“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.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light Read more
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up, after He had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen. To them He presented himself alive after His Read more
Truly, truly, I say to you, He who hears My word and believes Him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24 On Good Friday night, most churches will make an elaborate procession outside of Read more
An Extra Prayer Team Message on Holy Thursday about a Woman Who Died on Holy Thursday The Story of Eva Cledaras, the woman who died at the same hour as the Lord Here is another inspiring story, that I post every year on Holy Thursday, about another inspiring woman, Read more
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15: 12-13 On Holy Thursday evening, the Orthodox Church celebrates a service called “The Passion of Christ,” Read more
Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Lett him sing praise. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick Read more
Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone Read more
What follows is an inspiring story about a woman named Stavrula who died on Holy Monday, 2004. I post this story every year on Holy Monday. In years past, I wrote that two people think about Stavrula each year, me and a woman named Mary Pappas, who figures prominently in Read more
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice, mercy and faith; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Matthew 23: 23 The harshest Gospel of Holy Week is no Read more
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at table with Him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the Read more
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, Read more
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met Him, while Mary sat in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. And even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You.” Jesus said to her, Read more