“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.
Arise, O God, please Thy cause; remember how the impious scoff at Thee all the day! Do not forget the clamor of Thy foes, the uproar of Thy adversaries which goes up continually! Psalm 74: 22-23 The battle between good and evil has raged since the Fall of mankind, when Cain Read more…
Thou does guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward Thou wilt receive me to glory. Psalm 73: 24 In many of my reflections, I have written about activities we do at summer camp. One of the best ways to learn is through experience, and at summer camp, one of the favorite Read more…
In Thee, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! In Thy righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline Thy ear to me, and save me! Psalm 71:1-2 We’ve all had the feeling of a long journey. Not all “long journeys” involve travel. For instance, a Read more…
Be not silent, O God of my praise! Psalm 109:1 During this time of pandemic, I have chosen to write on the Psalms, since many of them provide comfort. I plan to go back to writing the “Heart of Encouragement” unit towards the end of the year. I will not be Read more…
Then He made the disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. And after He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, but the boat by Read more…
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other Read more…
Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let those who hate Him flee before Him! As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before fire, let the wicked perish before God! But let the righteous be joyful. Psalm 68:1-3 One criticism often leveled against the Orthodox Read more…
At that time Jesus said, “Hear another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the season of fruit drew Read more…
Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Now, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints; I urge you to Read more…
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us. . .Let the peoples praise Thee, O God; let all the peoples praise Thee. Psalm 67: 1, 3 We’ve all experienced sunlight on us. We’ve probably all had the experience of being cold and Read more…
Blessed be God, because He has not rejected my prayer or removed His steadfast love from me. Psalm 66:30 There are many different portrayals of God. Some see God as being vengeful, and only to be feared. If this is the image we have of God, then life would be Read more…
As Jesus went ashore He saw a great throng; and He had compassion on them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages Read more…