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1 THE SHEPHERD • AUGUST 2020 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO The Shepherd I S S U E 2 9 1 • AU G U S T 2 0 2 0 The official newsletter publication for the parish of Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church of San Diego FROM THE DESK OF FATHER ANDREW www.theshepherdnews.com The Shepherd Newsletter IN THIS ISSUE FR. ANDREW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 1 PRESIDENT OF THE PARISH COUNCIL, G.O.Y.A., WOMEN OF THE WORD . . . . p. 2 DIVINE SERVICES, MEMORIALS, DEATHS, PAPANICOLAOU SCHOLARSHIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 3 GREEK LANGUAGE SCHOOL, GREEK DANCE & CHORAL, SENIORS . . . . . . . p. 4 COMMUNITY THANKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 5 PARISH CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 6 ENTERTAINMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 7 CONTACT INFORMATION. . . . . . . . . . . p. 8 My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, e coronavirus has us once again “back on our heels.” It has been and remains an uncertain, concerning and di cult time in the life of our parish and the communities we live in as well. As Orthodox Christians however, we are called to always pray whether in good times and especially in the most di cult of times. During the month of August we remember, honor and venerate the Falling Asleep of the holy eotokos with a period of fasting and prayer in anticipation for the celebration of the Virgin’s earthly death within the “Fi een Days of August.” Our fasting is not a “penitential” fast like the Lenten “Great Fast” but one that shows in a real way that we, as Orthodox Christians are (still) paying attention to the Liturgical calendar/cycle and its responsibilities, cele- brations, prayers, etc. e communal prayer during the “Fi een Days of August” is called the Paraklesis in which we pray for the health and well-being of the faithful and all those who have asked us to pray for them and their families’ health and well-being. e Paraklesis supplicates and beseeches the eotokos as truly the Mother of God and through her intercessions, on our be- half, she is our protectress and healer. As we ponder the awesomeness of the Incarnation of Christ, we cannot discredit or downplay the role the Virgin Mary was called upon to carry out as she gave birth to God the Word. rough her free will consent, she brought forth our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the second person of the Holy Trinity. It is with this correct understanding therefore, that throughout the ages the eotokos has been sought a er and prayed through for pro- tection and healing, blessings that have no doubt come by Him whom she brought forth in the esh, her beloved Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. erefore, keeping with the Holy Tradi- tion of the Church, in seeking divine help through the intercession of the eotokos, we will once again, even during this unique and historical time in the life of our parish, gather “from afar” for communal prayer as we li up our voices to her for our health and well-being. Paraklesis services will be o ered via our parish LiveStream at 6:30pm on Mon- day evening August 3rd and Friday evening August 7th. e Paraklesis service will also be o ered at 10:00am on Wednesday morning August 5th and Wednesday morning Au- gust 12th. Please mark your calendars and make every e ort to be present “from afar” to help pray for the sick, the su ering and for those held in captivity. Our season to com- memorate and honor the eotokos will cul- minate on Saturday morning August 15th at 10:00am with the celebration of a Divine Lit- urgy in her honor. e Orthros service will begin at 9:00am . Until then, be safe and stay healthy, +A