St. Spyridon Parish News, Events, Activities and Announcements

This Sunday's Memorials

Clem Samouris - 5 years

Christina Tzathas - 6 months

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

By now most of you know that we have decided to continue with Sunday's divine services offered outside in our parking lot. We will begin celebrating outside services starting this Sunday, January 10th - Orthros - 9:00 am with the Divine Liturgy to follow. We will offer our annual Philoptochos St. Basil's Vasilopita Cutting this Sunday the 10th as well.

We are still looking for members of the parish to help out on Sunday mornings with some setup and takedown, etc. If you are interested in helping out one Sunday a month please call Soula in the church office.

Also, the lower/backside of the parking lot will accommodate approximately 60/70 parked vehicles so please feel free to use this area to park your vehicle.

You can RSVP to Sunday's outside services using the link below - It is quick and easy to do.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4EA8A92BA7FF2-stspyridon

We are still following all of the Coronavirus safety protocols. So, please bring your favorite face mask with you, follow and keep six feet of distance, and wash/disinfect your hands regularly.

If you are not feeling well, please stay at home and watch the services via our parish LiveStream.

God's continued blessing to you and your families in the New Year and always, +A

Or You Can Join in and Pray the Divine Services of the Church via Our Parish LiveStream

Sunday morning Orthros - 9:00 am

Divine Liturgy - 10:00 am

Light a Candle “From Afar”

Lighting a candle as we enter the narthex of the church is one real way we express our presence within the Body of Christ as we offer a prayer. If you would like to light a candle to express your presence “from afar” click on the following link below and follow the directions -

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=J55MJ576K785E&source=url

Then, Fr. Andrew will receive your message, light your candle and offer a prayer.

Stewardship Corner

We, the Stewardship Committee, first and foremost, would once again like to say “thank you” for your continuing support of our stewardship ministry throughout this difficult and uncertain time.

We respectively ask you to once again do what you can do for the new year 2021 to financially support your church parish through this historic and unique time. You may go to Parish Pay (on our parish website - stspyridon.org) - or mail in a check with your stewardship envelope or call the office or pay online through your autopay (ACH) with your bank.

As we look toward a brighter 2021 we, the Stewardship Committee, would like to say thank you for helping the parish finish 2020 strong in our 2020 Stewardship efforts, which helps us continue our most important work – serving you!

On behalf of the Parish Council, the Stewardship Committee once again says “thank you” and God bless you during this extraordinary season and always.

Sincerely and Respectfully,

The Stewardship Committee: John Kalas – Chairperson

Philoptochos Cutting of the Vasilopita in Support of Saint Basil Academy

Happy New Year St. Spyridon family! Wishing you many blessings for a beautiful bright year, all in good health.

I am overjoyed that our parish family will be together once again with outdoor divine services starting this Sunday, January 10th.

Philoptochos will continue with our traditional cutting of the Vasilopita this Sunday, January 10th and although we will not place a basket out due to restrictions, you can still mail your donation beforehand to the church office. Please make your check payable to: Philoptochos of St. Spyridon with "St. Basil Academy" added in the memo line. All donations will be mailed at the end of January and sent directly to St. Basil Academy in Garrison, NY.

Thank you for your continued generosity - I look forward to seeing you this Sunday or in the very near future.

In Christ,

Marian Dougenis - Anthousa President

Upcoming Memorials for January

Sunday, January 17: Alexandru Dinescu - 23 years

Sunday, January 24: Bess Michas - 1 year

Sunday, January 24: James (Dimitri) Vlachopoulos - 6 months

Sunday, January 24: Christos Tsopanoglou - 7 years

Sunday, January 24: Mary Chrisos - 1 year

Sunday, January 24: Sultana (Nitsa) Crosby - 17 years

Sunday, January 24: Ray Crosby - 45 years

2021 Virtual Young Adult League (YAL) Conference

DATE: January 9th - 10th, 2021

TIME: All Day

WHO: Open to all Orthodox Young Adults ages 18-35.

WHERE: Online - You MUST pre-register to attend the event and receive the unique passcode.

TO REGISTER: https://cvent.me/ZQ2bzr

NO COST: THERE WILL BE NO COST TO ATTEND THE EVENT

CONTACT for Information: YALconfMetropolisSF@gmail.com

Welcome to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco 2021 Virtual Young Adult Conference! We are excited to host you and young adults from across the nation virtually. The virtual YAL Conference will serve as an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make new ones while growing together in our faith. The theme of this year’s conference is RECLAIM! As young adults, we want to begin the New Year by recognizing the unique difficulties of 2020, learning how to reclaim our faith and how to propel our personal and spiritual growth. Wherever you come from, I invite you to join us for an incredible weekend. We are excited to continue advancing this ministry forward. As such, this Conference will be free of charge. Donations are welcome.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you on Zoom!

George Anagnostopoulos, Chairman

2021 Virtual Young Adult Conference

Please see the attached 2021 YAL Conference flier in the "Inserts and Fliers" section below.

Weekly Pledge Offering Envelopes

If you are using weekly pledge offering envelopes, your designated box is available at the church office. Please call the office to make arrangements for pick-up. Thank you!

Ministry Position Available

Greek School Director

Preferably with an Education background

This is a paid position
Current enrollment approximately 70 children and 40 adults
Current staff of 9-10 teachers
Office support
School is in session from September to June

If interested or for additional information email: greekschoolboard@gmail.com

Register Now for Online Greek Language Classes

Registration is now open for Spring semester classes! Classes begin January 20 to May 29, 2021. For more information, registration, and tuition information, please visit the school website at www.stspyridongreekschool.org

Class Schedule

Adults: Semester begins January 20 to May 29, 2021

Adult Tuition: $300 (for 18 sessions)

Beginners A - Thursdays 6:30 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.
Beginners B - Saturdays 10 a.m. -11:45 a.m.
Beginners B - Thursdays 6:30 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.
Intermediate -Wednesdays - 6:30 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.

Children: Semester begins January 22 to May 28, 2021 (Ages 4 to High school)

Child Tuition: 1st Child ...$230, 2nd Child ...$180, 3rd Child ... $150

Children's classes of all levels will run only on Fridays between 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Primary grades run approximately 1 hour
Mid and Upper grades run approximately 90 minutes

Agape Meals Program

Philoptochos has an outreach program where people can cook or deliver (or both) a meal to one of their fellow parishioners who may be 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!

Give Back 0.5% From “Amazon Smile” Foundation

We remind you to please participate in the AmazonSmile program. When you shop on Amazon, the AmazonSmile Foundation will give back 0.5% of your purchase price to St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church. That’s right, every eligible/registered purchase you or someone else makes at AmazonSmile 0.5% will be donated back to your parish!!!

It's quick and easy to 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 opportunity.

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.

Inserts and Fliers

2021 YAL Conference

Online Parish Stewardship Giving

"WeShare" Online Stewardship Offering

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

COVID-19 and Climate Change: Living with and Learning from a Pandemic Subtitle: Halki Summit IV

12/28/2020

Halki Summit IV, taking place on January 26-28, 2021 at 8:00-9:30 PM EST, will focus on the implications and lessons of COVID-19 in relation to climate change.

https://www.goarch.org/-/halki-summit

A Social Media Gift for the Youth by the Youth

12/24/2020

On December 10, 2020, the Saint Basil Academy children and staff welcomed Archbishop Elpidophoros for their socially distant Christmas celebration. Traditionally, in the past, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop visits the Academy for the annual Christmas celebration: His Eminence is welcomed by hundreds of guests who come to watch the annual Christmas pageant, to celebrate the spirited gift opening and to pay homage to their spiritual leader.

https://www.goarch.org/-/st-basil-christmas-2020

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Ninth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:19-31

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them: "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."

Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said: "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. First Mode. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 4:7-13.

BRETHREN, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men." (in saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Gospel Reading

Sunday after Epiphany
The Reading is from Matthew 4:12-17

At that time, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Wisdom of the Fathers

Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when ye assemble frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and the destruction at which he aims is prevented by the unity of your faith.

St. Ignatius of Antioch

Epistle to the Ephesians Ch. 13, 2nd century

For as persons not even knowing where to put a step forward, so they sat, overtaken by the darkness.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 14 on Matthew 4, 4th Century

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Second Mode

The angelic powers appeared at your tomb, and those guarding it became as dead. Mary stood at your grave seeking your pure body. But you stripped the power of Hades, yet were not touched by corruption. You met the virgin and granted her life. O Lord, who

Apolytikion for Theophany Afterfeast in the First Mode

Lord, when You were baptized in the Jordan, the veneration of the Trinity was revealed. For the voice of the Father gave witness to You, calling You Beloved, and the Spirit, in the guise of a dove, confirmed the certainty of His words. Glory to You, Christ our God, who appeared and enlightened the world.

Apolytikion for the Church in the First Mode

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.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

You appeared to the world today, and Your light, O Lord, has left its mark upon us. With fuller understanding we sing to You: "You came, You were made manifest, the unapproachable light."

Saints and Feasts

January 10

Gregory of Nyssa

Saint Gregory, the younger brother of Basil the Great, illustrious in speech and a zealot for the Orthodox Faith, was born in 331. His brother Basil was encouraged by their elder sister Macrina to prefer the service of God to a secular career (see July 19); Saint Gregory was moved in a similar way by his godly mother Emily, who, when Gregory was still a young man, implored him to attend a service in honor of the holy Forty Martyrs at her retreat at Annesi on the River Iris. Saint Gregory came at his mother's bidding, but being wearied with the journey, and feeling little zeal, he fell asleep during the service. The Forty Martyrs then appeared to him in a dream, threatening him and reproaching him for his slothfulness. After this he repented and became very diligent in the service of God.

Gregory became bishop in 372, and because of his Orthodoxy he was exiled in 374 by Valens, who was of one mind with the Arians. After the death of Valens in 378, Gregory was recalled to his throne by the Emperor Gratian. He attended the Local Council of Antioch, which sent him to visit the churches of Arabia and Palestine, which had been defiled and ravaged by Arianism. He attended the Second Ecumenical Council, which was assembled in Constantinople in 381. Having lived some sixty years and left behind many remarkable writings, he reposed about the year 395. The acts of the Seventh Ecumenical Council call him 'Father of Fathers."

January 11

Our Righteous Father Theodosius the Cenobiarch

This Saint had Cappadocia as his homeland. He lived during the years of Leo of Thrace, who reigned from 457 to 474. The Saint established in the Holy Land a great communal monastery, wherein he was the shepherd of many monks. While Saint Sabbas was the head of the hermits of Palestine, Saint Theodosius was governor of those living the cenobitic life, for which reason he is called the Cenobiarch. Together with Saint Sabbas, towards whom he cherished a deep brotherly love in Christ, he defended the whole land of Palestine from the heresy of the Monophysites, which was championed by the Emperor Anastasius and might very well have triumphed in the Holy Land without the opposition of these two great monastic fathers and their zealous defense of the Holy Council of Chalcedon. Having lived for 103 years, he reposed in peace.

January 12

Tatiana the Martyr of Rome

Saint Tatiana was the daughter of a most distinguished consul of Rome. She became a deaconess of the Church, and for her confession of the Faith of Christ, she endured many torments. As she was suffering, angels punished her tormentors with the same torments they inflicted on her, until they cried out that they could no longer endure the scourges invisibly brought upon them. She was beheaded during the reign of Alexander Severus (111-135).

January 13

The Holy Martyrs Hermylus and Stratonicus

Saints Hermylus and Stratonicus contested for piety's sake during the reign of Licinius, in the year 314. Saint Hermylus was a deacon, and Stratonicus was his friend. For his confession of Christ, Hermylus was beaten so fiercely that his whole body was covered with wounds. Stratonicus, seeing him endure this and other torments that left him half dead, wept with grief for his friend. From this he was discovered to be a Christian, and when he had openly professed his Faith and had been beaten, he and Hermylus were cast into the Danube River, receiving the crown of martyrdom.

January 14

Sabbas (Sava), Archbishop of Serbia

Saint Sabbas (Sava), the first Archbishop and teacher of the Serbs, and the most beloved of all the Saints of Serbia, was born in 1169, and was named Rastko by his parents. He was the son of Stephen Nemanja, the ruler of Serbia, who is better known as Saint Symeon the Myrrh-streamer (see Feb. 13). As a young man, Rastko fled secretly to the Holy Mountain, Athos, to the Monastery of Saint Panteleimon. When his father learned of his flight, he sent soldiers after him. Before they could seize him, he was tonsured a monk with the name of Sabbas, after Saint Sabbas the Sanctified (celebrated Dec. 5). Soon after, he entered the Monastery of Vatopedi, where his father joined him in 1197. Together they rebuilt the Monastery of Hilandar and made it a great spiritual center for their countrymen. In 1200 Saint Symeon reposed, and his body became a source of holy myrrh; in 1204 Saint Sabbas was compelled to return to Serbia with his father's relics, that he might restore peace between his two brothers, who were struggling over the rule of the kingdom. The grace of Saint Symeon's relics, and the mediations of Saint Sabbas, healed the division between his brethren. After persuading the Emperor in Constantinople and the Ecumenical Patriarch to grant autocephaly to the Serbian Church, the Saint against his will was ordained first Archbishop of his native land in 1219, where he labored diligently to establish the Orthodox Faith. In 1221 he crowned his brother Stephen first King of Serbia (the memory of Saint Stephen, First Crowned King of Serbia, is kept on September 24). In 1234, foreseeing by divine grace his coming departure to the Lord, he resigned the archiepiscopal throne, named his disciple Arsenius as his successor, and made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Mount Sinai; while returning through Bulgaria, he fell asleep in peace in 1236. Because he has been ever since the national hero of Serbia and an invincible bulwark strengthening the Orthodox Faith, the Moslem Turks burned his incorrupt relics in the year 1594. See also June 28.

January 15

Paul of Thebes

Saint Paul, first among hermits, was born about 227 in the Thebaid of Egypt. In 250 he fled into the wilderness because of the persecution raging at that time under Decius. Having lived a solitary life in a certain cave for ninety-one years, he reposed in 341, at the age of 114, and was buried by Anthony the Great, who had been directed thither by God several days before the Saint's repose.

January 16

Veneration of Apostle Peter's Precious Chains

Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod the Great and king of the Jews, grew wroth against the Church of Christ, and slew James, the brother of John the Evangelist. Seeing that this pleased the Jews, he took Peter also into custody and locked him up in prison, intending to keep him there until after the feast of the Passover, so that he could win the favour of the people by presenting him to them as a victim. But the Apostle was saved when he was miraculously set free by an Angel (Acts 12:1-19). The chains wherewith the Apostle was bound received from his most sacred body the grace of sanctification and healing, which is bestowed upon the faithful who draw nigh with faith.

That such sacred treasures work wonders and many healings is witnessed by the divine Scripture, where it speaks concerning Paul, saying that the Christians in Ephesus had such reverence for him, that his handkerchiefs and aprons, taken up with much reverence, healed the sick of their maladies: "So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them" (Acts 19:12). But not only the Apostles' clothing (which certainly touched the bodies of the sick), but even their shadow alone performed healings. On beholding this, people put their sick on stretchers and beds and brought them out into the streets that, when Peter passed by, his shadow "might overshadow some of them"(Acts 5:15). From this the Orthodox Catholic Church has learned to show reverence and piety not only to the relics of their bodies, but also in the clothing of God's Saints.

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Sunday Services

Orthros/Matins: 8:30am

Divine Liturgy: 10:00am

Past Bulletins