Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen! Greetings from Tampa, Florida, where our church of St. John the Baptist, a parish of 400 families, is led by Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis, our Proistamenos. For the second year in a row, we are thankful to share our Holy Week journey in pictures. This was the second year we had our “Bridgegroom maidens,” young girls of our parish who took part in the Bridegroom services early in the week. An “army” of altar boys served throughout the week, standing guard at the Cross and the Tomb on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. We had our second annual “All Night Vigil at the Cross,” where a total of 35 people read Psalms and prayers throughout the night and into Good Friday. Our beautiful choir chanted at many of the services, our dedicated chanters were there for all of them, many people in the congregation did the readers parts, and Good Friday myrrh-bearers, the Anastasi Light-bearers, the over 100 children who participated in our Good Friday retreat, the ladies who did the decorating, the ushers, Parish Council members and a full church at almost EVERY service made this truly a community effort! We thank God for a week of retreat, refocus and renewal. Let all things begin again in the Light of the Resurrected Christ!
Fr. Stavros N. Akrotirianakis, Protopresbyter
St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
2418 Swann Avenue
Tampa, FL 33609
813-876-8830 (office)
For more on our parish life please visit us at: www.stjohngreekorthodox.com