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1 THE SHEPHERD • SEPTEMBER 2025 • 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 5 2 • S E P T E MB E R 2 0 2 5 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, BIRTHS, CHOIR, HOLY SACRAMENTS, MEMORIALS....... p. 3 YOUTH MINISTRIES ................................. p. 4 GREEK LANGUAGE SCHOOL, A.H.E.P.A. ................................................... p. 6 PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS, YOUNG AT HEART SENIORS ................. p. 7 DANCE & CHORAL, STEWARDSHIP CORNER ........................ p. 8 ZATHAS FOUNDATION........................... p. 11 PARISH CALENDAR ................................. p. 10 CONTACT INFORMATION....................... p. 12 FROM THE DESK OF FATHER ANDREW My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, On September Four- teenth the Church cele- brates one of the Twelve Major Feast Days of the year: The Exaltation of the Precious and Life Saving Cross . Because of its importance, there are three Gospel les- sons attached to it: the Gospel before the feast day (John 3:13-17), the Gospel on the day of the feast (John 19:6-11) and the Gospel les- son read on the following Sunday of the feast day (Mark 8:34-9:1). From the Gospel lesson before the feast day, we read about the trial and Crucifixion of our Lord and Savior. On the day of the feast, we read about the Old Testament account of Moses in the wilderness lifting up a pole in the form of a serpent, which preempts Christ being lifted up on the Cross; and from the Gospel lesson after the feast day, we read about Jesus instructing us to pick up our cross and follow Him. Thus, we have the Old Testament prophecy, the New Testament fulfillment, and the divine instruction from Christ Himself. Moses proclaimed it, Jesus fulfilled it, and now it is up to each and every one of us to live it. It is important to remember that Jesus was unjustly accused of crimes He never com- mitted and was brought before the authori- ties and before Pontius Pilate; and again, was found innocent. Although Jesus could have called upon a legion of angels , He said noth- ing in His defense. Thus, He was an innocent man unjustly tried and convicted of crimes and for that He was spat upon, tormented and whipped; and yet He never uttered an unkind word. Nails were driven through His hands and feet and yet, no cruel or un- becoming words came from His mouth. He then accepted the Cross because He knew the Father’s will and what would flow from the Cross: forgiveness and salvation. Thus, this is the important message of the feast day and why we process the Cross on a tray sur- rounded by basil – so that we will never for- get that simple yet profound message. Thus, from Holy Scripture and the hymns of the Church, we read and hear - Today is the day... now is the acceptable time... My Broth- ers and Sisters in Christ today, right now , Christ and His Church offer us an opportu- nity to begin anew. At every divine service of the Church and especially at the celebration of the Divine Liturgy the faithful are given a gift and that gift is the opportunity to recog- nize and overcome negative passions and to start our spiritual walk unsullied once again. It is, however, up to each and every one of us to be open and bold enough to observe and recognize those passions which keep us from God and to nail them upon the Cross of Christ so that He can receive them and transform them into wholesomeness – into something positive. END NOTE: Since this year’s Feast Day falls on a Sunday, we will process the Holy Cross with the tray of basil on Sunday, September 14th so that our Sunday School teachers and children together with their parents and oth- er family members can be present, to witness and to participate in the experience of this important Procession as well. +A 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!