“The Prayer Team” is a daily devotion written by Fr. Stavros N. Akrotirianakis, written every day since February 2015. Fr. Stavros is the Parish Priest at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Tampa, Florida. It began in February 2015 as an opportunity to write more on the subject of prayer and now has branched into other subjects. On Monday through Friday, Fr. Stavros writes various topics (recent units have included “Go-To Verses from Scripture”, “The Ten Commandments”, and “Building Authentic Relatoinships”), each beginning with scripture and ending with a prayer. On Saturdays and Sundays, he writes reflections on the Sunday Epistles (Saturday) and the Gospels (Sunday). Each devotion includes a verse from scripture, a commentary from Fr. Stavros, and a short prayer that he writes to match the topic.
Teach me the way I should go, for to Thee I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8 “Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless, not my will, by Thine, be done.” Luke 22:42 An exciting new unit of study and reflection is coming in two weeks! For Read more…
Make your vows to the Lord your God, and perform them. Psalm 76:11 An exciting new unit of study and reflection is coming in two weeks! For these next two weeks, outside of weekends and feastdays, I’m reaching into the “Prayer Team Mail Bag” to address questions that some of you Read more…
For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power Read more…
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” So Read more…
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings; for it is well that the heart be Read more…
And as Jesus entered a village, He was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When He saw them He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they Read more…
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him; but some doubted. Matthew 28:16-17 Worship is one of the most beautiful aspects of the Orthodox Christian life, but also, in some respects, one of the most Read more…
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. II Timothy 3: 16-17 The Bible is an important part of a healthy spiritual life. When we were in Read more…
In these days, He went out to the mountain to pray; and all night He continued in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples, and chose from them twelve, whom He named apostles. Luke 6: 12-13 This week we are reflecting on ways to kick-start our Read more…
As each has received a gift, employ it for one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace. I Peter 4:10 Every year in our parish, we choose a word to define our year. (I’ve also encouraged people to choose a word to define your year. It’s not too late to do Read more…
But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore, it is said, “When He ascended on high He led a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that He had also descended into Read more…
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us Read more…