April 04, 2021

Sunday of The Holy Cross
The Cross Demands a Response

- Fr. Paul Costopoulos -


Today in the Orthodox Church is the Sunday of the Holy Cross. Annually on the third Sunday or midpoint of Lent The Church commemorates the Cross of Jesus Christ through the Gospel reading, the hymnology and the procession of the Holy Cross at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. In reflecting on God’s love for us Father Paul shares with us a message of encouragement and hope about The Cross which Orthodox Christians boast about in many and various ways. In the Gospel reading taken from Mark 8:31 – 9:1, Jesus says to be His disciple we must deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. The Cross demands a response, which   is not optional but rather a prerogative mandated by God Himself. Taking up our cross necessitates that we engage in two initiatives during the course of our lives, specifically we must humble ourselves in repentance and we must love, by working for the spiritual edification of our fellow man.



Father Paul Costopoulos was born in and grew up in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He is one of 6 siblings. A graduate of Gettysburg College (1967) and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox

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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Father Paul Costopoulos was born in and grew up in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He is one of 6 siblings. A graduate of Gettysburg College (1967) and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Theological School (1970), Father Paul has served as a priest of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America for over 41 years. He has served as Dean of our Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Birmingham, AL since September, 1996. He also served Greek Orthodox parishes in Huntsville, AL (1975-1978), Jacksonville, FL (1978-1991), and Denver, CO (1991-1996). In addition to his work as a Parish Priest, Father Paul has served and continues to serve our Church in various capacities both at the Archdiocesan and Metropolis levels. He worked 2 years at the Archdiocese in New York as Director of the Campus Commission, served for a number of years on the Archdiocesan Council and Metropolis Councils of Denver and Atlanta, for 13 years served as a member and former President of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, and in 1987 led a mission team of 25 to Kenya to build a church. Since 1999, he has served as Vicar of the Central Conference of our Metropolis. Father Paul is married to the former Penny Clemson, also from Carlisle, Pennsylvania. They have 2 daughters (Nina and Niki) and 6 grandchildren, all of whom live in Birmingham, AL. Father loves to read, travel, workout, spend time with the family, and watch his grandkids play soccer.