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8 THE SHEPHERD • SEPTEMBER 2023 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO October 14 - 15 Temecula Greek Festival 41000 Main Street, Temecula www.temeculagreekfest.com September 23 - 24 San Juan Capistrano Greek Festival Saint Basil G.O.C. 31612 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano www.sjcgreekfest.org The Feast of the Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross On Thursday, September 14th we will cel- ebrate The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross. The Orthros Service will begin 9:00 AM with Divine Liturgy to follow. On Sunday, September 17th at the con- clusion of Divine Liturgy, we will have the procession of the Holy Cross with the tray of Basil so our Sunday School students, teachers and parents can wit- ness and experience the procession. Historical Context: Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphro- dite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth re- moved, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves cruci- fied with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifted on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, “Lord have mercy.” It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnifi- cent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (see Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Late, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constanti- nople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place. Apolytikion: Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting our rulers to prevail over adversaries, and protecting Your commonwealth by Your Cross. Σώσον Κύριε τόν λαόν σου καί ευλόγησον τήν κληρονομίαν σου, νίκας τοίς Βασιλεύσι κατά βαρβάρων δωρούμενος καί τό σόν φυλάττων διά τού Σταυρού σου πολίτευμα. Kontakion: Lifted up on the Cross by Your free will, Christ God, grant mercies to the new commonwealth that bears Your name. Gladden our faithful rulers by Your pow- er, giving them victories over their adversaries. May Your alliance be for them a weapon for peace, an invincible standard. Ο υψωθείς εν τώ Σταυρώ εκουσίως, τή επωνύμω σου καινή πολιτεία, τούς οικτιρμούς σου δώρησαι, Χριστέ ο Θεός, Εύφρανον εν τή δυνάμει σου, τούς πιστούς Βασιλείς ημών, νίκας χορηγών αυτοίς, κατά τών πολεμίων, τήν συμμαχίαν έχοιεν τήν σήν, όπλον ειρήνης, αήττητον τρόπαιον. Visit www.stspyridon.org and click Stewardship Giving . 1 Select the collection or event of your choice. 2 Set up your donation or payment. That’s it! 3 Support Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church today using your debit, credit cards, checking, or savings accounts. Contact our Customer Support Team at 877-316-0260 I T ’ S S A F E . I T ’ S S I M P L E . I T ’ S C O N V E N I E N T . September 9 - 10 Cardiff Greek Festival Saints Constantine & Helen G.O.C. 3459 Manchester Ave., Cardiff-by-the-Sea www.cardiffgreekfest.com UPCOMING GREEK FESTIVALS