TSN1021

4 THE SHEPHERD • OCTOBER 2021 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO GREEK LANGUAGE SCHOOL OXI Day (Επέτειος του Όχι, Anniversary of the “No”) is celebrated throughout Greece, Cyprus and the Greek communities around the world on the 28th of October each year. OXI Day commemorates the rejection by Greek prime minister Ioannis Metaxas of the ultimatum made by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on October 28th, 1940, the Hel- lenic counterattack against the invading Ital- ian forces at the mountains of Pindus during the Greco-Italian War, and the Greek Resis- tance during the Axis occupation. e ultimatum , which was presented to Metaxas by the Italian ambassador to Greece, Emanuele Grazzi, on October 28th, 1940, demanded Greece allow Axis forces to enter Greek territory and occupy certain unspec- i ed “strategic locations” or otherwise face war. It was allegedly answered with a single la- conic word: όχι (No!). However, his actual re- ply was, “Alors, c’est la guerre!” (So this is war!). In response to Metaxas’s refusal, Italian troops stationed in Albania, then an Italian protectorate, attacked the Greek border at 5:30 am—the beginning of Greece’s partici- pation in World War II . On the morning of October 28th, the Greek population took to the streets, irrespective of political a liation, shouting ‘OXI (OHI)’. From 1942, it was celebrated as “OXI Day”, rst mostly among the members of the re- sistance and a er the war by all the Greeks. e events of 1940 are commemorated every year with military and student parades. On every anniversary, most public buildings and residences are decorated with national ags. Schools and all places of work are closed. Έφτασε και πάλι το Φθινόπωρο. Το τέλος του Οκτώβρη γιορτάζουμε τον Άγιο Δημήτριο και το μεγάλο ΟΧΙ στο φασιστα Μουσολίνι. Τα άσπρα βουνά της Πίνδου βάφτηκαν με Ελληνικά αίμα αλλα νικήσαμε την Ιταλία. Και όταν η Γερμανία δοκίμασε κι αυτή, η Ελλάδα αντιστάθηκε με όλη την δύναμή της. Δεν νικήσαμε τους Γερμανούς αλλά τους καθυστερήσαμε και φτάσαν στην Ρωσία μέσα στο βαθύ χειμώνα. Πάγωσαν οι ίδιοι και τα όπλα τους και έτσι χάσανε τον πόλεμο. Μια μικρή λεξούλα, το <<όχι>>, νίκησε ολόκληρες αυτοκρατορίες. Ζήτω το ηρωικό ΟΧΙ και οι μαχητές του ΣΑΡΑΝΤΑ! Please come to our annual “OXI” Dinner Dance sponsored by AHEPA on October 23rd and support Greek school. See yer in this Newsletter for more information. Athena Kotinopoulos Georges Greek Language School Director SUNDAY SCHOOL Sunday School has started and is in full swing! Our Sunday School eme this year is Fruit of the Spirit. We will be focusing on growing the characteristics described in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, good- ness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” A big thanks to our Sunday School Teachers and Class Assistants! If you haven’t registered your children or teens yet, it’s not too late! e link to the form is under the Ministries / Sunday School tab on the Church Website: www.stspyridon.org If you need to be added to our email list, please email Julie Dennis: sundayschool.stspyridon@gmail.com Attention College Students: Saint Spyridon Philoptochos wants to keep you connected with your faith and home church. Send us your information so that we can may stay in touch. Please email Erika Couris at ecouris70@gmail.com with your name, college address, and year of graduation.