The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent; but they cried out the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” Matthew 20:31 We have already discussed that the Biblical Greek word for “oil” is “eleon.” This is closely related to the word for “mercy” which is “eleos.” There is Read more
Elder Ephraim of Arizona Do not feed your passions by yielding to them, so that you do not suffer pain and affliction later! Labor now, as much as you can, because otherwise, if the passions are not tended to, in time they become second nature, and then try and Read more
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou will not despise. (Psalm 50/51: 17) We have already mentioned the story of David anointed king by the Prophet Samuel. David was divinely called to be king. He didn’t become king through conquest, but through Read more
Saint Nicodemus the Hagiorite So come to your senses in this way, because there’s no other way to do so. Get up and take this bold decision, saying to yourself: ‘I’ll arise and go to my father’ (Luke 15, 18). Get up out of this mud you’re wallowing in Read more
Teach me the way I should go, for to Thee I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8 There are two Psalms that are read in the early part of the sacrament of Holy Unction. These Psalms are also my personal go-to Psalms. They are both read at every Orthros, Paraklesis, Salutations to Read more
Saint Nicodemus the Hagiorite Think about the return of the prodigal son to his father’s house and the reasons behind it, which were three in number. The first was that he reflected sincerely on the wretchedness of his situation; the second was that he compared his misery with the Read more
Welcome to The Daily Prayer Team messages by Fr. Stavros N. Akrotirianakis, each day includes a passage of scripture, a reflection and a prayer. Sponsored by Saint John Greek Orthodox Church in Tampa, FL. Give us this day our daily bread. Matthew 5:11 Last week, on February 23, the Prayer Read more
Saint Nicholas Velimirovich The Prodigal Son lived aimlessly and wasted all the wealth his father gave him. When he’d spent it all, a famine struck the far-off country where he was and he himself began to starve. In this distant country, far removed from God, there’s always a famine, Read more
Saint John Kronstadtskij Every passion and all aloofness is merely a spiritual ailment. You have to heal the wickedness and spiritual sickness of others with love and goodness, as you would like them to treat you if were suffering from the same illness. Who doesn’t have weaknesses? Who’s never Read more
Metropolitan of Pisidia Sotirios Righteous Symeon, while holding the Infant Christ, concluded his praise to God with a prophecy: “my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles” (Luke 2:30-32). Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Symeon Read more
Join the 2nd Digital Fellowship with Elder Ephraim, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi Mount Athos and the myOCN Community. Please signup to receive future updates. Live with Elder Ephraim and myOCN Community Elder Ephraim will talk in Greek and our team will offer real time English Interpretation for Read more
On 2 September, 1953, the relics of Saint Nektarios of Pentapolis were disentombed in the Monastery of the Holy Trinity which he had founded and built on the island of Aegina. The next day a festal liturgy was celebrated, at the end of which the relics were carried in procession. Read more