We will welcome Rev. Dr. Peter J. Spiro to our parish on January 24 for our annual Three Hierarchs Academic Lecture Series. Father Peter will speak on “What You Do to the Least of These: Human Trafficking and the Body of Christ” following Great Vespers. He will also host a session for philanthropic organizations and churches focused on preventing human trafficking and supporting victims.
About Rev. Dr. Fr. Peter J. Spiro (Padre)
Father Peter is a Greek Orthodox priest of 28 years and has worked in law enforcement agencies for over 20 years as an Aux. Deputy Sheriff, Chaplain, and Chief Chaplain. His doctoral work on “Theology of Lethal Force for Law Enforcement and Military” was used overseas during the Iraq war and earned Father Peter the title of Honorary Colonel in the U.S. Army’s 75th Division. Father is the Chief Chaplain for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), which is analogous to the FBI on the state level. In addition to overseeing all the TBI chaplains statewide and over 700 Bureau personnel, he is part of TBI’s Human Trafficking Unit, serving as a trainer. He is the Director of the TBI PROTECT program- a Human Trafficking awareness educational program for faith-based organizations within Tennessee.
In addition, Father Peter is the Director of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese FREEDOM Ministry, which is the National Human Trafficking Awareness Ministry. He trains clergy and parishes on Human Trafficking, offering mitigation techniques within the Greek Orthodox Parishes. He also represents the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese with other governmental, NGO, and faith-based organizations- nationally and internationally. In the past several months, Father has represented the Archdiocese as a panelist on Human Trafficking for the United Nations Church Center in New York, the World Council of Churches Human Rights Advocacy Training, the United Nations Convention on the Eradication of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in Geneva Switzerland, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington DC. He has conducted training for the International Association of Human Trafficking Investigators in Atlanta, Georgia. He has trained several parishes in the United States and the Bahamas, and has participated in conferences in the United States, Bahamas, Switzerland, and Greece. He was appointed by Patriarch Bartholomew to the Patriarchal Task Force on Modern Day Slavery, with a focus on Human Trafficking. He recently presented at the Virginia Attorney General's Summit as well as the US Chamber of Commerce Summit on Human Trafficking in Washington DC.
Additionally, Father Peter is the Founder, Vice President, and Director of the ARISTEVI Foundation www.ARISTEVI.org which offers Human Trafficking survivors educational and vocational financial support, religious and spiritual guidance, free salon services, free clothing, and apartment furnishing services. He is also developing a free medical clinic for Human Trafficking survivors. This one-of-a-kind Foundation, located in Nashville Tennessee, services the many trafficked survivors in Tennessee and across the United States. Currently ARISTEVI is servicing and supporting over 100 survivors of Human Trafficking and interpersonal violence.
Father Peter’s Chapel of Saint Barbara which offers spiritual care and religious services to TBI personnel and Human survivors, has been deemed the "Shrine for Human Freedom” by The Holy Eparchial Synod (All Greek Orthodox Bishops in the United States), and is under the direct supervision of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.
In addition to assisting the Nashville Metro Office of Family Safety and the Nashville diversionary court with high-risk cases, Father Peter is a member of the Tennessee Human Trafficking Task Force, Tennessee Human Trafficking Advisory Council, Nashville Court System (Human Trafficking Court-Athena's Court), Middle Tennessee Law Enforcement Task Force on Human Trafficking, Middle Tennessee NGO Human Trafficking Task Force, International Association of Human Trafficking Investigator, and Metro Nashville Task Force on Interpersonal Violence.
Father has been a guest on the Sean Hannity Show, and Ancient Faith Radio speaking about Human Trafficking. His life and ministry were also featured in a television interview on PBS in the greater Nashville area. In 2025, he was awarded the inaugural Warrior Award from the General Sessions Court -Athena's Court in Nashville, Tennessee.
Father Peter is married with three children 27, 23, and 17. He is an accomplished guitarist and has played “live” and recorded with recording artists in the Nashville area.
www.YouTube.com/fatherpeterspiro