“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.
The Lord said this parable: “There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he Read more…
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant Read more…
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. God is the Lord, and He revealed Himself to us. Save us, O Son of God, who sat on a donkey’s colt. ~Entrance Hymn, Palm Sunday, Trans. by Fr. Seraphim Dedes — And when they drew near to Jerusalem and Read more…
To confirm the general resurrection before Your Passion, You resurrected Lazarus from the dead, O Christ our God. Therefore, imitating the children, carrying the symbols of victory, we cry out to You the Victor over death: “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed are You, the One, who comes in the name Read more…
The stone had been secured. You took pity on the tears of Martha and Mary, and You ordered that the stone be rolled away from the tomb, O Christ our God. And then You called the dead man and resurrected him; and through him, O Giver of Life, You assured Read more…
O Lord, even as You said to Martha: “I Am the Resurrection; so You fulfilled Your word in action, by calling back Lazarus from Hades. Resurrect me, also, for I am dead thru passions. I beseech You, compassionate One who loves mankind. ~Lauds, Orthros, Saturday of Lazarus, Trans. by Fr. Seraphim Read more…
Martha cried aloud to Mary: “Come, for the Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And she went quickly to the place where her Lord was. And when she saw You, she cried; she knelt; she worshipped. As she covered Your immaculate feet with kisses, she said, “Lord, if You had been Read more…
“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank Thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give Read more…
Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire Read more…
When I ponder in my wretchedness on the many terrible things I have done, I tremble for that fearful day, the Day of Judgment. But trusting in the mercy of Your compassion, like David I cry to You, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy.” ~Idiomelon from Read more…
You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on service Read more…
Guide me in the paths of salvation, O Theotokos, for I have befouled my soul with shameful sins and I heedlessly squandered all my life’s resources. By your intercession deliver me from every uncleanness. ~Idiomelon from Sunday Orthros, Triodion (Trans. by Fr. Seraphim Dedes) — The Lord said this parable: “There Read more…