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St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Christian Church
Publish Date: 2022-12-04
Bulletin Contents
St. Spyridon Parish News, Events, Activities and Announcements
Inserts and Fliers
Archdiocese News
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Barbara1
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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

Parish Priest Fr. Andrew S.

frandrew@stspyridon.org | 619-297-4165

Parish Office For General Office Information

office@stspyridon.org | 619-297-4165

Services Schedule

Sunday Services

Orthros/Matins: 8:30am

Divine Liturgy: 10:00am

Past Bulletins


St. Spyridon Parish News, Events, Activities and Announcements

Our Parish Feast Day of Saint Spyridon (December 12th) Service Schedule

The Vesper Service - Sunday evening, December 11th at 6:30 pm.

The Orthros/Preparatory Service - Monday, December 12th at 9:00 am with celebration of the Divine Liturgy to follow.   

See's Candies Fundraiser Ends TODAY!

Today is the last day to purchase gifts that will help support the St. Spyridon Dance and Choral School programming and scholarships. Perfect for those friends and family members who are hard to shop for! Orders will be shipped directly to you and proceeds will go to the Dance and Choral School to help fund upcoming performances and dance activities. 

To order go to https://tinyurl.com/4xcbzkww 

See the attached flyer in the Inserts & Fliers section below. 

Dance and Choral News – Volunteers Needed TONIGHT and TOMORROW! 

St. Spyridon Dance and Choral School is hosting the December Nights Parking Lot Fundraiser! Friday, December 2nd and Saturday, 3rd. Volunteers will hold up signs and help direct cars to our parking lot where we collect $25 per car and offer free hot chocolate! That’s all there is to it, and you’ll have a chance to socialize and sit with friends. Shifts are 3 hours but come for any length of time if you can help. To volunteer, please call Timmy Paraskevopoulos at 714-931-2431 or email stspyridondance@gmail.com

See the attached flyer in the Inserts & Fliers section below. 

Ancient Wisdom & Modern Coffee

Join us for our Adult Sunday School class (taught by Dn. Michael Kallas, MA, MDiv). We will be studying the Sunday Gospel Readings to learn how to hear scripture. The next class is scheduled for this Sunday, December 4th. We meet downstairs in the lower Education Building.

Stewardship Reminder

Dear Faithful Steward of Saint Spyridon GOC,

The Stewardship Committee is writing to thank you and to remind you that your financial assistance helps to support the many and varied ministries of Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church – Home of the Wonder Worker! 

We know that life gets hectic and sometimes complicated and that’s why we are reaching out to encourage and remind you that there is still time for you to join hands with all the other financial stewards of the parish, and make a difference by offering your financial support to your beloved parish.      

May the Lord continue to richly bless you and your family in all your honorable endeavors.

Again, thank you for your prayerful and thoughtful consideration!

Yours in Christ,

The Saint Spyridon Stewardship Committee:

John T. Kalas - Chairperson                   

Philoptochos Bake Sale - A Taste of Greek Christmas

It’s that time of year again…when you’re dreaming of your favorite Greek Pastries for the holidays! Our Philoptochos members are busy preparing these treats for everyone on your list (neighbors, clients, caregivers…).  Your pastries will be beautifully packaged and ready for gift-giving on December 18th.  Please visit our website at www.greekbake.org to place your order today!

How does it work?
  • Pre-order and pre-pay by Sunday, December 11th
  • Pick up your order on Sunday, December 18th from 12:00 Noon to 3:00 p.m. at the St. Spyridon Church Hall, 3655 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA.

Your order will be processed online through our website and prepaid via credit card. You will receive an email confirmation once your order is submitted. NOTE: If you don’t receive an email confirmation shortly after you place your order, your order may not have been completed. Please check your email, including the junk folder, for an email confirmation from Philoptochos Anthousa Chapter. If you can’t find it, please try placing your order again, making sure to complete all steps. If you have questions, please email us at greekbake@anthousa.org.

Thank you for your support!
Philoptochos Anthousa Chapter

See the attached flyer in the Inserts & Fliers section below.

HOPE and JOY Christmas Party - December 10th

St. Spyridon kids and families TK – 6th grade, we hope you will join us to celebrate the Blessed Nativity on Saturday, December 10th from 10:00 – 11:30 am in the upstairs Youth Room. We are collecting winter hats and gloves for St. Innocent Orphanage. Please bring at least one winter hat and a set of gloves to donate. We will also be making gingerbread houses, bring your favorite breakfast cereal for decorating our houses! Siblings and families are welcome!

 See the attached flyer in the Inserts & Fliers section below.

GOYA Christmas Party - December 17th

GOYA kids and families will get together on Saturday, December 17th at 5:00 pm at the Maude Family’s home to fellowship, have dinner, and have a gift exchange. Bring a $15 gift if you or your siblings would like to participate in the gift exchange. Please bring a card game to donate to the Angels Christmas Party! We will be stuffing stockings to bring Christmas joy to families in Kids 'N' Cancer. 

 See the attached flyer in the Inserts & Fliers section below.

Sunday School Christmas Pageant and Lunch – December 18th

Immediately after the Divine Services on Sunday, December 18th, our Sunday School Students will perform scenes and carols about the Blessed Nativity. Lunch in the Hall will follow the Christmas Pageant. We hope you will join us for this wonderful tradition! Christmas Pageant rehearsal is THIS Sunday, December 4th during Sunday School.

Angels Christmas Party - Monday, December 19th

Our Philoptochos, along with SF Metropolis Philoptochos, will be hosting our annual Angels Christmas Party for Kids 'N' Cancer on Monday, December 19th at 6:00 pm in the Cypress Room. We will have dinner, activities, caroling with our own St. Spyridon Choir, our Dance groups will be performing, and there will be a visit from Santa bearing gifts for each child! If you are interested in helping with your time, your talents, or your treasures, please reach out to Marian Dougenis (619)520-3660, Stella Pappas, or Harriet Kounaves.  Thank you as always for your love and generous support!
 
See the attached flyer in the Inserts & Fliers section below.
 
Upcoming Memorials for December

Sunday, December 11 – Kalliope Xykis – 4 years

Sunday, December 11 – Bill Xykis – 2 years

Sunday, December 11 – Helena Megelova – 1 year

Sunday, December 11 – Nancy Burgess – 5 years

Sunday, December 18 – Gregory Star – 1 year

Sunday, December 18 - Yacoub (Jack) Khoury - 40 days 

2023 Epiphany Cross Dive Luncheon

Please join us on Sunday, January 8, 2023, for the 44th Annual Epiphany Cross Dive and Luncheon at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina. Leon Balaban Honorees are Jim and Stella Pappas. Tickets MUST be purchased by January 3rd – Adults $65 and Children 12 and under $35.  Divers needed; must be 7-12th grade, attend Divine Liturgy, and stay for the luncheon. Contact Bill Navrides at navridesfamily@gmail.com or (619) 992-6775 by December 15th.

Red Covered Divine Liturgy Books are located in the Narthex

The red-covered Divine Liturgy books are available to you and located on the right side of the Narthex near the candles. 

Agape Meals

Philoptochos provides meals to St. Spyridon community members in need following hospitalizations, the death of a family member, or the birth of a child. Please reach out to Marian Dougenis (619) 520-3660 if you or someone you know is in need.

Philoptochos Decorated Feast Day Icons

Philoptochos invites you and your family to commemorate a special Feast Day by offering a donation towards a beautifully decorated icon which will be displayed in the Narthex for all to venerate. To reserve your date, contact the office: (619) 297-4165, office@stspyridon.org.

A suggested donation of $75 (check or cash) payable to the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society is much appreciated.

Icons Available for the Month of December:

December 12th - St. Spyridon the Wonderworker

December 25th - The Holy Nativity of the Lord

Sunday Fellowship Sponsors are Needed

Several Sundays in December and January are available. Please consider sponsoring with your friends and family.  Let's keep it simple by providing cookies or donuts, fruit, and juice. To reserve your date contact Anne Zouvas at (619) 248-6644. Thank you for supporting this long-standing tradition of our church!

Project Mexico Homebuilding Trip 2023

We wanted to let you know about a wonderful opportunity with Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage in Mexico! As Father Nicholas Andruchow, executive director of Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage explained to us last Sunday, Project Mexico is an amazing organization that coordinates groups of volunteers to come to Baja California, Mexico. The great news is that St. Spyridon Youth Ministries is planning a Homebuilding Trip with Project Mexico THIS coming summer! St. Spyridon will be going to Project Mexico July 20th - 26th, 2023. Yes, almost a whole week! But in that time, our group will build homes for people who would otherwise not have a home; in just a week! What's even better, is that we live so close to Mexico, that we can drive, and not spend money on airfare! 

The work that is done by the volunteers is truly life-changing and we are excited to bring this opportunity to our community. We will organize fundraisers starting in January to help defray the cost for participants. But we need your help right now! If you and/or your children (ages 8 and up) are interested in getting more information about our trip, joining our group, or donating to our volunteers please complete this Interest Form https://forms.gle/idCfspYPH3ckkWrx9 

Please complete the Interest Form to help us start planning. 

Unsure if you should join us? Watch this video to get a glimpse of the good works and life-changing experience of Project Mexico: https://youtu.be/BnzXpcLdaHc

For more information, call 619-940-5167 or email our Youth Ministries Director, Julie Dennis, youthministries@stspyridon.org or visit the Project Mexico website: https://www.projectmexico.org/summer-homebuilding

The Metropolis of San Francisco Stewardship Ministry Continues the Series - “Equipping and Enriching Parish Life”

Please join us on Monday evening, December 19th at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, for a special presentation on “Revitalizing Parish Health & Achieving Operational Excellence: Examining Six Critical Areas of Parish Life.”

Over the past two years, our world has shifted. And while our Orthodox theology, worship, and ethos remain intact, many parishes have struggled to adopt – or define - the “new normal” for parish life and ministry involvement. To assist our parishes in their journeys, during this segment, our speakers will:

• Explore the new context and shifting landscape facing our parishes in the post-pandemic world (and “carry-over” opportunities that our parishes were already encountering).

• Identify the six most critical areas of parish life which are vital to revitalizing Parish Health and optimizing Operational Effectiveness.

• Share new tools and an emerging Orthodox ministry dedicated to helping parishes achieve transformational change.

For more information, please email metropolis@sanfran.goarch.org or call 415-753-3075.

See the attached flyer in the Inserts & Fliers section below.

Give Back 0.5% From the “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, for 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 selecting “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. 

downstairs

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Inserts and Fliers

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Archdiocese News

Vigil for Young Adults for the Forefeast of the Nativity of our Lord

12/01/2022

All Young Adults are welcome to participate in a Vigil for the fore feast for the Nativity of our Lord.
https://www.goarch.org/-/district-youth-young-adult-vigil-2022

Online Registration for Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music Open

12/01/2022

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is pleased to announce the official reopening of the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music (ASBM) and the beginning of online registration for the 2022 new year.
https://www.goarch.org/-/asbm-online-registration-2023-open

New Leadership For Metropolis Missions And Evangelism Ministry

11/23/2022

The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco Missions and Evangelism Ministry (MEM) has a new leadership team. Rev. Father Gerasimos “Jerry” Markopoulos and Mr. Kenny Scott will be serving as co-leads of this ministry, working collaboratively to further this important initiative for the growth of our faith and the establishment of new parishes.
https://www.goarch.org/-/new-leadership-missions-evangelism-ministry-sf-2022
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Third Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:9-20

When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. After this He appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table and He upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw Him after He had risen. And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."

So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 67.35,26.
God is wonderful among his saints.
Verse: Bless God in the congregations.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 3:23-29; 4:1-5.

Brethren, before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a slave, though he is the owner of all the estate; but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. So with us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe. But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Gospel Reading

10th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 13:10-17

At that time, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity." And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day." Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.

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Wisdom of the Fathers

So great an evil is envy. For not against strangers only, but even against our own, is it ever warring.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 40 on Matthew 12, 4th Century

And yet here He speaks only; whereas elsewhere in many cases He heals by laying on of hands also. But nevertheless none of these things made them meek; rather, while the man was healed, they by his health became worse. For His desire indeed was to cure them before him, and He tried innumerable ways of healing, both by what He did in their presence, and by what He said: but since their malady after all was incurable, He proceeded to the work.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 40 on Matthew 12, 4th Century

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

You descended from on high, O merciful Lord, and accepted the three-day burial in order to free us from our passions. Glory to you, O Lord, our life and our resurrection.

Apolytikion for Great Martyr Barbara in the Fourth Mode

Let us honor the holy Barbara for, with the aid of the Cross as her weapon, she crushed the snares of the enemy, and was rescued from them like a bird.

Apolytikion for John of Damascus in the Plagal Fourth Mode

The guide of Orthodox beliefs, and sacred teacher of true religion and of dignity, the luminary of the world, the God-inspired adornment of the episcopate, O John the wise, through your instructions you have illumined all, O harp of the Spirit. Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode

On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God.
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Saints and Feasts

Barbara1
December 04

Barbara the Great Martyr

Saint Barbara was from Heliopolis of Phoenicia and lived during the reign of Maximian.

She was the daughter of a certain idolater named Dioscorus. When Barbara came of age, she was enlightened in her pure heart and secretly believed in the Holy Trinity. About this time Dioscorus began building a bath-house; before it was finished he was required to go away to attend to certain matters, and in his absence Barbara directed the workmen to build a third window in addition to the two her Father had commanded. She also inscribed the sign of the Cross with her finger upon the marble of the bath-house, leaving the saving sign cut as deeply into the marble as if it had been done with an iron tool. (When the Synaxarion of Saint Barbara was written, the marble of the bath-house and the cross inscribed by Saint Barbara were still preserved, and many healings were worked there.) When Dioscorus returned, he asked why the third window had been added; Barbara began to declare to him the mystery of the Trinity. Because she refused to renounce her faith, Dioscorus tortured Barbara inhumanely, and after subjecting her to many sufferings he beheaded her with his own hands, in the year 290.

Savas
December 05

Savas the Sanctified

This Saint was born in 439 in Moutalaska, a small village of Cappadocia. He entered the arena of the monastic life from childhood and was under that master trainer of monastics, Euthymius, the Great, the teacher of the desert. He became the spiritual Father of many monks and an instructor for the monasteries in Palestine, and was appointed leader (archimandrite) of the desert-dwellers of Palestine by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. In his old age he went to Constantinople, to the Emperors Anastasius and Saint Justinian the Great, in behalf of the Orthodox Faith and the dogmas of the Council of Chalcedon. Having lived ninety-four years, he reposed in 533. The Typicon for the ecclesiastical services had its beginning in the monastery established by this righteous one.

Nicholas
December 06

Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra

This Saint lived during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great, and reposed in 330, As a young man, he desired to espouse the solitary life. He made a pilgrimage to the holy city Jerusalem, where he found a place to withdraw to devote himself to prayer. It was made known to him, however, that this was not the will of God for him, but that he should return to his homeland to be a cause of salvation for many. He returned to Myra, and was ordained bishop. He became known for his abundant mercy, providing for the poor and needy, and delivering those who had been unjustly accused. No less was he known for his zeal for the truth. He was present at the First Ecumenical Council of the 318 Fathers at Nicaea in 325; upon hearing the blasphemies that Arius brazenly uttered against the Son of God, Saint Nicholas struck him on the face. Since the canons of the Church forbid the clergy to strike any man at all, his fellow bishops were in perplexity what disciplinary action was to be taken against this hierarch whom all revered. In the night our Lord Jesus Christ and our Lady Theotokos appeared to certain of the bishops, informing them that no action was to be taken against him, since he had acted not out of passion, but extreme love and piety. The Dismissal Hymn for holy hierarchs, The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock ... was written originally for Saint Nicholas. He is the patron of all travellers, and of sea-farers in particular; he is one of the best known and best loved Saints of all time.

Ambrose
December 07

Ambrose, Bishop of Milan

This Saint was born in Gaul in 340, and was a member of the Roman Senate. After the death of Auxentius, the Arian Bishop of Milan, a violent dispute arose among the Orthodox and Arians about who would succeed him. Ambrose, desiring as Governor of the province to restore the peace, attempted to mediate between them. As he spoke to the people, eloquently persuading them to elect a new bishop without tumult and disorder, a young child, inspired from on high, suddenly cried out "Ambrose, bishop!" To his astonishment and dismay, the people immediately took up this cry themselves, and over his many protests, he was raised to the episcopal throne of Milan on December 7, 374. A great Father of the Church, he wrote many works in Latin, and was both an unwearying opponent of Arianism, and a fearless accuser of emperors when they transgressed the law of God. Having lived fifty-seven years, he reposed on April 4, on the eve of Pascha, in the year 397.

Patapios
December 08

Patapios the Righteous of Thebes

This Saint was from the Thebaid of Egypt and struggled many years in the wilderness. He departed for Constantinople, and having performed many miracles and healings, he reposed in peace in a mountain cave on the Gulf of Corinth, where his holy relics are found incorrupt to the present day.

Anna
December 09

The Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos

According to the ancient tradition of the Church, since Saint Anna, the Ancestor of God, was barren, she and her husband Joachim remained without children until old age. Therefore, sorrowing over their childlessness, they besought God with a promise that, if He were to grant them the fruit of the womb, they would offer their offspring to Him as a gift. And God, hearkening to their supplication, informed them through an Angel concerning the birth of the Virgin. And thus, through God's promise, Anna conceived according to the laws of nature, and was deemed worthy to become the mother of the Mother of our Lord (see also Sept. 8).

Allsaint
December 10

Menas, Hermogenes, & Eugraphos, Martyrs of Alexandria

Saint Menas, according to the Synaxaristes, had Athens as his homeland. He was a military officer, an educated man and skilled in speech, wherefore he was surnamed Kallikelados ("most eloquent"); Eugraphus was his scribe. Both had Christian parents. The Emperor Maximinus (he was the successor of Alexander Severus, and reigned from 235 to 238) sent Saint Menas to Alexandria to employ his eloquence to end a certain strife among the citizens. Saint Menas, having accomplished this, also employed his eloquence to strengthen the Christians in their faith, which when Maximinus heard, he sent Hermogenes, who was an eparch born to unbelievers to turn Menas away from Christ. But Hermogenes rather came to the Faith of Christ because of the miracles wrought by Saint Menas. Saints Menas, Eugraphus, and Hermogenes received the crown of martyrdom in the year 235.

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