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2 THE SHEPHERD • JANUARY 2026 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO Dear Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Happy New Year to all as we bid farewell to 2025. I extend my heartfelt wishes for a hap- py, healthy, and prosperous New Year to ev- eryone in our parish community. As an esteemed manager once said, anything worth doing is worth reviewing. In that spirit, I would like to reflect on the many accom- plishments achieved by our Parish Commu- nity throughout 2025. Among the highlights are: • Our second most successful Greek Festival in parish history • Renovation of the upstairs Youth Room • Installation of air conditioning systems in the education building • A 10% increase in Sunday School attendance • Increased stewardship giving • A noticeable rise in overall church attendance • Authorization from the General Assembly to renovate two parish properties • Authorization to preserve and protect the stained glass windows in our sanctuary • Initiation of planning for the 100-year an- niversary celebration of our parish These achievements—and the many activi- ties that support our regular parish events— are the result of the dedication, generosity, and love of countless parishioners. Through their service, they demonstrate not only de- votion to our parish, but also their love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I would like to extend a special note of grat- itude to the 15 members of the Parish Coun- cil, whose dedication and leadership deserve our sincere recognition. This diverse group represents our parish well, from seniors to young families, with many members having served for decades to keep our community vibrant and strong. Please join me in thank- ing each of them for their voluntary service. As we begin the New Year, the Leon Balaban Volunteer of the Year Award will be pre- sented to George & Ioanna Capetanakis and Andreas Capetanakis in recognition of their many contributions to the parish. Most nota- ble is their leadership in organizing parishio- ners to prepare meals for those in need. This quiet yet powerful ministry—carried out with little fanfare—embodies Christ’s call in the Gospel according to St. Matthew (25:35): “For I was hungry and you gave Me food.” It is truly deserving of our recognition. In Christ’s Love and Service, Anthony Kyriakidis Parish Council President FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT A MOST SPECIAL GUEST On Saturday, December 13, our Women of the Word group was blessed with a special presentation by Dr. Eve Tibbs , author of the book we are studying this year, Seeing the Gospel: An Interpretive Guide to Orthodox Icons. We were pleased to invite everyone from the parish to join us for a meaningful, illustrated lecture on the icon of the Nativity. Dr. Eve helped us discover the diverse and myriad elements present in what may be the icon most comprehensive in its reference to not only the birth of Christ, but His incar- nation, life, burial, resurrection, and the Old Testament prophecies. She shared the mean- ing of some surprising features of the icon. Who is the figure that appears in the icon interacting with Joseph? It turns out to be the representation of the doubt that Joseph encountered and that we must all encounter in our journey to faith. And what is the tree that we see there? It is the Jesse tree, show- ing the prophesied lineage of our Lord. Why do images the ox and the donkey, symbols of what is clean and unclean in the in the Old Testament, appear together in the icon? They reveal God’s plan for all of humanity. Would you like to know more about this and other icons that illustrate our faith? We invite all women of the church and their friends to join us in the new year as we move through the life of Christ and the church year in the remaining chapters of our book onTheMeet- ing of the Lord in the Temple, His Baptism in the Jordan, His life, ministry, the Cross, and of course, His glorious Resurrection. We will be continuing our adventure on the second Saturday of January, February, March, and May. To register, you may con- tact Kay Harkins, ministry leader, at kayhar- kins@mac.com . WOMEN WORD OF THE BOOKSTORE Warm greetings to all our parishioners for the beginning of the New Year! Ring in 2026 with Daily Lives, Miracles, and Wisdom of the Saints and Fasting Calendar 2026; it in- cludes insightful quotes from saints, saint commemorated each day, Gospel and Epistle readings, and fasting guidelines. For over 30 years now, the Orthodox Calendar Company has published this Calendar. All listed com- memorations and Scripture readings are ac- cording to the Greek Orthodox liturgical cal- endar. Limited supply, cost is $20.00 plus tax. Parents, are you looking for a new book to begin the new year? Parenting Toward The Kingdom: Orthodox Christian Principles of Child-Rearing is a wonderful book to con- sider. The Orthodox Christian tradition is filled with wisdom and guidance about the path of salvation. Yet this guidance remains inaccessible to parents and often discon- nected from the parenting challenges faced in our homes. According to many reviews, it is an insightful and inspiring read for any parent. The author, Philip Mamalakis blends practical advice with spiritual insights, en- couraging a holy approach to raising chil- dren. The book emphasizes the importance of intentional parenting, guiding children not just toward success, but to a meaningful spiritual life. Additionally, it includes practi- cal tips that are easy to implement in every- day life situations. For your children, When God Made You is a unique book that speaks to children of all ages. The writing is imaginative and cele- brates each child’s qualities, talents, and in- terests, recognizing them a gift from God. And that God wants them to use and share their gifts. The illustrations are breathtaking, and coincide very well with every child de- scribed and their God designed gifts. Come in the bookstore and take a look! Happy New Year! Stephanie Mourafetis, Mary Mastorakos, Pat Tsopanoglou, Francesca Captain, Hitomi Shue, and Kaylin Marino