June 15, 2020

Close to the Kingdom
Sunday Sermon

- Fr. Ernesto Obregon -


On the first Sunday following the Feast of Pentecost the Orthodox Church observes All Saints Sunday. This is a commemoration of all the saints known and unknown who have Glorified God by their holy lives and have been added to the choir of those in His Presence. Father Ernesto shares with us the history behind All Saints Sunday beginning with its original name of All Martyrs Sunday. In the United States we are Blessed to have no more than verbal slaps in the face instead of lives of persecution and martyrdom as did many who are remembered today. Each of us as Orthodox Christians are called to be saints by loving God and man, and through our witness to others, which should reflect The Kingdom of Heaven.



The Rev. Fr. Ernesto M. Obregón was born in Cuba, sent to the USA as a refugee child and grew up in north-central Ohio. He was drafted during the Viet Nam era and served

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Photography Credits: Beth Hontzas - Music: Presbytera Katerina Makiej





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The Rev. Fr. Ernesto M. Obregón was born in Cuba, sent to the USA as a refugee child and grew up in north-central Ohio. He was drafted during the Viet Nam era and served in the Army as a Medical Laboratory Specialist. After discharge, he finished his Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology at Kent State University (KSU), a Master of Arts in New Testament and Theology at Ashland Theological Seminary (ATS), and a Master of Arts in Philosophy at Cleveland State University (CSU). He met his wife of over 40 years, Presvytera Denise, at KSU. They and their children served as missionaries in Bolivia and Perú for 10 years, 1990-2000, where Fr. Ernesto was ordained as an Anglican priest. Upon their return, Fr. Ernesto served as the Hispanic Missioner for the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. In 2004, Fr. & Presvy. converted to Orthodoxy. Fr. Ernesto was ordained an Orthodox priest in 2007, and served a mission parish in Melbourne FL from 2007-2010. Fr. Ernesto returned to Birmingham in 2010, and worked at the VA hospitals in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa until his retirement. During this time period he finished a Master of Science in Management from the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). During that time he was, and continues to be, attached to this parish.