July 26, 2020

A Crisis of Faith
Sunday Sermon

- Fr. Gregory Edwards Ph.D - Dean -


A crisis forces us to discern between two things and make a choice, therefore revealing where we stand. The current crisis we find ourselves living in has revealed a lot about this country and the division of its citizens. Jesus Christ brings crisis and presents a fork in the road for His followers, forcing them to choose between what the world is saying and He is saying. In today’s Gospel lesson taken from Matthew two blind men see Jesus for who He is, calling Him “Son of David” and asking for mercy. Jesus has compassion on them healing them and a mute demoniac, which brings about a crisis forcing the people to decide if He is the Son of God or prince of demons. Father Gregory shares with us the answer to our current crises and the divisions they have caused, by remembering that our unity is in Christ and it supersedes everything else. May we recognize the lack of love, compassion and faith we are experiencing and look inward to our identity as Orthodox Christians, which will allow us to overcome this challenging time.



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.