TSN0826

1 THE SHEPHERD • AUGUST 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 3 • AU G U S T 2 0 2 6 FROM THE DESK OF FATHER ANDREW The following hymn is taken from the Parakle- sis Service (the service offered for health and well-being) chanted to theTheotokos during the Fifteen Days of August . Assaults of the passions have shaken me | My soul to its limits has been filled with much de- spair | Bring peace, O maiden, in the calmness of your Son | and our God, all blameless One. On Monday morning, August 3rd, the Church once again begins our corporate summer Fast and prayer to the Theotokos. It is once again a time to fast as we prepare to mark the season and significance of the The- otokos in the life of the Orthodox Church and in our personal lives as well. The Fifteen Days of August remind Ortho- dox Christians about the place and honor the Theotokos has in our theology. As truly the Mother of God (Theo-tókos [Θεοτόκος]), through her intercessions, on our behalf, she is seen as protectress who has the abili- ty to heal . It is interesting to note that in the 5th Century there was a fierce debate about her title: Theotokos. Subsequently, in 451 AD the Ecumenical Council in Ephesus was called to deal with this issue of title. It is also interesting to note that the title Theotokos was an acceptable one used by the faithful Christians for many centuries up until the 5th-century debate. From his book The Orthodox Church, Bish- op Kallistos Ware puts it this way: What Mary bore was not loosely united to God, but a single and undivided person, who is God and man at once. The name Theotokos safeguards the unity of Christ’s person: to deny her this title is to separate the Incarnation into two, break- ing down the bridge between God and human- ity and erecting within Christ’s person a middle wall of partition. Thus, we can see that not only titles of devotion were involved at Ephesus, but the very message of salvation. My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 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 . Through 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 Theotokos has been sought after and prayed through for protection and healing, blessings that have no doubt come by Him whom she brought forth, her beloved Son, our Lord and Sav- ior Jesus Christ. Therefore, keeping with the Holy Tradition of the Church, in seek- ing divine help through the intercession of the Theotokos, we will once again gather for communal prayer as we lift up our voices to her for our health and well-being. Paraklesis services will be offered on Mon- day morning, August 3rd and Wednesday morning, August 10th at 10:00 am . The Paraklesis service will also be offered at 6:00 pm on Friday evening, August 7th and Wednesday evening, August 12th. Please make every effort to be present to help pray for the sick, the suffering, and for those held in captivity. Our season to commemo- rate and honor the Theotokos will culminate on Saturday morning, August 15th at 10:00 am with the celebration of a Divine Liturgy in her honor. The Orthros / Preparatory ser- vice will begin at 9:00 am . A Vespers Service will also be offered the evening before: Fri- day evening, August 14th at 6:00 pm. Also, please return your names to me well before each Paraklesis Service and make ev- ery effort to be present for these services and to be part of the prayers for our loved ones. +A IN THIS ISSUE FROM THE DESK OF FR. ANDREW ...... p. 1 PRESIDENT OF THE PARISH COUNCIL, WOMEN OF THE WORD, BOOKSTORE .p. 2 NEWS FROM THE LOFT, DIVINE SERVICES, HOLY SACRAMENTS, DEATHS, MEMORIALS ............................................. p. 3 YOUTH MINISTRIES ................................. p. 4 GREEK LANGUAGE SCHOOL, DANCE & CHORAL................................... p. 6 STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE, LIGHT & LEGACY TEAM 100 ................. p. 7 PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS ......................... p. 8 PARISH CALENDAR ................................ p. 10 YOUNG AT HEART SENIORS ................. p. 11 CONTACT INFORMATION....................... p. 12 BUSINESS ADS AND PERSONAL GREETINGS & ANNOUNCEMENTS AVAILABLE AT LOW RATES FREE DESIGN FOR YOUR AD! FOR DETAILS, EMAIL INFO@THESHEPHERDNEWS.COM THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! ADVERTISE IN NEWSLETTER!