, he was shut up in prison without food, where he gave up his spirit to God in the year 108.

July 04

Andrew of Crete Author of the Great Canon

Saint Andrew was from Damascus; his parents' names were George and Gregoria. He became a cleric and secretary of Theodore and Patriarch of Jerusalem; from this, he is called "the Jerusalemite." He was present at the Sixth Ecumenical Council in Constantinople, which was convoked in 680 during the reign of Emperor Constantine IV (668-685). He became deacon of the Great church in Constantinople, that is, the Church of the Holy Wisdom of God, then Archbishop of Crete. He reposed in 720 or 723. Beside his other sacred writings, he also composed various hymns, among which is the famous Great Canon, which is chanted during Great Lent (see the Thursday of the Fifth Week of the Fast).

July 05

Athanasius of Mount Athos

Saint Athanasius had Trebizond for his homeland. He first entered the monastic life on the mountain called Kymaeos or Kyminas, which is in Mysia of Bithynia, then he went to Mount Athos and founded a large monastery, which is known as the Great Lavra. He became so renowned for his virtue that from Rome, Calabria, Georgia, and elsewhere, rulers, men of wealth and nobility, abbots, and even bishops came to him and were subject to him. When the time for his departure was at hand, God revealed to him how it would take place, so that he was able to instruct his spiritual children not to be troubled when it should come to pass. A new church was being built for the sake of the many who came to him, and only the dome had not been finished. Together with six of the brethren, the Saint went to the top of the church to help the workmen. The dome collapsed, and they fell. Five were killed at once, and the Saint died three hours later. His holy body remained incorrupt and he worked many miracles after his death. He reposed about the end of the tenth century.

July 06

Sisos the Great

This Saint, great and renowned among the ascetics of Egypt, lived in the fourth century in Scete of Nitria. After the death of Saint Anthony the Great, he left Scete to live in Saint Anthony's cave; he said of this, "Thus in the cave of a lion, a fox makes his dwelling." When Sisoës was at the end of his long life of labours, as the Fathers were gathered about him, his face began to shine, and he said, "Behold, Abba Anthony is come"; then, "Behold, the choir of the Prophets is come"; his face shone yet more bright, and he said, "Behold, the choir of the Apostles is come." The light of his countenance increased, and he seemed to be talking with someone. The Fathers asked him of this; in his humility, he said he was asking the Angels for time to repent. Finally his face became as bright as the sun, so that the Fathers were filled with fear. He said, "Behold, the Lord is come, and He says, 'Bring Me the vessel of the desert,'" and as he gave up his soul into the hands of God, there was as it were a flash of lightning, and the whole dwelling was filled with a sweet fragrance.

General Information

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Services Schedule

Sunday Services

Orthros/Matins: 8:30am

Divine Liturgy: 10:00am

Past Bulletins