TSN1026

2 THE SHEPHERD • OCTOBER 2026 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO A NEW YEAR IN THE SPIRIT Who is the Holy Spirit, what is His work, what is His place in the Holy Trinity, and how can we deepen our experience of Christ, by learning more of His power, wisdom, comfort, and care through His Spirit? These are but a few of the questions our Women of the Word Bible Study seeks to explore in our new year together. Twenty-four women, full of joy and energy, were in attendance on Saturday, September 12th. We looked ahead at our schedule and readings for our monthly second Saturday meetings in which we will immerse our- selves in the Scriptures and the Orthodox understanding of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We took time beginning to get to know one another as each one shared her heartfelt and moving thoughts, favorite Scriptures, ques- tions, and observations about the Holy Spirit. In October we will dive into our small, but insightful book, Giver of Life: The Holy Spir- it in Orthodox Tradition, by Father John Oli- ver and additional Scripture references from the Orthodox Study Bible. Giver of Life is cre- atively structured around the Prayer to the Holy Spirit that begins the Trisagion Prayers that we pray in almost every gathering of the faithful and in our personal prayer time. Prayer to the Holy Spirit O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art in all places and fillest all things; Treasury of good things, and Giver of Life Come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good and Loving God. All women of the parish and their friends are cordially invited to join us for this import- ant exploration. You can find out more about our study and register on our own “land- ing page” wowsandiego.carrd.co or by con- tacting our ministry leader, Kay Harkins at kayharkins@mac.com . “Our inclusion in the life of the Church is not merely an accident of birth. Each one of us has been called, and indeed, chosen. The Voice of God may have been very gentle and nearly im- possible to perceive, but it is there – sounding deep in our hearts.” ~Archbishop Elpidophoros This past month our nation commemorat- ed the 25th anniversary of September 11th. A commentator noted that an entire gener- ation of Americans has now grown up after September 11th, making the work of remem- brance even more important. During the commemoration, the names of the nearly 3,000 victims are read aloud by loved ones at the place where they all perished. Among the names is John Katsimatides who perished that day while working on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center. This year his sister Anthoula shared her memories of him in the Orthodox Observer. She remembered how he would always hug her and say to her “Agape mou!” She shared how he would often stop at St. Nicholas before or after work “to light a candle, say a prayer, attend a service—or per- haps meet a pretty girl.” The images of the towers collapsing behind St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church has always haunted me. On September 11th, St. Nicholas was completely obliterated when the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed onto it. But what was destroyed has been rebuilt as St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine. Its mission is to serve as a beacon of hope, unity, and healing, transcending boundaries of faith and foster- ing interfaith understanding. In her remembrance, Anthoula shared how St. Nicholas has been a bridge from tragedy to hope for her. “Although I can no longer hug my brother, I still feel his presence at St. Nicholas—in the prayers offered each day, in the candles that are lit, and in the people who enter carrying burdens and leave with renewed hope.” Like St. Nicholas, our faith carries an especially powerful message. It re- minds us that even after our darkest days, we can respond in faith, hope, and love. Through our faith we can overcome fear and through love we can overcome hate. I pray His voice will stir us to share our love with others and that we will always remem- ber those who have fallen asleep and contin- ue to say their names. Today, I remember so many but mention as few, “Christina” forever present in the back corner of the Sanctuary every Sunday, “Michael” unlocking the front gate and making coffee, “Deacon Michael” sharing wisdom from the Gospel, “Taso” asking “how’s business” when he entered the Narthex, “George” quizzing “do you really be- lieve,” and my beloved “Heidi” saying “honey, overlook!” In their memories, I am reminded of His presence and example. May all of their memories be eternal! Many blessings, Jim Gilpin Parish Council President FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT WOMEN WORD OF THE