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8 THE SHEPHERD • FEBRUARY 2026 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO CHRYSOSTOM FESTIVAL 2026 WHEN: March 22nd After Divine Liturgy GOARCH.ORG/EN/ORATORICAL ELEMENTARY GRADE 4-6 JR DIVISION GRADE 7-9 SR DIVISION GRADE 10-12 WHAT TO DO: 1. Select a topic 2. Register Online* 3. Write a 4 min speech 4. Deliver it An opportunity to learn, write and speak about Orthodox faith WHERE: St. Spyridon * PARTICIPANTS REGISTER AT RELIGIOUSED.FORMSTACK.COM/FORMS/SJCOF_PARTICIPANT_2026 On Sunday, March 22nd we will host our annual festival which is open to all our parish youth, 3rd to 12th grade. All partici- pants receive a $20 gift card. In memory of their son, Michael and Maria Platis sponsor a scholarship for St. Spyridon Festival winners at the Junior and Senior level. Additional scholarships are offered by the Metropolis and Archdiocese. Assistance is available to all who need help with writing and de- livering their speeches. Please visit https://www.goarch.org/en/oratorical for topics, tips and resources. All participants must register at religioused.formstack.com/forms/sjcof_participant_2026 Questions? Reach out to festival chairperson Timmy Paraskevo- poulos at 714-931-2431 or t_nicolaou@hotmail.com . For many more photos from the event, visit theshepherdnews.com Οn January 11th, over 220 parishioners celebrated the bless- ing of the waters and the Feast of the Epiphany at the Sher- aton San Diego Hotel and Marina where 13 young faithful participated in the traditional cross dive service held for the 47th consecutive year. The divers who braved the cool wa- ters on a beautiful San Diego afternoon were Theodore Al- maraz, Thomas Almaraz, Manoli Andronikou, Lucas Brown, George Burrell, George N. Capetanakis, James Dennis, Con- stantine Georggin, Dimitri Georggin, Kostaki Mellos, Niko Capetanakis Mor, Maria Paraskevopoulos, and Sia Paraskev- opoulos. Congratulations to Niko Capetanakis Mor who retrieved the cross and the blessings associated with this achievement. The 2026 Leon Balaban Volunteer of the Year Award was pre- sented to George & Ioanna Capetanakis and Andreas Ca- petanakis . Our honorees’ lifelong and rich history of service to their Church was highlighted, most especially their selfless and humble devotion to our Philoptochos Feed the Hungry Ministry. The 11th Annual Cakes for A Cause Benefit raised over $10,000. This year’s primary beneficiaries were our Anthou- sa Philoptochos Feed the Hungry Ministry and The Bishop Anthony Philoptochos Student Aid Endowment Fund for Hellenic College Students & Holy Cross Seminarians. Next year’s 48th Annual Epiphany Cross Dive Luncheon will take place on Sunday, January 10, 2027. Ep i phany Cross Dive & Luncheon 2026 Photos courtesy of Konstantinos Manolis