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8 THE SHEPHERD • FEBRUARY 2025 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO Our year started beautifully as we honored St. Basil the Great with the “Cutting of the Vasilopita” on the first Sunday of 2025. Fol- lowing Divine Liturgy, Father Andrew cut and distributed Vasilopita to every parishio- ner who was present. Our tray passing ben- efited the efforts of St. Basil Academy locat- ed in Garrison, New York and our National Philoptochos Children’s and Young Adult Ministries. Thanks to our community’s gen- erosity, $1,200 was raised. A sincere “Thank You” to Niki Dougenis, Vicky Mellos, Jannie Gallanis and the team of fantastic bakers who every year offer their helping hands, giving from the heart with love, as they continue to treat our community with their culinary tal- ents! Thank you for all you do, Ladies! Our Philoptochos Anthousa Chapter is col- laborating with the National Greek Ortho- dox Ladies Philoptochos Society to support the California Fire Relief Fund which has been established to provide aid for Orthodox Christian families impacted by the Los An- geles fires. As you are all aware, the fires have left behind immense destruction, displacing countless families and devastating entire communities. Our National Philoptochos is committed to a unified response in mobiliz- ing resources to provide aid where it is most needed. Through the Social Services Minis- try, there are well-established procedures in place to assess and address families' needs. At our Epiphany luncheon, many parishio- ners graciously opened their hearts to donate $3,000 for the Fire Relief Fund; we are grate- ful for your generosity. Our Anthousa Chap- ter has committed to matching funds up to $5,000. I am touched beyond words that we have received additional donations in excess of $5,000 at a special tray passing on January 19th and will be sending a check to Nation- al Philoptochos in the amount of $12,862. If you are interested in making a donation, you may donate via our chapter website at www. Anthousa.org or by sending your check made payable to “Greek Orthodox Ladies Philop- tochos Society” to the Church Office. Please save the date for our Anthousa Mem- bership Event . We invite you to join us on Saturday, March 1st at 11:00am in the Cy- press Room for our Complimentary Mem- bership Luncheon. We invite all new and re- newingmembers of Saint Spyridon’s Anthou- sa Philoptochos Chapter and their guests. In addition to lunch, we are excited to present this year’s program “Body & Soul.” Join us to learn how to live better and healthier lives at any age through movement, nutrition, and prayer to enhance your well-being. We welcome all – ladies, gentlemen and guests – to help us make a difference in the lives of many. If you cannot actively participate, your membership pledge helps to enable our con- tinued support of many charitable endeavors within our parish as well as local, national, and international communities. Please re- spond to the Church Office 619.297.4165 by February 23rd. By joining Philoptochos, you will have the opportunity to meet new people, share expe- riences, knowledge, and feel the joy in your heart of helping others who desperately need our support. Our philanthropic outreach fundraises for ministries and causes that are not only vital to our community but further our Orthodox faith and traditions. Your continued love and support is greatly ap- preciated and needed now more than ever! To join, please visit www.Anthousa.org and click donate. (The National and Metropolis Philoptochos treasuries each receive $15 of every membership donation; any amount over $30 remains in our local chapter’s trea- sury.) Please contact Melanie Anastopulos at melanieanastopulos@gmail.com or Kalliopi Samouris at nyckelly@cox.net with any ques- tion you may have. AGAPE MEALS are meals offered to our community members who are in need or who have fallen on difficult times. If you know of a person or family who needs help, or if you are interested in helping to prepare home-cooked meals, please reach out to Marian Dougenis at 619.520.3660, mkdou- genis@prodigy.net . SUNDAY FELLOWSHIP is offered most Sundays after church. It is a cherished tra- dition to gather and visit with our church family, made possible through the support of our parishioners. Please sponsor a Sunday Fellowship Hour with your friends and fam- ily by providing simple refreshments (such as donuts or bagels, fruit, juice, etc.). Please contact Christina Frangos to schedule a date at 858.220.0071, christinafrangos1@gmail. com. ADORNED ICONS , another project of our Anthousa Philoptochos chapter, are decorat- ed each week with beautiful fresh flowers and displayed in the Narthex. The liturgical year presents many opportunities to honor your family members. We invite every family to commemorate a special Feast Day, birthday or memorial in honor of someone special by offering a donation to cover the cost of the flowers (suggested donation is $85). Please contact Soula De La Riva at 619.297.4165 or office@stspyridon.org to reserve your date now! We hope you will join us as we continue to put our faith into action through our many philanthropic ministries. While this work will provide support for others, it is also an immensely gratifying opportunity for you to serve your parish and community, make new friends, embrace and promote the faith of our forefathers, and further our Orthodox traditions. We sincerely thank you for your membership Yours in Christ, Sofia Samouris Anthousa Chapter President 619.518.4537 | ssamouris22@gmail.com PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS SAVE THESE DATES! Saturday, March 1 Membership Luncheon (The Cypress Room) Sunday, April 13 Pascha Bake Sale (Hall Lounge) Sunday, April 27 Kids 'n' Cancer Celebration of Love Saturday, May 3 A Night in the Platia, featuring comedian Angelo Tsarouchas (The Cypress Room)