This Sunday's Memorial
Litsa Panos - 2 years
St. Spyridon Ministry Leader Retreat – Saturday, September 21st
Calling on ALL the Ministry Leaders of St. Spyridon - Please mark your calendars for Saturday, September 21, 2019. A Ministry Leader Retreat has been prepared and will begin with the Paraklesis service at 8:30 a.m. in the church Temple. This Retreat is for ALL the Ministry Leaders of our parish and for anyone else who wants to participate. Following the Paraklesis service at 8:30am Fr. Andrew will lead the discussion about what it means to be the “body of Christ” (Eph. 1:22;23 Col. 1:17;18). We will end our discussion around 11:30 a.m. so make your plans from now to join us. More information to follow so please mark your calendars today and join us for this informational and inspirational Retreat.
This Sunday's Acolyte Serving Team
St. Demetrios: Captain: William (Vasilios) Gilpin, Theo Couris, Will Kalas, Nikos Kapetanios, Petros Kapetanios, Tasos Kapetanios, Milton Kromydas, Dean Lahanas, Dimitri Salim
Parish Youth Safety
Recently, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America issued new Policies for the Safety of Children and Youth in parishes. The policies are designed to ensure that all of our youth ministry environments are physically and spiritually safe and healthy. Covered programs and events include everything from youth groups (like HOPE, JOY, and GOYA) to educational programs (like Sunday School) to athletic programs, to cultural programs (like Parish Greek school or Greek dance programs), in addition to youth retreats and camping programs.
Under the policies, all Youth Workers, anyone who participates in Youth Ministry Programs and Events, will be required to register with the Parish, complete annual training, and pass a background screen. We are working with our youth lay leaders to help them comply with the Policies.
On behalf of our Parish Council along with Fr. Andrew, we thank you for your participation and support.
Sunday School
Our Sunday School Program will begin this Sunday, September 8th.
Dance and Choral News
Greek Language Classes
Greek Language Classes for adults and children began this past week. Please visit our school website for more info and to register at http://www.stspyridongreekschool.org or contact Athena Georges at athenakotinopoulos@gmail.com cell# 619-992-4452.
Seniors Gathering
Please join us this Tuesday, September 10th at 11:00 AM in the Cypress Room. Lunch will be provided so please call or email Cynthia Samarkos at 619-582-4109 or tedcynsam@cox.net if you plan to attend. Brad Sissons will be our special guest speaker.
Women Of The Word (WOW)
Women Of The Word (WOW) start this Wednesday, September 11th at 12 noon in the classroom next to the office.
Save The Date! - GOYA
Save The Date! - GOYANS join us on Saturday, September 14th at La Jolla Shores Beach at 4:00 pm for a Beach party as we kick off the New Ecclesiastical year. This will be Potluck so we are asking families to bring something (please see Sign Up-Genius). Your whole family is invited so please tell your parents and siblings. RSVP by September 6th to Bill Navrides at bill.navrides@sharp.com or 619-992-6775, questions call Dimitri Gilpin at 858-525-5513.
Munchies, Mimosas and More!
Philoptochos will once again host this fun-filled and informative event on Sunday, September 22nd immediately after Divine Liturgy in the Cypress Room. Please save the date!
The Pan Arcadians
The Pan Arcadians will be hosting a Greek Glendi Saturday, October 5th at Sts. Constantine and Helen at 5:30 PM. It will feature appetizers, chicken and hilopites(noodles), salad vegetables and dessert. Music and dancing provided by Takis Gryparis combo. Arcadian of the year Alex Rigopoulos and our scholarship winners to be honored. Tickets are $45.00. For reservations please call Angie Georggin at (858)748-9188.
OXI Dinner Dance
Saturday, October 19th 6:00 PM in the Cypress Room. Live music and a four course dinner. For more information contact John Georges at sdgreekevents@yahool.com or call 951-536-1217.
SAVE THE DATE! Hellenic Fairways Golf Tournament 2019
Hellenic Fairways Golf Tournament 2019 is Friday, October 25th at Willowbrook Golf Club in Lakeside. A portion of this year's proceeds will go to benefit the Senior Group of St. Spyridon and The Center for Community Solutions. Please see Rhad Brown, Maria Platis, Christina Frangos or Spero Tzathas if you would like to register, volunteer, or be a sponsor.
Philoptochos Table in the Cypress Room
Please come by our table to pick up latest information about Philoptochos. We also ask that you please do not remove the table but if you need to move it for an event, please return back as it was. Thank you!
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 an outreach program where people can cook or deliver (or both) a meal to one of their fellow parishioners who may facing a difficult or stressful time in their life (illness, new baby, etc). If you would like more information on how you can participate, or know of someone in our community who could use a meal or two, 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.
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.
9/8 - Nativity of Holy Theotokos
10/18 - St. Luke the Evangelist
10/23 - St. James the Apostle
10/26 - St. Demetrios
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.
Dance and Choral News
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The ecological activities of the Ecumenical Patriarchate served as the inspiration for theology to advance prominently the truth of Christian anthropology and cosmology, the Eucharistic worldview and treatment of creation, along with the spirit of Orthodox asceticism as the basis for understanding the reason for and response to the ecological crisis.
Thirty years ago, the Ecumenical Patriarchate issued an appeal to Orthodox Christians, urging prayer and care for God’s creation. Since 1989, each year on September 1st, at the inspiration of His All-Holiness Demetrios, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has opened the liturgical year with prayers for all God’s creation. Since 1992, at the exhortation of His All-Holiness Bartholomew, all Orthodox Churches have implemented the same tradition.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America joyfully announces that His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America appointed His Grace Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos as the Hierarchal Proistamenos of the St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine in St. Augustine, FL, which falls directly under the auspices of the Archbishop.
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros met yesterday, August 28, 2019, with the Executive Board members of the Archdiocesan Presbyters Council at the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. This is the first meeting with the Presbyters Council officers since Archbishop Elpidophoros was enthroned as Archbishop of America in June 2019.
The Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary
The Reading is from Luke 1:39-49, 56
In those days, Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."
And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name." And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.
Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 6:11-18.
Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Sunday before Holy Cross
The Reading is from John 3:13-17
The Lord said, "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."
According to the ancient tradition of the Church, the Theotokos was born of barren and aged parents, Joachim and Anna, about the year 16 or 17 before the birth of Christ. Joachim was descended from the royal line of David, of the tribe of Judah. Anna was of the priestly tribe of Levi, a daughter of the priest Matthan and Mary, his wife.
Today, the day following the Nativity of the most holy Theotokos, we celebrate the synaxis of Saints Joachim and Anna, honouring them as her parents.
These Martyrs, sisters according to the flesh, were from Bithynia. They lived in virginity on a mountain near the Pythian hot springs of Bithynia, devoting themselves to asceticism and prayer. Betrayed to the local governor, Fronto, they were subjected to frightful tortures, and so gave up their holy souls into the hands of God. They contested for the Faith during the reign of Maximian, in the year 304.
This saint lived in the fifth century. Out of remorse for the adultery that she committed with another man, she fled from her husband's house, renamed herself Theodore, clothed herself as a man, and pretending to be a eunuch, entered a monastery of men. Her identity as a woman was discovered only after her death.
This saint was a bishop in Italy. Fleeing from the persecution of Diocletian in 298, he came to Bithynia, where he went from place to place converting many from the idols to the true God. Because of this, one day as he was celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Archangels, they who worshipped wood and stones fell upon him and beat him to death with staves and stones.
The church that is honoured far above all others is that of the Holy Resurrection, which Saint Constantine the Great constructed at the place of Golgotha, where our Saviour was crucified and buried. For a long time this place had been purposely buried beneath the earth by the Jews and heathen; furthermore, during the reign of Hadrian (117-138), a temple dedicated to Aphrodite was built over the site so that this sacred place might be even further desecrated and fall into utter oblivion. It was here that the Cross was hidden. However, at the command of the pious Emperor Constantine, excavations were made and the tokens of the saving Passion were found. It was here, then, that the very great and magnificent temple named in honour of Christ God's Resurrection-the Anastasis-was built under the supervision of the blessed Helen, while Dracilian was Eparch of Palestine and Macarius was Archbishop of Jerusalem. It was the latter, also, who exalted the venerable Cross and performed the consecration of this temple in the year 336.
Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifted on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, "Lord have mercy." It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnificent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (see Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Late, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place.
Rest from labour. A Fast is observed today, whatever day of the week it may be.