May 16, 2021

New Israel's Commission
Transition from the Old Israel

- Fr. Gregory Edwards Ph.D - Dean -


Today on the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women, the Epistle reading comes to us from Acts 6:1-7. Therein, Saint Luke speaks to us about the transition from the leadership of the Old Israel to the leadership of the New Israel, where Jesus is King. In the Epistle, we are told that the disciples were increasing in number but the Hellenists were murmuring against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. The Apostles summoned the body of the disciples in order to select from among them seven men, full of the Holy Spirit, whom they could appoint to minister to the widows needs. Father Gregory gives us an in-depth explanation about the Hellenists and their widows. He also reminds us that, although ministering to the poor and destitute was an integral part of both the Jewish and early Church’s tradition, the priority for the Apostles was to pray and preach the Word of God. Our mission as The Church is the same as the Apostles, to increase in numbers, pray, preach the Word and to go to all nations Baptizing and teaching them all that our Lord commanded.



The Rev. Fr. Gregory Edwards, Ph.D., was raised in Virginia and eastern Pennsylvania, and became a member of the Orthodox Church while studying for his Bachelor's degree

307 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35233 | Fr. Gregory Edwards, Dean | 205.716.3080

Photography Credits: Beth Hontzas - Music: Presbytera Katerina Makiej





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The Rev. Fr. Gregory Edwards, Ph.D., was raised in Virginia and eastern Pennsylvania, and became a member of the Orthodox Church while studying for his Bachelor's degree in Religious Studies at Brown University. After completing a Master's Degree in the New Testament and early Christianity at Florida State University, he conducted doctoral studies in Greece at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, graduating summa cum laude in 2012. Ordained in 2007, he served parishes in Thessaloniki and Volos for 9 years. He and his wife Presvytera Pelagia lived in Greece from 2006-2016, where their four children were born. He has served as Assistant Professor of Missiology at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary in New York since 2014. Before coming to Birmingham in March 2019, Fr. Gregory served St. George Greek Orthodox Church in New Port Richey, FL from 2016-2019.