“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.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 At least a couple times a week, it seems, we wake up to news of another unspeakable tragedy somewhere in our country. It seems that these horrific tragedies are happening more and more in the world Read more
So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father who is in heaven. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and Read more
All the saints who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing Read more
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4 One of the things that is so amazing about the Bible is that it speaks to us in ways that Read more
Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Proverbs 30:5 Today we begin a new unit, a unit on “go-to” verses in the Bible. What is a go-to verse? A verse that you go to for comfort at certain times in your life. A Read more
The mystery of Your dispensation, O Christ our God, has been accomplished and perfected as far as it is in our power. We have had the memorial of Your death. We have seen the typos of Your resurrection. We have been filled with Your unending life. We have enjoyed Your inexhaustible Read more
Grant that we may meditate upon Your righteousness at all times and in every season. Guide us and our actions so that we may do what is pleasing to You, and may You find us worthy to stand at Your right hand when You return to judge the living and Read more
The Lord said, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of My Father who is in heaven. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, Read more
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, “If any one thirst, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” Now this He said Read more
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting Read more
Preserve us, Your servants, those who minister, our leaders, the armed forces, and the people present here, in Your holiness. (Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, p. 46) — Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, Read more
O Christ, our God, accept from those who call upon You with all their heart this spiritual sacrifice without the shedding of blood as a sacrifice of praise and true worship. You are the Lamb and Son of God who bears the sins of the world; the blameless calf who Read more