A Warm Welcome to Our Visitors

It is our hope that we will help you learn more about our parish and the Orthodox Christian faith that we confess. At St. Gregory of Nyssa, you will discover an ancient, yet dynamic faith, a warm Church family and even perhaps a spiritual home where you can grow roots and a deep relationship with Christ in the Holy Spirit. Please know that in the Holy Orthodox Church, Holy Communion is given only to those Baptized/Chrismated Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared themselves through prayer, fasting and recent Confession. You are welcome to come forward at the end of the Liturgy to be given the Blessed Bread(Antidoron), of which all are blessed to partake, & a blessing from the Priest.

Welcome to our Church Home! We would like to meet you! Please join us at Coffee Hour following the service.

Saints and Feasts

May 31

Hermias the Martyr at Comana

According to some, this Martyr strove in contest during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, also called Antoninus (161-180); according to others, it was in the reign of Antoninus Pius (138-161). Already an old man, the Saint was brought before Sebastian, Proconsul in Comana of Cappadocia, and because he would not renounce his confession of Christ, his tormentors showing no reverence to his grey hairs, broke his jaw, tore the flesh from his face, pierced his eyes with a sharp instrument, subjected him to many other torments, and finally, after three days of such torture, beheaded him.

May 31

Fathers of the 1st Council

The heresiarch Arius was a Libyan by race and a protopresbyter of the Church of Alexandria. In 315, he began to blaspheme against the Son and Word of God, saying that He is not true God, consubstantial with the Father, but is rather a work and creation, alien to the essence and glory of the Father, and that there was a time when He was not. This frightful blasphemy shook the faithful of Alexandria. Alexander, his Archbishop, after trying in vain to correct him through admonitions, cut him off from communion and finally in a local council deposed him in the year 321. Yet neither did the blasphemer wish to be corrected, nor did he cease sowing the deadly tares of his heretical teachings; but writing to the bishops of other cities, Arius and his followers requested that his doctrine be examined, and if it were unsound, that the correct teaching be declared to him. By this means, his heresy became universally known and won many supporters, so that the whole Church was soon in an uproar.

Therefore, moved by divine zeal, the first Christian Sovereign, Saint Constantine the Great, the equal to the Apostles, summoned the renowned First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, a city of Bithynia. It was there that the shepherds and teachers of the Church of Christ gathered from all regions in the year 325. All of them, with one mouth and one voice, declared that the Son and Word of God is one in essence with the Father, true God of true God, and they composed the holy Symbol of Faith up to the seventh article (since the remainder, beginning with "And in the Holy Spirit," was completed by the Second Ecumenical Council). Thus they anathematized the impious Arius of evil belief and those of like mind with him, and cut them off as rotten members from the whole body of the faithful.

Therefore, recognizing the divine Fathers as heralds of the Faith after the divine Apostles, the Church of Christ has appointed this present Sunday for their annual commemoration, in thanksgiving and unto the glory of God, unto their praise and honour, and unto the strengthening of the true Faith.

June 01

Justin the Philosopher and Martyr and his Companions

This Saint, who was from Neapolis of Palestine, was a follower of Plato the philosopher. Born in 103, he came to the Faith of Christ when he was already a mature man, seeking to find God through philosophy and human reasoning. A venerable elder appeared to him and spoke to him about the Prophets who had taught of God not through their own wisdom, but by revelation; and he led him to knowledge of Christ, Who is the fulfillment of what the Prophets taught. Saint Justin soon became a fervent follower of Christ, and an illustrious apologist of the Evangelical teachings. To the end of his life, while preaching Christ in all parts, he never put off his philosopher's garb. In Rome, he gave the Emperor Antoninus Pius (reigned 138-161) an apology wherein he proved the innocence and holiness of the Christian Faith, persuading him to relieve the persecution of Christians. Through the machinations of Crescens, a Cynic philosopher who envied him, Saint Justin was beheaded in Rome in 167 under Antoninus' successor, Marcus Aurelius (reigned 161-180). Besides his defense of Christianity (First and Second Apologies), Saint Justin wrote against paganism (Discourse to the Greeks, Hortatory Address to the Greeks), and refuted Jewish objections against Christ (Dialogue with Trypho).

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Sixth Tone

Angelic powers appeared at Your tomb, and those guarding it became like dead, and at Your grave Mary was standing, seeking Your most pure body. You plundered Hades, not being tempted by it; You encountered the virgin, granting life. O Lord, who rose from the dead, glory to You!

Troparion for the Feast of the Holy Ascension of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in the Fourth Tone

Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God, and gladdened Thy disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit; and they were assured by the blessing that Thou art the Son of God and Redeemer of the world.

Troparion for the Feast of the Holy Fathers in the Eighth Tone

Most glorified art Thou, O Christ our God, Who has established our Fathers as luminous stars upon the earth, and through them didst guide us all to the True Faith. O, Most Merciful One, Glory be to Thee!

Kontakion for the Church in the Third Tone

You were shown to have holy vigilance. And your piety was manifest in your teachings, O Hierarch Gregory. For the wisdom of your sacred dogmas gives joy to the fullness of the Church. Righteous Father, to Christ our God do intercede to grant our souls His great redeeming mercy.

Kontakion for the Feast of the Holy Ascension of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in the Sixth Tone

When Thou hadst fulfilled Thy dispensation for our sakes, uniting things on earth with the Heavens, Thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, departing not hence, but remaining insep'rable from us and crying unto them that love Thee: "I am with you, and no one can be against you!"

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Fathers of the 1st Council
The Reading is from Acts of the Apostles 20:16-18, 28-36

IN THOSE DAYS, Paul had decided to sail past Ephesos, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. And from Miletos he sent to Ephesos and called to him the elders of the church. And when they came to him, he said to them: "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 'it is more blessed to give than to receive.' " And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

Gospel Reading

Fathers of the 1st Council
The Reading is from John 17:1-13

At that time, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work which you gave me to do; and now, Father, you glorify me in your own presence with the glory which I had with you before the world was made.

"I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world; yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you; for I have given them the words which you gave me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you did send me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are mine; all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves."

Wisdom of the Fathers

For there is One God, and One Mediator between God and Man, the Man Christ Jesus. For He still pleads even now as Man for my salvation; ...

St. Gregory the Theologian

4th Theological Oration, 4th Century

... for He continues to wear the Body which He assumed, until He make me God by the power of His Incarnation; although He is no longer known after the flesh -- I mean, the passions of the flesh, the same, except sin, as ours.

St. Gregory the Theologian

4th Theological Oration, 4th Century

Tithes & Offerings

May Budget: $21,000

Monthly Offering to Date: $10,272

Remaining Need (Budget minus offering to Date): $ 10,728

2020 Budget: $ 269,778

2020 Offerings: $86,223

2020 Remaining Need: $183,555

Prayer List

HEALTH & WELFARE:

All affected by the Pandemic, Hetta, Wilma, Amy. Amber, Kyriaki, Dawn, Gordon, Spahe, Tessa, Brianna, Josiah, Anne Stropes, Dr. Al Sarantinos, Ted Ionnides, Ivan Holmes, Leland, Jennifer, Kadee & Abigail Becker, Micailah, Angelo, and Michelle, Fidias, Andreas, Robby, Trevonia, Samantha, Christine Fanos, Cliff Earl Morn, Brad Summers, Brian, Connie, Ruby, Iris, Jo Cormier, Katy Brown, Faith St. Thomas, Jimmy and Anna Vlachopoulos, John Vourexis, Linda Bhatia, Stephanie Navrides, Elizabeth Terris, Holly, Michael, Lily-Anna, Alexandra (Kyriako's Daughter), Betsy, Tabitha, Mother Susanna, Caliope, Robert, Stephanie and Bennet, Sharon, Tina Frankos, Jack and Tina Stavros, Freda Stavros, Magdalyn Grasser, Maria Del Soccoro, Kevin, Panagiotis, Mari Hanna, James, Natalia, Marika, Rachel, Sylvia Casberg, Eva Angelos, Angela Stassinopolis, Patrick Thrift, Olga Stephens, Kevin Wallace, Joseph Eyad Zarror, Augustine Ramirez, LaVonne Simonides, Kevin (Amanda's Grandpa), Christine Tzathos, Stephen Awake, Nick, Fotini & Sophia Busarelos Family, Irene Cantos, Aggie Annis, Lydia Chaconas, Sarah Cronstedt, Fr. Dimitri Tsigas, Michael & the Piliaris Family, Mary Kladouras, Ralph Bradley, Rhonda, Lisa Kotitsa, Evonne Zouris, Garland, Pierre, Jethmark, Helen & the Eveland Family, Vernon & Kathern Rogers, Alex, Patty, Jimmy, Richie, Margie, Paul Lane, Alexi, Dr. Minerva, Sarah & Malichi, Stan, James, Dora, Julia, Alexandra, Sebastian, Queentina, Diana, Nico, Janet Burgess, Dionysios, Lillian Ana Grace, Sarah-Betsy's mother, MaryAnn, Gabrielle, Kiki, Father John Pilafas & family, Virginia, Corey & family, Adrienne & Josef in Thessaloniki, George, Maria Hazlaris, Sarah Oftedal & her family, Darin Williams, Dionisios & Eftixia Diakoumeas, Nicky, Michael & Cathy, Jean Alexander, Gerontissa Markella & Sisters of Life-giving Spring Monastery. DEPARTED: Fr. Paul Lazor, Fr. Elias Bitar, Fr. Jon Winfrey, Hanna, Helen, Mike Riskas, Zach, Photini (Nickie) Hrountas, Trenton Alexander, Eleni, Areti (Iris) and Georgios Pilafas, Archpriest Patrick, Elder Ephraim, Francis Manos, Nicholas Galaxidas, George Platis; Dimitra Biniaris, Leonidas Biniaris, William Lawrence (Larry) Everitt, Jr.,Senait, Abram Dominguez, Warren Cormier. Darla Gliptis, Laura Pantozoplus,George Mastorakos,Fr. Steven Kozler, Michael Surla, Jim (Dimitri) Costas, Zahwey, John Peters, Wendell Duncan,Theodora, Matushka Andrea, Jerry Costacos, Heidi Angelopulos, Athanasios Angelopulos, Pastor Orville Hiepler, Ioanna Melete (Anna’s sister), Catherine Sullivan, Theophanis Brinias (Maria Gregg’s Father), Victor Nasser, Louis Trantalis, Victor Roick, Christ Fergis, Michael Kladouras, Costa Stephens , Georgia Swisher, Nick Paschalydis, John Manos Sr, Peter Shenas Sr., Ken and Ruth Gilliland, Bonnie Corona, Angela Sarantinos, Jerry (Gerasimos) Howorth, Lin Judah, Paul James Aceves, Warren George Cormier, Judith Keep, George (Marc's Uncle), Samantha (Marc's friend), Carol Kinan, Athina Cavelaris, Andrew Kyriakides, George Speros, Nick Kosmas, Gigi Campbell, Carl Collard, Jerry (Gerasimos) Filaktu, Doris Holmes, Spyridon, Thomas Munteanu, Sam Mellos, Richard Nicholas Nabhan, Helen Gliptis, George Koulaxes, Bishop Antoun, Eric Nectarios Cochran, Stella Angeles, Elizabeth Zogob, Nell Thornblad, Katherine Eveland, Carole, Steve Kosic, Effie Matsolis, George, Arety, Manny, Archimandrite Paul Doyle, Eleni (Kyriako's Sister), Gregory Galanis, Deacon Michael, George & Iris Pilafas, Manuel Dragan, Darla Gliptis, Fr. Theodore & Pres. Mary Phillips, Sophia Vourexis, Jason Hyde, Peter Kanelos, Mary Giana, Katherine Armatas, Lana Piliaris, William Piliaris, Katherine Kladouras, Heather Grinnell & Danny Ranglos. FOR OUR CHURCH LEADERS: Patriarch Bartholomew; Archbishop Elpidophoros; Metropolitan Gerasimos; Father Simeon Corona, Presbytera Joy & family; Chris Psillas & the members of the Parish Council; Olga Stephens & our Philoptochos; Jeff Simonides & Herb Barrack & our Building Committee; Linda Sacco & our Stewardship Committee; Pres. Joy and our Chanters; Myles & Barbara Lane; our Sunday School teachers; Mothers Victoria, Melania, & the Mothers & Sisters of St. Barbara's & Holy Assumption Monasteries; Frs. Dionisie & Neonil of Holy Resurrection Monastery in Temecula. If you would like our community to pray for you or a loved one or have a name removed, please call the Church office 619-593-0707.

Calendar

Parish Calendar

May 31 to June 8, 2020

Sunday, May 31

1st Ecumenical Council

9:00AM Morning Prayers (Orthros)

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, June 2

Office Closed

Wednesday, June 3

3:00PM FOCUS God's Extended Hand Ministry

Saturday, June 6

9:00AM Soul Saturday Morning Prayers and Liturgy

5:00PM Great Vespers

5:45PM CONFESSION and Prayers of Preparation

Sunday, June 7

HOLY PENTECOST

9:00AM Morning Prayers (Orthros)

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

11:30AM Kneeling Vespers

Monday, June 8

Fast Free Week! Blessed Feast!

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