May 30, 2021

Jesus Seeks His Bride
Sunday Sermon

- Fr. Gregory Edwards Ph.D - Dean -


Today on the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, the Gospel lesson comes to us from John 4:5-42. It narrates for us Jesus’ encounter at a well with a Samaritan woman, with a questionable background. Those present to witness this encounter, along with anyone who heard the disciples tell this story in the first three centuries of Christianity, would have a Biblical mind and understand its significance based upon three crucial stories from the Old Testament. Father Gregory shares with us two stories from Genesis and one from Exodus that involve Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses each finding their brides at a well. Jesus also comes to the well seeking His bride and says to the woman “Give me a drink”. She thinks he is simply asking for water, but in actuality, He offers her living water and way out of her life of mere survival, through repentance. Each of us is the woman at the well in need of this living water, which represents the Holy Spirit. Jesus also offers us repentance and life of more than mere survival as we seek to love Him by keeping His commandments and prepare for Eternal life.

 



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.