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The '''Shepherd's Guild''' is a service organization for Orthodox laypersons with the purpose to provide outreach 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.
A Building Fund for the Paracletos Monastery, Antreville, SC, was established by the Guild to assist in the building of the [[chapel]] of Panagia Soumela at the [[monastery]]. The main fundraising activity for the building fund is the Anderson Greek Festival. In March 2011, the Monastery ended its connection with the Anderson Greek Festival.
