St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Christian Church
Publish Date: 2024-12-08
Bulletin Contents

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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






Services Schedule

Sunday Services

Orthros/Matins: 9:00am

Divine Liturgy: 10:00am


Past Bulletins


St. Spyridon Parish News, Events, Activities and Announcements

This Sunday's Memorial 

Presvytera Maria Tranta – 1 year

As a reminder: The pews on the front right side of the church as you walk in are reserved for the family/families who are having a Memorial Service for their loved ones. Thus, please allow one pew per Memorial family on any given Sunday. Thank you for your understanding. 

 

His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco Will Be With Us For Our Feast Day 

Please mark your calendars and plan to be with us for the Great Vespers service on Wednesday, evening, December 11th at 6:00 pm and on Thursday morning, December 12th for the Orthros/Preparatory Service and the Divine Liturgy starting at 9:00 am. Following the Vespers service on Wednesday, December 11th our Philopotochos Ladies will host a light lenten reception. Following the divine services on Thursday, December 12th a complimentary feast day luncheon will be offered in our fellowship hall. We do ask that you make your reservation for the luncheon by calling the office at 619-297-4165 or emailing Christine in the office at admin@stspyridon.org.

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

  

Stewardship Reminder

Dear Fellow Steward of Saint Spyridon GOC:

“Tis the Season” once again! My. Time flies, doesn’t it? The Stewardship Committee once again thanks you for your ongoing and honorable pledges and/or financial contributions throughout the year 2024.

As you may remember, several weeks ago I introduced St. Spyridon and his wondrous ministry and Thomas Jefferson and his pronouncement of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Both men assisted modern society in defining its religious and political freedoms. Both men gave their lives to serve others! One man wore slippers and walked his ministry, and one man wore riding boots and rode to Pennsylvania to define freedom for a new nation.

Thus, we are asking you, as St. John Climacus suggested, to do every good deed that you can. And, in this case, that means filling those “big boots” with your Time, Talent, and Treasure. We respectfully ask you to complete a 2025 stewardship pledge card that has been mailed to your home. Or, if you need a pledge card, please call the office and ask for one to be sent to you. Or, go online to stspyridon.org and make a pledge online.

Once again, the Stewardship Committee thanks you for your honorable giving. Please continue to be attentive to your Orthodox Christian call to offer your first fruits unto Christ’s Body, which is the Church (Eph. 1:23 Col. 1:24).

God’s continued blessings to you and your family.


The Stewardship Committee,

John T Kalas - Stewardship Chairperson 

Ben De La Riva, Jim Gilpin, Stephen Thiros, and Spero Tzathas

 

January 2025 Newsletter Deadline

The monthly newsletter deadline is thisMonday, December 9th!  Please email Soula (office@stspyridon.org) with your submission.   

 

Fall See's Candy Fundraiser

Today, December 6th is the last day to purchase Sees Candy to support the Dance and Choral School! Sees candy are great gifts for out of town family and friends! Candy is shipped directly to your (or your recipient’s) home. Order online: https://tinyurl.com/5n7cwxsf

 

Greek Dance and Choral School

This Friday and Saturday we will be sponsoring our annual December Nights parking lot fundraiser at church. We can use volunteers to help us with this effort if you're interested in volunteering for any amount of time. For information contact stspyridondance@gmail.com or you can sign up directly here https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094FA8A62EA2FDC70-53662966-december

 

GOYA Sock Drive

This Sunday is the last day to bring socks for the GOYA Sock Drive! We have almost met our goal of 10 boxes filled with socks! Put the new socks of all colors and sizes in the drop boxes in the Sunday School Building, Hall, and Youth Room! Thank you for all of your generosity so far!

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

 

Young at Heart Seniors

Please plan to attend our Christmas luncheon this Tuesday, December 10th. We’ll be treated to songs performed by Ellia Samouris, including Greek Christmas Carols. And Santa Claus will be there spreading holiday joy! So please “be good” and RSVP with Cynthia Samarkos (619-582-4109) by Sunday, December 8th. Ho Ho Ho!

 

Little Angels Playgroup 

We will meet Thursday, December 12th, from 9:00-10am. Email Julie Dennis to get on the contact list: youthministries@stspyridon.org

 

Philoptochos Decorated Icons

Commemorate a Feast Day by offering a decorated icon to be displayed in the Narthex for veneration. The suggested donation is $85 to: Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society. Call the church office at 619-297-4165 to reserve.

Icons available for decoration:

12/25 - The Holy Nativity of Jesus Christ

1/1    - St. Basil the Great

1/17 - St. Anthony the Great

1/18 - Sts. Athanasios and Cyril

1/20 - St. Euthymios

1/25 - St. Gregory the Theologian

1/30 - The Three Hierarchs

  

Christmas Gift Bags for Homebound Parishioners

Please volunteer to deliver a Christmas gift bag to one of our Homebound Parishioners next Sunday, December 15th. Come to the Hall Lounge after Divine Liturgy. Thank you for supporting St. Spyridon Philoptochos. 

 

HOPE and JOY Christmas Party

Saturday, December 14th, 10am - 12:00pm. We hope that our HOPE and JOY Families will join us for our Christmas Party with brunch, decorating gingerbread houses, and stuffing stockings for the Angel’s Christmas Party. Please RSVP by December 12th. Bring a brunch item to share and a game or toy for the stockings! All kids in attendance will take home their very own gingerbread house. RSVP via email youthministries@stspyridon.org or the Youth Ministries website https://sites.google.com/stspyridon.org/stspyridonyouthministries/hope

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

 

Sunday School Christmas Pageant

Please join us on Sunday, December 15th for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and the Holy Nativity through the voices of our Sunday School students! Sunday School will provide lunch in the Hall after the Christmas Pageant.

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

 

Angels Christmas Party - Monday, December 16th

Our Anthousa Chapter, along with the Metropolis of San Francisco Philoptochos, will once again create a special holiday celebration for our amazing Kids ‘n’ Cancer families. If you are interested in contributing in any way, please reach out to Marian Dougenis at 619-520-3660. Thank you as always for your overwhelming generosity.
 
In Christ,
Marian Dougenis and Stella Pappas 
 

GOYA Christmas Party 

We hope you will mark your calendars for our GOYA Family Christmas Party on Saturday, December 21st at 5:30pm! We will enjoy dinner, dessert, games, have a gift exchange, and walk to look at Christmas Card Lane. This is a not-to-miss event! RSVP via email, youthministries@stspyridon.org or on the Youth Ministries website on the GOYA tab.

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

 

Greek School

Save the date for Greek School's Fellowship Sunday, December 22nd! Join us after the Divine Liturgy to enjoy light refreshments and our Greek School students who will be performing the traditional Greek Christmas, New Year's, and Epiphany "kalanda" (carols). 

 

 Memorials for December

12/22: Jennifer Cappos Willits – 40 days

12/22: Maria Kosmos – 40 days

12/22: Connie Angelopulos-House – 1 year

12/22: Alexandria Cappos – 28 years

12/22: George Cappos – 35 years

 

Women of the Word (WOW) Bible Study Group

Women of the Word will be on holiday break until Wednesday, January 15, 2025.  Please join us in the new year at our usual time and place from Noon to 1 PM in the Lower Educational Building classroom.  (No meetings December 18, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, or January 8).  A joyful Nativity and blessed Theophany to all!! 

 

46th Annual Epiphany Cross Dive & Luncheon

Sunday, January 12, 2025 at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, 1380 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego, 92101. 

Cross Dive: Divers are needed!  To participate please contact Bill Navrides at 619-992-6775 or bill.navrides@sharp.com.  Divers must be GOYA age (7th - 12th grade) and stay for the luncheon.  Diver confirmations must be made by December 29, 2024.

Luncheon: Stay for the luncheon and help us congratulate Jim and Angel Gilpin, this year’s recipients of the Leon Balaban Award.  Seating is limited. Adults: $75 and Children Under 12: $35. Paid reservations must be received in the church office by January 6, 2025. For more information call Bill Navrides 619-992-6775 or Christoforos Savvides 619-709-6067.
 
See the attached flyer in the Inserts & Flyers section.
 
 

Fellowship and Coffee Hour

Please consider sponsoring a Sunday Fellowship Hour with your friends and family by providing simple refreshments (donuts or bagels, fruit, and juice).  This is a beautiful way to honor family members or celebrate special occasions. See details below in the attached flyer and QR Code to sign up or contact Christina Frangos, 858-220-0071, christinafrangos1@gmail.com.
 
With appreciation, 
 
Anthousa Chapter of Philoptochos

  

Agape Meals
 
Our Philoptochos Agape Meal program provides meals to our St. Spyridon community members that may need help with a meal(s) during a time of need. If you are interested in preparing a home-cooked meal for our parishioners, please reach out to Marian Dougenis at mkdougenis@prodigy.net or mobile 619-520-3660. Thank you.
 
  

Metropolis of San Francisco Family Winter Camp

Families across the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco are invited to join us for our Metropolis Family Winter Camp at Saint Nicholas Ranch & Retreat Center in Dunlap, CA, from Friday, December 27 – Monday, December 30, 2024. Let’s celebrate the family this Nativity season and gather for a wonderful four-day camp, packed with fun and adventure while growing closer to Christ and to each other! The Metropolis Winter Family Camp is open to the entire family! Youth under the age of 18 cannot attend without a parent or chaperone and must stay in a family room with their parent or chaperone over the age of 18. More information at www.gosfyouth.org/family

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

 

Metropolis Young Adult Winter Retreat

Registration is open for the 18th Annual Metropolis Young Adult Winter Retreat in Lake Tahoe, from Friday, January 17 – Monday, January 20, 2025. The theme for this gathering is “Be Still and Know: Listening for God’s still small voice” and will be led by Rev. Father James
Kumarelas, Proistamenos from Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in San Jose, CA. Join us for this beautiful retreat, located on a private retreat center on the shore of Lake Tahoe with spectacular views, incredible food, and awesome accommodations! Details and registration
online at: www.gosfyouth.org/youngadults

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

  

PanHellenic Foundation Scholarships and Internships

Applications are due by January 31, 2025. Visit www.panhellenicsf.org for all the details. 

 

Church Parking Lot
 
When you park your car in the church lot, please do not double-park, block any of the exits, or block anyone in. Only park in a marked parking spot.  Your fellow parishioners thank you for your cooperation.   
  
 
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. 

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Inserts and Flyers

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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 - 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 anyone, for they were afraid.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 28.11,1.
The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:14-22.

Brethren, Christ is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.


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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Archdiocese News

Communique/Ανακοινωθέν: December 2, 2024

12/02/2024

With great joy and emotion, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros was informed today, following a related telegram from His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, of the unanimous election by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of His Grace Bishop Sevastianos of Zela as the new Metropolitan of Atlanta.


St. Peter the Apostle Church Welcomes Archbishop Elpidophoros

12/02/2024

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America was welcomed at St. Peter the Apostle Greek Orthodox Church in the Bronx, NY for the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, December 1, 2024. V. Rev. Father Iakovos Roditis and members of the small but devoted community including Parish Council members, Archons, Philoptochos members and the youth greeted His Eminence with love.


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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

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode

By your cross you destroyed death, and opened paradise to the thief. You transformed the sorrow of the Myrrh-bearers, and commanded the apostles to proclaim that you have risen from the dead, Christ our God, granting to the world great mercy.

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

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.


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).


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.


December 11

Daniel the Stylite of Constantinople

This Saint was from the village of Marutha in the region of Samosata in Mesopotamia. He became a monk at the age of twelve. After visiting Saint Symeon the Stylite (see Sept. 1) and receiving his blessing, he was moved with zeal to follow his marvellous way of life. At the age of forty-two, guided by providence, he came to Anaplus in the environs of Constantinople, in the days of the holy Patriarch Anatolius (see July 3), who was also healed by Saint Daniel of very grave malady and sought to have him live near him. Upon coming to Anaplus, Saint Daniel first lived in the church of the Archangel Michael, but after some nine years, Saint Symeon the Stylite appeared to him in a vision, commanding him to imitate his own ascetical struggle upon a pillar. The remaining thirty-three years of his life he stood for varying periods on three pillars, one after another. He stood immovable in all weather, and once his disciples found him covered with ice after a winter storm. He was a counsellor of emperors; the pious emperor Leo the Great fervently loved him and brought his royal guests to meet him. It was at Saint Daniel's word that the holy relics of Saint Symeon the Stylite were brought to Constantinople from Antioch, and it was in his days that the Emperor Leo had the relics of the Three Holy Children brought from Babylon. Saint Daniel also defended the Church against the error of the Eutychians. Having lived through the reigns of the Emperors Leo, Zeno, and Basiliscus, he reposed in 490, at the age of eighty-four.


December 12

Spyridon the Wonderworker of Trymithous

Spyridon, the God-bearing Father of the Church, the great defender of Corfu and the boast of all the Orthodox, had Cyprus as his homeland. He was simple in manner and humble of heart, and was a shepherd of sheep. When he was joined to a wife, he begat of her a daughter whom they named Irene. After his wife's departure from this life, he was appointed Bishop of Trimythus, and thus he became also a shepherd of rational sheep. When the First Ecumenical Council was assembled in Nicaea, he also was present, and by means of his most simple words stopped the mouths of the Arians who were wise in their own conceit. By the divine grace which dwelt in him, he wrought such great wonders that he received the surname 'Wonderworker." So it is that, having tended his flock piously and in a manner pleasing to God, he reposed in the Lord about the year 350, leaving to his country his sacred relics as a consolation and source of healing for the faithful.

About the middle of the seventh century, because of the incursions made by the barbarians at that time, his sacred relics were taken to Constantinople, where they remained, being honoured by the emperors themselves. But before the fall of Constantinople, which took place on May 29, 1453, a certain priest named George Kalokhairetes, the parish priest of the church where the Saint's sacred relics, as well as those of Saint Theodora the Empress, were kept, took them away on account of the impending peril. Travelling by way of Serbia, he came as far as Arta in Epirus, a region in Western Greece opposite to the isle of Corfu. From there, while the misfortunes of the Christian people were increasing with every day, he passed over to Corfu about the year 1460. The relics of Saint Theodora were given to the people of Corfu; but those of Saint Spyridon remain to this day, according to the rights of inheritance, the most precious treasure of the priest's own descendants, and they continue to be a staff for the faithful in Orthodoxy, and a supernatural wonder for those that behold him; for even after the passage of 1,500 years, they have remained incorrupt, and even the flexibility of his flesh has been preserved. Truly wondrous is God in His Saints! (Ps. 67:3 5)


December 13

Herman the Wonderworker of Alaska & First Saint of America

Saint Herman (his name is a variant of Germanus) was born near Moscow in 1756. In his youth he became a monk, first at the Saint Sergius Hermitage near Saint Petersburg on the Gulf of Finland; while he dwelt there, the most holy Mother of God appeared to him, healing him of a grave malady. Afterwards he entered Valaam Monastery on Valiant Island in Lake Ladoga; he often withdrew into the wilderness to pray for days at a time. In 1794, answering a call for missionaries to preach the Gospel to the Aleuts, he came to the New World with the first Orthodox mission to Alaska. He settled on Spruce Island, which he called New Valaam, and here he persevered, even in the face of many grievous afflictions mostly at the hands of his own countrymen in the loving service of God and of his neighbour. Besides his many toils for the sake of the Aleuts, he subdued his flesh with great asceticism, wearing chains, sleeping little, fasting and praying much. He brought many people to Christ by the example of his life, his teaching, and his kindness and sanctity, and was granted the grace of working miracles and of prophetic insight. Since he was not a priest, Angels descended at Theophany to bless the waters in the bay; Saint Herman used this holy water to heal the sick. Because of his unwearying missionary labours, which were crowned by God with the salvation of countless souls, he is called the Enlightener of the Aleuts, and has likewise been renowned as a wonderworker since his repose in 1837.


December 14

Thyrsos, Leucius, & Callinicos, Martyrs of Apollonia

Of these, the Martyrs who were from Asia Minor contested for piety's sake during the reign of Decius, in 250. Saint Leucius, seeing the slaughter of the Christians, reproached the Governor Cumbricius, for which he was hung up, harrowed mercilessly on his sides, then beheaded. For boldly professing himself a Christian and rebuking the Governor for worshipping stocks and stones as gods, Saint Thyrsus, after many horrible tortures, was sentenced to be sawn asunder, but the saw would not cut, and became so heavy in the executioners' hands that they could not move it; Saint Thyrsus then gave up his spirit, at Apollonia in the Hellespont. Saint Callinicus a priest of the idols, was converted through the martyrdom and miracles of Saint Thyrsus, and was beheaded.

During the reign of Diocletian (284-305), the Governor of Antinoe in the Thebaid of Upper Egypt was Arian, a fierce persecutor who had sent many Christians to a violent death, among them Saints Timothy and Maura (see May 3) and Saint Sabine (Mar. 16). When he had imprisoned Christians for their confession of faith, one of them, named Apollonius, a reader of the Church, lost his courage at the sight of the instruments of torture, and thought how he might escape torments without denying Christ. He gave money to Philemon a flute-player and a pagan, that he might put on Apollonius' clothes and offer sacrifice before Arian, so that all would think Apollonius to have done the Governor's will, and he might be released. Philemon agreed to this, but when the time came to offer sacrifice, enlightened by divine grace, he declared himself a Christian instead. He and Apollonius, who also confessed Christ when the fraud was exposed, were both beheaded. Before beheading them, Arian had commanded that they be shot with arrows, but while they remained unharmed, Arian himself was wounded by one of the arrows; Saint Philemon foretold that after his martyrdom, Arian would be healed at his tomb. When this came to pass, Arian, the persecutor who had slain so many servants of Christ, himself believed in Christ and was baptized with four of his bodyguards. Diocletian heard of this and had Arian and his body-guards brought to him. For their confession of Christ, they were cast into the sea, and received the crown of life everlasting.


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