Bøger af Stavros N. Akrotirianakis

For most of Christian history, learning about Christ could not be done through personal reading, as the majority of the world could not read. Learning was done through listening to preaching, and through the singing of hymns. The events of Holy Week, from the triumphal entry of Christ in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, to the Cross of Good Friday, to the glorious Resurrection on Pascha, have been taught throughout the centuries primarily through song. In fact, the most well-known Orthodox hymn, "Christ is Risen", provides in 22 words, a summary of the Resurrection and its meaning for Christian salvation. Holy Week in the Orthodox Church is a journey of nine days and nearly 20 services, that returns us to Jerusalem 2,000 years ago through Scripture, ritual and, most especially, hymnology. Scripture captivates the mind. Ritual captivates the eyes. Hymnology stirs our souls to spiritual renewal, captivating our emotions and our hearts. The Greatest Story Ever Sung: Reflections on the Hymns of Holy Week in the Orthodox Church reflects on both the well-known and lesser-known hymns of the services of the Orthodox Holy Week. It will take you on a journey not only to the week of Christ's Passion, but to the depths of your own faith. This book will capture your emotions, warm your heart and restore your spirit. It will help you remember the saving work of Jesus Christ and allow you to more deeply appreciate Holy Week services in the years to come. The foreword is written by Christopher Kypros, a dedicated choir director and composer, who has poured his soul into leading choirs in singing these beautiful hymns. The author of the book, Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis, has celebrated the services of Holy Week for more than 25 years. Consisting of 61 short reflections, this book guides the reader from the Saturday of Lazarus through the Agape Vespers on Pascha, taking us on a familiar journey that many of us know through Scripture, but, instead, leading us by way of the beautiful and powerful hymns that comprise the greatest story ever sung.

As Christians, we reflect the spirit of Christ's belief in our personal worth. Yet, believing in ourselves can be difficult. No one wants to lack confidence. No one likes feeling anxious. Yet narcissistic living in feeling or behavior is equally dissatisfying. Living at either extreme does not allow us to become the best version of ourselves. The answer lies somewhere in the center, and encouragement is a vital component in finding the balance we seek.This book is about encouragement, building up others, and creating safe spaces where it's okay to be honest and vulnerable. These three things-encouragement, reassurance, and safety-foster environments of honesty, confidence, and productivity. Most people, if asked for an honest answer, would say they lack confidence in at least some regard. Self-doubt leads to low self-esteem, which leads to low productivity, which leads to anxiety, all of which fuel a lack of confidence. This vicious cycle is not a challenge only for teenagers. Many people never break out of this trap, lacking confidence throughout life. Compounding this destructive habit is an overall problem with dishonesty in our society. In many areas of our lives, it's not safe to be vulnerable. So we create stories about ourselves based on lies - we don't tell people we are stressed out, uncertain, or need help, because confessing these weaknesses might cost us our job or reputation, or cause us to be the subjects of gossip. So, we play this game where we are less than honest. "The Heart of Encouragement" contains 176 reflections, based on 18 verses of scripture - 1 Thessalonians 5:11-28 - each offered with the goal to encourage and build you up in one area of life and, in turn, give concrete ideas of how to encourage and build up other people as well. Most reflections include a daily "Encouragement Challenge" practice to infuse encouragement into our world.With a forward by Tim Tassopoulos, president and COO of Chick-fil-A, Inc., "The Heart of Encouragement" guides us to find that middle ground, be the best version of ourselves, and help others by our example to do the same.