January 26, 2020

Zacchaeus' Transformation
Sunday Sermon

- Fr. Gregory Edwards Ph.D - Dean -


Today in Orthodoxy is the 15th Sunday of Luke. The Gospel lesson comes to us from Luke 19:1-10. In this pericope we hear about Zacchaeus, who is a chief tax collector of short stature. Father Gregory shares with us that although Zacchaeus had obstacles to overcome, his life was transformed by his desire to see Jesus. The catalyst for Zacchaeus' transformation from sinner to saved was his reoriented desire toward Our Lord. This Gospel lesson for Orthodox Christians is like a bell ringing in our hearts that Lent is approaching and that if we desire to have a relationship with Christ it will give us the ability to transcend our human shortcomings and meet Him at the Cross.



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.