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1 THE SHEPHERD • JANUARY 2026 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO www.theshepherdnews.com The Shepherd Newsletter The official newsletter publication for the parish of Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church of San Diego I S S U E 3 5 6 • J A N UA R Y 2 0 2 6 IN THIS ISSUE FROM THE DESK OF FR. ANDREW ...... p. 1 PRESIDENT OF THE PARISH COUNCIL, WOMEN OF THE WORD, BOOKSTORE .p. 2 DIVINE SERVICES, DEATHS, MEMORIALS, NEWS FROM THE LOFT, STEWARDSHIP CORNER ..................................................... p. 3 YOUTH MINISTRIES ................................. p. 4 GREEK LANGUAGE SCHOOL, DANCE & CHORAL .................................. p. 6 PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS .......................... p. 7 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS ................ p. 8 PARISH CALENDAR ................................ p. 10 YOUNG AT HEART SENIORS ................. p. 11 CONTACT INFORMATION....................... p. 12 FROM THE DESK OF FATHER ANDREW My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Tuesday, January 6, 2026, will mark the Baptism of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the 2026 ecclesias- tical calendar. This event of the Orthodox Church is known as theTheophany or Epiph- any of the Holy Trinity. The wordTheophany means God revealing Himself to man and in the Old Testament, God revealed Himself many times, though not fully, because God the Father cannot be seen (Ex. 33:20-23; John 1:1-28). This 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). Thus, 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. The 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. In the Old Testament, God appeared in dif- ferent forms , i.e., a cloud of smoke, through a voice, etc. However, in the New Testament, He came to earth and took on flesh …in the form of a servant… (Phil. 2:5-8). We ac- knowledge 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 Per- son of the Holy Trinity; and again, from the above hymn, we are reminded that through His voice God the Father was present as un- approachable Light. As Orthodox Christians, Christ’s Baptism is an ever-present reality. This is why we hear from the hymnology of the Church the word today being used over and over again. Thus, we also have been marked and are continu- ally being marked by the Holy Spirit, spe- cifically through the anointing of the Holy Chrisma at our Baptisms, and continually as we participate in the Sacramental Life of the Church; specifically, through the Sacrament of Confession. Therefore, being marked in our journey of faith in Christ, we are con- stantly being encouraged to listen attentively and patiently for the voice of God, led by the Holy Spirit. END NOTE: As a reminder, and as is cus- tomary to our faith, I will begin to bless homes on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, and will end before the season of the Triodion , which begins on Sunday, February 1, 2026. One major purpose for blessing your home or business can be found within the above hymn. The priest comes to your home with the waters blessed at the service of Epiph- any, offers prayers and marks it as a Chris- tian household, thus seeking God’s blessing, guidance and protection. God’s blessing in the New Year and always, +A