TSN0626

1 THE SHEPHERD • JUNE 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 6 1 • J U N E 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, HOLY SACRAMENTS, BIRTHS, DEATHS, MEMORIALS, GREEK FESTIVAL INFO .......................................... p. 3 YOUTH MINISTRIES ................................. p. 4 GREEK LANGUAGE SCHOOL, CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.................. p. 6 STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE, DANCE & CHORAL .................................. p. 7 PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS, HCHC GRADUATION UPDATE .............. 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, On Sunday, June 7th, we will celebrate the Sunday of All Saints. After this celebration, we will close the book we have been using through the fifty days following Pascha, called the Pentecostari- on. The Saints of the Church are truly Her “Super Heroes,” Her authentic role models. They were not perfect but represent in a very tangible way that a deep and dedicated life in Christ is very possible. That way of life will most likely require sacrifice and much effort. The Orthodox Christian is called to be active and not passive, and the Saints continually remind us of that truth. The Saints of the Church gave of themselves for the betterment of the Church. Some spent their lives praying and studying in their ear- nest attempt to draw closer to Christ. Many built churches, orphanages, and monaster- ies. They fed the poor, clothed the naked, and visited the sick. They wholeheartedly tried to accomplish all that Christ commands from those who call themselves Christians. The Saints spent their lives building up the Body of Christ here on earth through prayer, study, and good works. Other Saints, known as Martyrs, gave the ultimate sacrifice and shed their blood for their faith in Christ. They were so confident in their faith in Christ that when they were given the choice between denying Christ or dying, they, without hesitation, chose death (Matt. 10:32-33). The Martyrs knew well the Scripture passage that reads, if a person de- nies Christ in this world, He (Christ) will deny them in the next, before His heavenly Father (Matthew 10:33). Therefore, the choice of the Martyrs to confess Christ as Lord and Sav- ior was really not that difficult, per se. This is so because they held firm to their belief in the resurrection, that one day they would be granted eternal life. The faith of the Saints was firm and unwaver- ing. Their belief in Christ, who grants eternal life to those who believe, was never lost. That is why we Orthodox Christians believe that the Saints are in the presence of God. This is why we ask the Saints to intercede to Christ our God. Because the Saints are in God’s presence, they are very close to Him, and He hears their supplications that they offer on our behalf. The Saints of the Church were not perfect. However, they were on the road to perfection through their deep faith, correct belief and good works. They, as St. Paul reminded us, were in the race, a race that must be run with perseverance and endurance (I Cor. 9:24- 27; Heb.12:13). May the lives of the Saints inspire us to deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ our God, and to be in the race. May their lives encourage us to remain firm in our faith and to walk upon the path that leads into the Kingdom of Heaven, where the Saints forever rejoice. May our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ continue to guide, protect, and illumine you and your families. +A I n B lessed M emory of D eacon M ichael K allas , who fell asleep in the L ord on may 14, 2026 after quietly , humbly , and yet so willingly and enthusiastically serving our parish of S aint S pyridon for many years . M ay his memory be eternal .