The Shepherd's Guild is a small 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 St. Basil the Great of Caesarea and St. 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 is 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 Guild's outreach project is "Vitamins for Villages" - providing vitamins to needy children in Uganda.
Join the Guild, Become an Associate Member
Associate membership is open to laypersons 18 years of age or older who
are members of the Orthodox Christian Faith, an applicant must be a member in good standing of a canonical Orthodox church
(in communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople). Dues are 100 U.S. dollars per year. Associate members
will receive the Guild's Chi-Rho lapel pin.
The cross of St. George, patron saint of the shepherds, of the poor and of the warriors. St. George is a
very popular saint, the patron for many people and lands such as Greece, England, Russia, Palestine, Palestinian Christians,
Malta, Georgia, Constantinople, Boy Scouts, Canada, Portugal, Germany, Venice, Order of the Garter and others. Also, St. George
is the patron saint of the founder's home parish and patron of many Orthodox parishes.
The Orthodox (Three-barred or Russian) cross is superimposed onto the cross of St. George.
The colors of blue and white were chosen because these are the colors of the flag of South Carolina.
The shield is symbolic of chivalry, aspiring soldiers of Christ.
