“Greek Orthodox Christian Church - Birmingham, Alabama”

Photography Credits: Beth Hontzas - Music: Presbytera Katerina Makiej






Palm Sunday

Let Love Express Itself
April 09, 2023

- Fr. Gregory Edwards, Ph.D -


Today is Palm Sunday in the Orthodox Church. The Gospel comes to us from John 12:1-18. Father Gregory shares a message of hope that love finds expression in action and conquers death. The Gospel takes place in Bethany and Jerusalem. In Bethany, Jesus shares a meal with Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, resurrected from death. This meal foreshadows the general resurrection from death, where we will enjoy a banquet in God's Kingdom. Mary expresses her love for Jesus by anointing His feet with a costly ointment in preparation for His burial. Her love demands gratitude with expression from her heart. In Jerusalem, a great crowd gathers to honor Jesus as King of Israel. Sadly this crowd only expressed loved for Jesus based on what they thought Jesus could do for them. Our hearts should supersede logic as we express love for Jesus. Love defeats death.



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 ...[more]
“Greek Orthodox Christian Church - Birmingham, Alabama”

Photography Credits: Beth Hontzas - Music: Presbytera Katerina Makiej

Sunday Morning Divine Liturgy - 9:30

307 19th Street South, Birmingham, Alabama 35233 | Fr. Gregory Edwards, Dean | 205.716.3080





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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.