TSN0121

1 THE SHEPHERD • JANUARY 2021 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO The Shepherd I S S U E 2 9 6 • J A N UA R Y 2 0 2 1 The official newsletter publication for the parish of Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church of San Diego FROM THE DESK OF FATHER ANDREW www.theshepherdnews.com The Shepherd Newsletter IN THIS ISSUE FR. ANDREW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 1 PRESIDENT OF THE PARISH COUNCIL, WOMEN OF THE WORD, LIBRARY & BOOKSTORE .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 2 DIVINE SERVICES, SACRAMENTS, NEWS FROM THE LOFT, MEMORIALS, SUNDAY SCHOOL, GREEK LANGUAGE SCHOOL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 3 PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 4 G.O.Y.A. NEWS, A.H.E.P.A. . . . . . . . . . . p. 5 PARISH CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 6 CONTACT INFORMATION. . . . . . . . . . . p. 8 My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Wednesday, January 6, 2021 will mark the Bap- tism of our Lord and Sav- ior Jesus Christ on this year’s ecclesiastical calendar. is event of the Orthodox Church is known as the e- ophany or Epiphany of the Holy Trinity. e word eophany means God revealing Him- self to man and in the Old Testament God re- vealed Himself many times, though not fully because God the Father cannot be seen (Ex. 33:20-23; John 1:1-28). is theme is carried over into the New Tes- tament Scriptures. From the Gospel of St. Matthew we read about God the Son (Jesus) being baptized; about God the Holy Spirit de- scending in the form of a dove; and we hear the voice of God the Father (Matt. 3:12-17). us, through this Biblical event (Christ’s Baptism) God once again reveals Himself to us. He reveals Himself as a Trinity: three persons, one essence as the Nicene Creed of the Orthodox Church states - I believe in one God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)…of one es- sence… God the Father speaks, God the (In- carnate) Son is Baptized and God the Holy Spirit descends. e following hymn of the Orthodox Church, chanted during the Blessing of the Waters, puts these truths to melody: From above you appeared today, to the earth’s people, and your light, O Lord, has been marked upon us, who in true knowledge we sing to you: You came, you appeared, O Light unapproachable. My Friends, in the Old Testament God ap- peared in di erent forms i.e., a cloud of smoke, through a voice, etc. However, in the New Testament He came to earth and took on esh …in the form of a servant… (Phil. 2:5-8). We acknowledge Him as Jesus, God the Son. God the Holy Spirit was also present in the form of a dove , thus marking Jesus as the Second Person of the Holy Trinity; and again, from the above hymn we are remind- ed that through His voice God the Father was present as unapproachable Light. As Orthodox Christians, Christ’s Baptism is an ever-present reality. is is why we hear from the hymnology and prayers of the Church the word today being used over and over again. us, we also have been marked and are continually being marked by the Holy Spirit, speci cally through the anoint- ing of the Holy Chrisma at our Baptisms; and continually as we participate in the Sac- ramental Life of the Church. erefore, be- ing marked in our journey of faith in Christ, now more than ever, we are constantly being encouraged to listen attentively and patiently for the voice of God, led by the Holy Spirit. +A