TSN1026

1 THE SHEPHERD • OCTOBER 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 5 • O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6 FROM THE DESK OF FATHER ANDREW My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, We take the time to speak and write about the importance of be- ing present every Sun- day for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. However, we could and should spend time speaking and writ- ing about the importance of the service that precedes the Divine Liturgy: The Orthros/ Preparatory service offered at 9:00 am. The Orthros service is a time of preparation, a prayerful, inspirational and educational time. Through the beautiful hymns and profound prayers of the Orthros service, the faithful present not only praise and thank God, but are instructed and illumined about the many truths of their Orthodox Faith. Orthros is not only a time of preparation for the faithful but for the priest (and for the deacon) as well. Through some of the specif- ic prayers of the Orthros service, the priest is given the opportunity to get focused and to prepare himself for the forthcoming di- vine services. Orthros is also the time when the priest prepares the Gifts placed upon the Holy Altar during the Divine Liturgy. The following few paragraphs offer a brief expla- nation of some of the preparatory highlights that take place during Sunday morning’s Or- thros/Preparatory service. After the traditional prayers of the Trisagion are offered, the chanter then begins to read the Six Psalms (3, 38, 63, 88, 103, 143). The major themes of the psalms are rejoicing in God, forgiveness and courage and steadfast- ness in our faith. While the Six Psalms are being read, the priest prays the twelve morn- ing prayers on behalf of the community and, more specifically, for those present . The ma- jor themes of those prayers are thanksgiving, glorification and illumination. From this point forward, there are three major events or activities that take place with regard to priestly responsibilities. The first event takes place while the resur- rection Kathismata (the hymns while sitting) and the Evlogetaria (the blessed hymns) are chanted. Like most hymns, these hymns are hymns of instruction and praise. As these hymns are offered, the priest stands on the solea before the Royal Gate and is now ready to take his Kairo (recite his personal prayers of preparation and forgiveness). This prayer of preparation (Kairo) is a brief service in which the priest venerates the icons and asks for forgiveness from both God and the faith- ful present. The Orthros service continues until the chanting of the Katavasia . The Kat- avasia are a seasonal set of hymns specific to a certain feast or time of year. The second event takes place as the Katavasia are being chanted. It is at this time that the priest (and deacon) puts on his vestments. Needless to say that throughout the vesting process, the priest recites many prayers ap- propriate to each garment he puts on. All this leads to the third event , which takes place just after the morning Gospel read- ing, the recitation of the 50th Psalm and the incense that is offered in honor of the The- otokos. Following the offering of incense, the priest prepares the bread and wine (the Gifts) which will become the Pure Body and Precious Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at the consecration that takes place during the Divine Liturgy. Taking a round loaf of bread (Prosforon/ the bread offer- ing), the priest begins to pray the designated prayers and extracts three pieces from the top of the bread. He forms a cube from the middle of the bread, which is called the Lamb representing Jesus Christ. He then cuts a continues 7 IN THIS ISSUE FROM THE DESK OF FR. ANDREW ...... p. 1 PRESIDENT OF THE PARISH COUNCIL, WOMEN OF THE WORD .......................... p. 2 NEWS FROM THE LOFT, DIVINE SERVICES, HOLY SACRAMENTS, DEATHS, MEMORIALS, BOOKSTORE ..................... p. 3 YOUTH MINISTRIES ................................. p. 4 DANCE & CHORAL .................................. p. 5 GREEK LANGUAGE SCHOOL, ZATHAS FOUNDATION, HALL ROOF................... p. 6 HELLENIC FAIRWAYS GOLF TOURNAMENT .......................................... p. 7 PHILOPTOCHOS ...................................... p. 8 STEWARDSHIP CORNER ........................ p. 9 PARISH CALENDAR ................................ p. 10 SENIORS...................................................... p. 11 CONTACT INFORMATION....................... p. 12