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1 THE SHEPHERD • JANUARY 2022 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO FROM THE DESK OF FATHER ANDREW www.theshepherdnews.com The Shepherd Newsletter On Saturday, January 1, 2022 the Church remem- bers the feast day of Saint Basil the Great. St. Basil was born into a very pi- ous family of Christian believers around the year 329 AD in Caesar- ea, Cappadocia. St. Basil’s five brothers and sisters, along with his mother, have also been proclaimed Saints of the Orthodox Church. Because of his eloquence and learning St. Ba- sil could have been appointed to just about any high and influential government posi- tion of his time. He freely chose, however, to use his gi s and talents to serve the Chris- tian Church; and was found to be a tireless worker in the vineyard of the Lord. Around the year 370 AD he was elevated to the rank of Bishop and returned to oversee his home- town of Caesarea (Asia Minor). Prior to his ordination St. Basil spent much time in the monasteries of his day. He is responsible for the creation of what is known as the Long Rules of monastic practice. e Long Rules assist the monasteries with their daily rou- tine and function with regard to spiritual and administrative issues. St. Basil was a very prolific writer and has been credited for creating e Divine Litur- gy of Saint Basil. His Divine Liturgy is con- sidered to be older and longer than the one written by Saint John Chrysostom. Unlike St. John’s Divine Liturgy, it is celebrated only ten times a year: January 1st. (on his feast day), on the five Sundays of Great and Holy Lent, on the eve of Christmas and eophany, on Holy and Great ursday and on Holy and Great Saturday. Saint Basil the Great is also known for the practical application of the Biblical text. He knew well that from the pages of the Old Tes- tament much of God’s anger stemmed from the lack of care given toward the helpless of that day: the widows and orphans. He also knew well that from the pages of the New Testament Christ’s high moral code de- manded action from the believer and thus he is credited for building many charitable institutions. On, or around the feast day of Saint Basil it is customary in the Orthodox Church to re- member the body of his philanthropic work through the cutting of the Vasilopita (the bread of St. Basil). ese breads humbly re- mind us that we, too, are to give what we can to those in true need; and by doing so open ourselves up for God’s blessings. is is ex- pressed by the receiving of the coin during the cutting of the bread. At each cutting of the Vasilopita we are reminded and encour- aged of Saint Basil’s great spiritual and phil- anthropic works. Like all the Saints of the Church, we are encouraged to be imitators of them and to fight the good fight, to finish the race and to keep the faith (II Tim. 4:7). My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we will once again, follow the custom of the parish and cut the Vasilopita offered by our Philop- tochos chapter in honor and remembrance of St. Basil the Great. is year’s Philopto- chos Vasilopita Cutting is scheduled for Sun- day, January 16, 2022. All proceeds from this Philoptochos ministry will be sent directly to Saint Basil Academy in Garrison, NY for their philanthropic work. +A IN THIS ISSUE FR. ANDREW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 1 PRESIDENT OF THE PARISH COUNCIL, PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS, WOMEN OF THE WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 2 BIRTHS, DEATHS, DIVINE SERVICES, MEMORIALS, HOLY SACRAMENTS, CHOIR, SUNDAY SCHOOL, BOOKSTORE, CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . p. 3 GREEK LANGUAGE SCHOOL, SENIORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 4 GOYA NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 5 PARISH CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 6 AHEPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 7 CONTACT INFORMATION. . . . . . . . . . . p. 8 The Shepherd The official newsletter publication for the parish of Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church of San Diego I S S U E 3 0 8 • J A N UA R Y 2 0 2 2