The Shepherd’s Guild is a service organization for Orthodox laypersons with the purpose to provide outreach to people through service (Diakonia) as “commanded by the Gospel (Matthew 25, 31-46: James 1, 27) and promulgated by Saint Basil the Great of Caesarea and Saint John the Almsgiver of Alexandria.”
The Guild was chartered on September 30, 1999, as a nonprofit organization under the laws of the State of South Carolina with the purpose: to raise funds to build an Eastern Orthodox Church (Chapel) in the Anderson area, to foster fellowship among its members, to promote pan-Orthodox activities, and to engage in humanitarian efforts. On August 17, 2001, the Office of the Secretary of State of South Carolina re-classified The Shepherd’s Guild as a religious organization. The Shepherd’s Guild is registered as a tax exempt 501(c)(3) charity with the Internal Revenue Service.
The Building Fund of the Paracletos Monastery was established by the Guild to assist in the building of the Chapel of Panagia Soumela at the Monastery. The main fundraiser of the Building Fund was The Anderson Greek Festival. The Fund also assisted with the building of the monastery’s dining room. In March 2011, the Monastery ended its connection with the Anderson Greek Festival. The 20th annual event will be the Greek-Mediterranean Pastries & Gyrofest in February 2026.
The Shepherd’s Guild website: www.shepherdsguild.org
To become a Festival volunteer please contact Bill Stathakis at bill296621@yahoo.com or sign-up at >> volunteersignup.org/3CLXD
Affiliations of William Stathakis >>
- Sertoma International, National membership, 30 September 2021
- Kentucky Colonel, commissioned by the Governor of Kentucky,
- The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, 2022
- Order of AHEPA, National membership, 26 January 2023
- Order of Saint Ignatius of Antioch (Antiochian), Knight
- Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Parish Council member, 14 years;
- Ā Ā Council Secretary, 2 years
- Former member, National Association of Home Builders
- Shriner
- Captain, South Carolina State Guard, former member
The olive tree is our Gyrofest’s logo, and it has a history. Our history is planted in this land (the Mediterranean region) as like the olive trees whose roots of thousands of years.
The olive tree is mentioned frequently in the Bible, from as early as the time of the flood when the dove from the ark brought an olive branch back to Noah, to Revelation 11:4, where the two witnesses are represented as the two olive trees. “The shade of the tree”, a culture of hospitality promulgated by Abraham.
Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is the root of Jesse or the root of the cultivated olive tree, From Him, Israel, the Church draw their life.
The olive tree or an olive branch is also a symbol of peace and friendship dating back to ancient Greece. Therefore, we are delighted to roll up our sleeves to offer hospitality through our annual community event. Come join us. Proceeds to benefit outreach causes.
The Greek-Mediterranean Pastries & Gyrofest 