Your employer could be offering Matching Gifts Programs as an easy and structured way for them to support good work in the community. Please ASK your employer if they offer some type of philanthropic program in which a company may financially match donations that their employees make to nonprofit organizations. When an employee makes a donation, they will request the matching gift from their employer to the specific nonprofit organization. In order to assist our Saint Nicholas Community, we are kindly asking that you learn more about Company Matching Donations at work by inquiring with your Company's Human Resources Department if it offers a similar program. Please note that Saint Nicholas Church would be identified in a Company Matching Program as "Greek Orthodox Community of Santa Clara County". 

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is a 501©3 Corporation and our tax ID is 94-1578745. 

Stewardship 2025 as of March 6, 2025

Goal: $605,000 (Approved 2025 Budget)
Pledged: $273,031
Pledges Paid: $141,486
Average Pledge: $1,247
Outstanding unpaid commitments: $131,545
Number of Stewards Pledging: 219

Stewardship 2024 on March 9, 2024 for comparison purposes:

Goal: $491,000 (Approved 2024 Budget with tentative stretch goal of $500,000)
Pledged: $237,611
Pledges Paid: $125,181
Average Pledge: $1,200
Outstanding unpaid commitments: $112,426
Number of Stewards Pledging: 198

Please continue to keep our Saint Nicholas Church in your thoughts and prayers throughout 2025. 

Dedicate yourself to Christ and His mission here at Saint Nicholas.  Look for opportunities to volunteer your time and talents, and pay toward your 2025 commitment pledge. 

Not a Steward of Saint Nicholas?  Please prayerfully consider becoming a Steward by completing the 2025 Stewardship Commitment Card.  You may also submit your commitment either online or by mailing it to the Church Office.

To give by mail: Stewardship 

                        St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
                        986 Chapman Street
                        San Jose, CA 95126

To make a committment electronically, please visit our online stewardship:  https://www.saintnicholas.org/donate#stewardship

Donation link: https://saintnicholas.org/donate

Company Matching Donations: many companies offer some type of philanthropic program in which a company may financially match donations that their employees make to nonprofit organizations. When an employee makes a donation, they will request the matching gift from their employer to the specific nonprofit organization. If you are interested to learn more about Company Matching Donations at work, please inquire with your Company's Human Resources Department if it offers a similar program. Please note that Saint Nicholas Church would be identified in a Company Matching Program as "Greek Orthodox Community of Santa Clara County". 

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is a 501©3 Corporation and our tax ID is 94-1578745. 

In our Light A Candle program, vigil candle(s) are lit along with an opportunity to submit names to be prayed for at the Prothesis (Preparation) for forty days. Only Orthodox Christian first names (baptismal names) should be submitted.  It is important to separate the names of the living and the reposed.  When lit, the vigil candles last for one week.  Please see the online form on our website or use the link below.  

Donate online here: https://saintnicholas.org/virtual-chapel/light-a-candle 

If you would prefer to mail in your request, please write the name(s) for whom the candle(s) will be lit and send to Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Attention: Light a Candle, 986 Chapman Street, San Jose, CA 9126.  For more information, please call the church office.

We are a registered non-profit on Facebook and you can donate any time (without any fees for the church) by pressing the donate button in this link:  https://www.facebook.com/SaintNicholasOrg/

We welcome all to Sunday coffee hour hosted by the Joanne Cox, Stephanie Mansfield, Meredith Panayotopoulos, Stacy Panayotopoulos, Mary Perlegos, Dianne Saunders, and Tina Sousa in the Small Hall with support from families with memorial services.  We extend a heartfelt thank you to all our hosts.

Upcoming coffee hour hosts for March 16, 2025: Keli Demertzis, Anna K. Sarakinis, Anna P. Sarakinis, and Zoe Sarakinis

The Commemoration of the Miracle of Kollyva Wrought by Saint Theodore the Tyro will be held on Saturday, March 9th with Orthros beginning at 8:30am followed by the Liturgy at 9:30am and Memorial.  You can drop the names of deceased Orthodox Christian family members, relatives and friends in a special, marked box in the Narthex and you can bring a small dish of kollyva to the service.

This coming Sunday, March 9th, we will be observing the Sunday of Orthodoxy, a significant day in the Greek Orthodox faith that commemorates the restoration of the veneration of icons. This day is especially meaningful as it honors the triumph of our faith and the importance of icons in our worship and spiritual lives during our Lenten journey.

As part of the observance, we will hold a procession. We kindly ask that all children bring one of their icons from home to participate in this meaningful tradition. Father James will provide specific instructions on how the procession will proceed based on weather conditions on that day.

We look forward to sharing this important day with you and your children as we continue our Lenten journey together.

Please remember to turn your clocks forward one hour on Sunday, March 9th. 

Our spring semester of Orthodoxy 101 will be a journey looking at Old Testament prophesies, alliterations, precursors, and foreshadowing of the passion and resurrection of Christ. 

Join Fr. Nebojsa Pantic via Zoom on Mondays in February, and HYBRID on Mondays during Great Lent, and following Pascha.  

This coming Monday, class will be 6:30pm until 7pm.  During February class will solely be online, via Zoom.  During Lent the class will be followed by Great Compline at 7pm.  After Pascha, the class will continue as a Hybrid class.  We will go until the end of the Sunday School year.

The next class will be Monday, March 10th at 6:30pm to 7pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7084362224 

For more information please contact [email protected] 

Online engagement plays a key part in helping the San Jose Greek Festival be successful.  Please follow our social media accounts on any platforms you are active on and always like, share, and comment on the posts made. It is the easiest way to help people learn about the Festival and make it successful. 

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sjgreekfestival

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjgreekfestival/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SJGREEKFESTIVAL

Invite all your local friends and family to attend the San Jose Greek Festival on our official Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1348067079885866 

The San Jose Greek Festival is also on Yelp!: https://www.yelp.com/biz/san-jose-greek-festival-san-jose 

It only takes seconds of your time to like, comment on, or share a post made by the San Jose Greek Festival. Please consider doing so the next time you see a post on any of our accounts! 

We're looking for additional volunteers to read from the Salutations to the Theotokos service in either Greek or English. No memorization is required—just a willingness to share their voice with our community.

Our original email request for children (grades 5th to 12th) to read during our Lenten church services received an overwhelming response. Father James and I are excited to announce that we are now opening further readings to all our youth within the community. This is a wonderful opportunity for more of our young members to participate in these special readings and prayers to our Theotokos (Mother of God) and Christ.

Participating in these readings is an excellent way for your child to deepen their faith and connect with the rich traditions of our Church. The readings are a cherished part of our Lenten journey, offering a moment of reflection and devotion to the Theotokos (Mother of God) and Christ. By contributing to this beautiful tradition, your child will help to create a sense of unity and shared reverence within our congregation.

Imagine the pride and joy of seeing your child participate in such a meaningful part of our Lenten preparations for Pascha. It's an experience that will foster a deeper connection to their faith and our community.

If your child(ren) are interested in doing a reading, please sign them up on the link provided below. We have two readings for each evening: one will be done in English and the second in Greek; one is to the Theotokos, and the second is to Christ. Confirmation and reading material will be provided to the parent(s) promptly.

Sign up link here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdbWLMyWzu6K09RCMPqtzN2J8tt-zHMJKRDYuJ3Zrmu9dYuMA/viewform?usp=dialog

At the Agape Vespers, celebrated the Sunday of Pascha morning at 11:00am, we will have the Gospel reading in many different languages. This is the only case within the year that lay-people, men and women of all ages, are allowed to read the Gospel reading in the church.  If you are able to read the Gospel reading in any other language, besides English and Greek, such as Latin, French, German, or Spanish, please contact Fr. James at the church office at 408-246-2770 or email [email protected].  First come first served.  We need to know ahead of time who is reading for the Agape Service, so we can prepare the order of the Gospel readings and the position for each of the readers in the church. 

Please join us after church school this Sunday, March 9th, in Room 11 for a GOYA meeting.  We will be discussing our next Lock In as well as updates to our remaining calendar year activities.

For questions, please contact Eva Vathis at [email protected] or 916-956-0985.

Join the Kentima Ministry on Sunday, March 9th as we meet during coffee hour in the Senior Room to build new skills and fellowship.  We began last year with embroidery basics and will continue building new skills with cross stitch as the focus this season.  We will start about 10 minutes into coffee hour, grab yourself a snack and head over!  All ages are welcome, children must be accompanied by an adult. Basic supplies will be provided.

Our schedule this season will be Sundays, March 9th, 16th, & 23rd and Sunday, April 6th.  If you have needlecraft expertise you are willing to share or supplies you’d like to donate, please reach out Meredith Panayotopoulos at 408-849-9552.

Please come help assemble Spanakopites for the festival on Tuesday, March 18th beginning at 9:00am in the Community Center.  Come and join in the fellowship and fun of baking for the festival!  We are grateful for any amount of time you can give.  For more information, please call Eleni Matheou at 408-386-5576 or Nicki Poulos at 408-316-7043.

The 2025 Youth Basketball season continues this Sunday with all our teams in action around the Bay.  A great start to the Season for our Boys Elementary and High School teams.  Go St. Nick!

This week is Sunday Mar 9^th

Girls Elementary This week: vs Ascension @ Oakland, 3pm    Next week: bye

Girls Middle School This week: vs Ascension @ Oakland, 4pm     Next week: bye

Boys Elementary Last week: St. Nick 30  - Ascension 22; big game for Gio P., star 3^rd grader was Strati T.

This week: vs St. Gregory @ Annunciation SF, 3:30pm    Next week: vs Ascension2 @ San Jose 2pm

Boys Middle School Last week : postponed    This week: vs Ascension @ Castro Valley, 5pm     Next week: bye (possible makeup)

Boys High School Last week: St. Nick 49  - St. Gregory1 43; Giorgio T. leads the way on both ends

This week: vs Ascension @ Oakland, 5pm   Next week: vs Annunciation @ San Jose, 3pm

*Games subject to change.  Official practice and game schedule will be kept up-to-date on the TeamSnap app.  Parents/Players, make sure you are inputting your game availability into the TeamSnap app.

Special thanks to the Fr. Berris Golf Tournament for donating for more jerseys and game balls!

Adult Open Gym continues on Wednesdays from 7:30-9pm and Saturday mornings 10am-12pm.  There is an annual fee of $175 to participate, liability waiver required.  Register for Adult Open Gym here https://www.saintnicholas.org/basketball to get added to the WhatsApp group and participate.

Next Lent with Intent: Wednesday, March 12th at St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church

After the Presanctified Liturgy on Wednesday, March 12th at 6:30pm at St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church, we'll be gathering for a lenten potluck and spiritual talk in their Hall.   

This event is open to everyone—don't miss out on this opportunity for an evening of delicious food, engaging fellowship, and learning about our faith.  Please bring a lenten dish to share.  We'd love to see you there! 

Special note: we will be celebrating Presanctified Liturgy and Potluck on alternating Wednesdays with St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church.

Join us in an entertaining night with a well-known live standup comedian, Angelo Tsarouchas, on Friday, May 2nd in the Community Center.  Doors open at 7:00pm and show starts at 8:30am.  There will be tasty appetizers, no host bar, and music and dancing to DJ Alex Vital Sounds following the show.

Buy tickets, $85 per person, using the link below or using the flyer QR-code in the Special Events section in this e-bulletin.  Tickets also available at coffee hour on Sundays.  

For tickets:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-and-opa-night-featuring-angelo-tsarouchas-tickets-1259181789629?aff=oddtdtcreator

All proceeds benefit our AHEPA and DOP Chapters and St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. A portion also supports the National AHEPA Project "Journey to Greece". 

The AHEPA Journey to Greece program, a cultural immersion initiative, supports and enables high school seniors and college undergraduates to earn up to six college course credits.  Originally initiated in 1968, the program transported a youthful generation of Greek American youths to explore their ancestral culture and land.  It was revitalized in 2006 in collaboration with Webster University.

Since its establishment, AHEPA, the largest and oldest Greek American Organization in the U.S., has consistently dedicated itself to advancing education for the upcoming generations. 

For questions, contact Jacqui Argyres at [email protected]  or Vassilis Zarifis at [email protected].

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 11th at 11:30am in the Small Hall.   Please contact Christina Kouvaris at 408-306-8007 or email [email protected] if you have any questions.

Please mark your calendars for the 2025 Saint Nicholas San Jose College Ministry event dates!

Compline at 6:00pm, followed by food and fellowship in the Office Conference Room.

Wed. March 12, 2025 (special schedule at St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church, San Jose)

Wed. April 9, 2025

Wed. May 14, 2025

For more information and to RSVP, please contact Fr. Nebojsa or [email protected] 

Please come on Friday, March 21st to assemble Tiropites for the festival in the Community Center.  If you can come for the whole day or only for a few hours, your help is desperately needed and much appreciated.  We will begin at 8:30am and plan on finishing by 3pm or sooner if we have many helping hands.  Lunch, snacks and beverages will be provided.  Please bring an apron, pastry brush and a smile. 

If you have any questions, please call Penny Pagonis at 408-772-6229 or email Nicole Perakis at [email protected].  Please pass this information on to others--the more the merrier! Thank you so very much! 

The annual Greek Flag Raising, in recognition of Greek Independence Day, will be held on Friday, March 21st 5:00pm at the San Jose City Hall Plaza, 200 E Santa Clara Street. Facilitated by AHEPA Silicon Valley Chapter 251and Daughters of Penelope Daphne #29, the ceremony will be hosted by Councilmember Pam Foley.  

There will also be a reception on the City Hall Tower 17th floor immediately following the ceremony compliments of the Order of AHEPA & Daughters of Penelope San Jose Chapters.

Please note that in order to get validated parking, you need to be in the City Hall Garage before 5 pm. After 5pm, it’s locked and you can only exit the parking structure. The garage is located off of 6th Street at 45 S Sixth St., San Jose, 95113.

Attention students in 5-12^TH Grades:

We're thrilled to share that the 2025 St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival is just around the corner! Hosted by the Department of Religious Education of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, this festival is a fantastic opportunity for our youth to express their faith, share their thoughts, and shine on stage.

Who Can Participate?

Senior Division: Students in grades 10-12

Junior Division:  Students in grades 7-9

But that's not all! We're also encouraging our talented students in grades 5-6 to join us locally at Saint Nicholas. It's an excellent chance for them to get involved, gain confidence, and build their oratorical skills. 

 Awards and Scholarships Await!  Participants in the senior and junior divisions can earn awards and scholarships at the archdiocese level. Plus, all participants—regardless of age or division—will receive a special award from Saint Nicholas as appreciation and pride in their efforts.

Save the Date: March 23, 2025, at Saint Nicholas Church: on this special day, all our participating children will present their speeches here at Saint Nicholas.  Let's fill the room with support and encouragement for our outstanding youth. Y our presence means the world to them; together, we can make it a day to remember! 

Why Encourage Your Child to Participate?

Personal Growth: Public speaking enhances confidence, critical thinking, and communication skills.

Faith: Topics of faith deepen their understanding and personal connection.

Community Building: It's a chance to connect with peers and our church community.

 We're here to support and mentor all participants. We'll provide guidance and assistance with delivering their speeches, aiming to ensure they feel confident and ready for the challenge.  Let’s champion Our Saint Nicholas Youth and unite to inspire, support, and encourage our young voices. After all, they are not just the future of our church—they are its vibrant present. 

Please feel free to contact Maria Daltayanni at email:  [email protected] or stop by the Sunday School office for all of the information. 

It is with pleasure that we announce the scholarship applications for both St. Nicholas Sunday School and St. Anna Philoptochos are available in the Sunday School office as well as the Church Office.  The cutoff date for both scholarships is Friday, May 2nd no later than 5:00pm.

Qualifications are listed on both applications, and recipients will be announced on Sunday, May 18, 2025 following the Divine Liturgy.

Should you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact Laurie Sahines at 408-823-0111 or via email:  [email protected].

Archaeology After School is a pre-collegiate, tuition-free, online program focused on Greek archaeology and cultural heritage and is designed for middle school and high school students, 13 to 17 years old. The AAS Program consists of a series of modules and an immersive curriculum on topics related to archaeological methods, ancient Greek history, classical studies, and cultural heritage. From the Antikythera Mechanism to the World Heritage Sites and Landmarks, and through interactive activities students will explore the relevance of the past and its connection to the present.

Upon completion of the program, students will receive a certificate of attendance. Classes meet on Sundays from 1:00 to 3:00 pm PST, beginning March 23, 2025 and ending on May 18, 2025. For details and to apply, visit www.archaeologyafterschool.org  

Deadline for applying is March 18, 2025.

The Greek American Professional Women’s Society is proud to support and mentor young women who work towards advancing their education and becoming successful members of their communities.​The Society announces a scholarship award to be offered to a female college student of Hellenic heritage in 2025. ​Eligible applicants must be residents of California, full-time, degree-seeking college students (undergraduate) at an accredited college or university in the United States.  A minimum GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) is required. ​The 2025 GAPWS scholarship recipient will receive $2,000. Deadline for applications is March 31, 2025.  To apply go to www.gapws.org.

You can register your children here: Sunday School—Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.  We look forward to a beautiful year of growth, learning, and community.  Please see our calendar of events for the first half below.

March

9 - Sunday School / Sunday of Orthodoxy
16 - Family Divine Liturgy
23 - Sunday School
30 - Sunday School

April
6 - Sunday School
13 - Sunday School
20 - No Sunday School Holy Pascha
27 - Family Divine Liturgy

May
4 - Sunday School
11 - Sunday School
18 - Last day Sunday School / High School Graduation Celebration

CrossRoad is a ten-day academic summer institute that prepares high school juniors and seniors to make big life decisions and invites them to connect with the Orthodox Christian theological and spiritual tradition in a deep and meaningful way. There are four CrossRoad sessions to choose from. Apply early to secure your preferred location – Boston, New York, or Southern California. Session details: today at www.CrossRoadInstitute.org.  

New from the Department of Religious Education of our Archdiocese!  Take a look:  https://www.goarch.org/departments/religioused/didyouknow

Please read the Canon of Faith for March 2025 using the online link viewing:      

https://indd.adobe.com/view/d8c02862-6292-4ead-a4a9-5b681b6921fa

**St. Nicholas is trying to get a group together to attend Session 3**

This July, the Metropolis invites youth ages 8-18 to join us for the Metropolis Summer Camp at St. Nicholas Ranch & Retreat Center in Dunlap, CA. This exciting experience offers a chance to make new friends, reconnect with old ones, and deepen your faith. Online camper registration opens on February 1, and spots will fill up quickly!

METROPOLIS SUMMER CAMP WEBSITE: https://gosfyouth.org/summer-camp

2025 SUMMER CAMP DATES

Session 1: July 6 - 12

Session 2: July 13 - 19

Session 3: July 20 - 26

CAMPER REGISTRATION

$725 Early Registration (February 1 – February 8)

$750 Regular Registration (February 9 – March 31)

$775 Late Registration (April 1 or later)

*A $100 non-refundable deposit is required to register. Payment plans are available.

CAMPER AGES

The youngest campers will be 8 years old (or entering 3rd grade in Fall 2025) and the oldest will be 18 years old (or will be graduating High School in Spring 2025).

SUMMER CAMP STAFF

The Metropolis is seeking passionate, faithful, and dedicated young adults (19+) to join the camp staff. Additionally, they are looking for medical and lifeguard personnel. If you know someone who would be a great fit for the Metropolis Staff, please encourage them to apply! Applications are open until March 1 on our website. CLICK HERE

MEDICAL STAFF

The Metropolis is in need of summer camp medical staff. If you are a licensed medical professional or know someone who is, please encourage them to apply on the camp website CLICK HERE. We especially love having MD's, NP's, and RN's!

AMAZON WISH LIST

Help us keep the cost of camp down and make a donation from our Amazon Wish List HERE.

CAMPER SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THOSE IN NEED

With the generous support of both the Archbishop Elpidophoros Summer Camp Scholarship Fund and Leadership 100, the Metropolis will be able to offer camp scholarships to assist families experiencing financial challenges. Before you apply for a scholarship, we ask that you first ask your parish if they have any summer camp scholarships available. As you wait to hear about parish camp scholarships or hear back from the Archdiocese, we highly suggest registering now by paying the $100 deposit to secure a spot as we will quickly fill up! CLICK HERE

Adult Open Gym Basketball is every Wednesday at 7:30pm and some Saturday mornings from 10am to 12 noon in the Community Center.  All parishioners (including guests) must sign up first before participating; online sign up form is at the link below.  All communications will be handled through WhatsApp where there will be live updates on the day of the event; link down below to join.

Adult Open Gym sign up form: https://saintnicholas.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/95/responses/new

Adult Open Gym guidelines: 

https://docs.google.com/file/d/1Pqh-9ytke7trggbRvI-t0IW4sHL22Re4/edit?usp=docslist_api&filetype=msword

Adult Open Gym WhatsApp group chat: https://chat.whatsapp.com/ExKTcpbEo7oBPOR3Ssfi1P

The Choir is actively recruiting new members!  If you are interested please contact Anthony Pappas at (408) 832-4271 for practice times.  On Sundays, the Choir performs at the Divine Liturgy.  Join the fun!

We are embarking on a new ministry opportunity for families living along the 101 corridor, south of San Jose! 

Any families or individuals who would like to join us for a once a month ministry opportunity for fellowship and faith based lessons for the whole family, can contact Fr. Nebojsa for more information at [email protected].  

To RSVP and receive a location address please contact Fr. Nebojsa due to limited space for this first gathering.  We hope to provide new locations and ministry activities every month. 

If you have lost an item and suspect you have left it on church grounds, please check the spot you may have left it the next time you are at church.  You can also call the Church Office at 408-246-2770 to see if it was turned in.  Lost items will be released to the person claiming to be the owner that has provided details to identify the item.  Items brought to the Church Office will be kept for 60 calendar days and then discarded or donated if not claimed.  Thank you!

We are collecting unwanted paper icons, wooden icons, and palms that require disposing, please drop off in the baby room in the Church.  There is a plastic bin located underneath the pew.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Julie via email: [email protected].

Please contact the church office at 408-246-2770 if you plan to leave items outside the office or Community Center.

If you wish to order kollyva, artoklasia, prosphora, paximadia, koulourakia, melomakarona, kourambiedes, or other Greek pastries, please see the bakers listed below with their phone numbers to call.  Payment is arranged with the bakers and not the church.

For kollyva:   Marcella Fotis 408-723-4124  

For paximadia, koulourakia, melomakarona, kourambiedes, and other Greek pastries:   Maria Tsaboukos  408-723-5175      Antonia Komianos  408-472-3888     Marcella Fotis  408-723-4124.

For artoklasia:  Antonia Komianos 408-472-3888   Marcella Fotis 408-723-4124   

For prosphora:  Marcella Fotis 408-723-4124