Christ Formed in Us | Holy Trinity + Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral

“Greek Orthodox Christian Church - Birmingham, Alabama”

Photography Credits: Beth Hontzas - Music: Presbytera Katerina Makiej

- Fr. Gregory Edwards, Ph.D -

In today’s sermon, Fr. Gregory focuses on the end of the Gospel reading describing the Virgin birth. In this passage, the Prophet Isaiah is quoted, “Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.” Fr. Gregory explains why Orthodox Christians hold firmly to the Virgin birth, and he gives a defense of its validity.

In addition, he provides evidence for the perpetual virginity of the Mother of God by quoting and expounding on Ezekiel 44:1. In this passage, God brought Ezekiel back out to, “the gate of the sanctuary that faces the east, but it was shut.” He said to Ezekiel, “This gate shall be shut. It shall not be opened and no man shall pass through it, because the Lord God of Israel will enter by it. Therefore, it shall be shut. As for the prince, he will sit in it to eat Bread before the Lord.” Two important notes help us understand this passage. First, the eastern gate was the entrance whereby God would enter the Temple. Second, the prince represents the Messiah, the son of the king. Here, we see that the eastern gate is sacred and set apart—only God and his Son may use it. This prophecy is always read on feasts of the Panagia, because it symbolizes her.

Fr. Gregory concludes by challenging us to follow the Virgin’s example, dedicating ourselves to the worship of God, being consecrated as vessels for his will, and becoming temples where Christ is being formed. As Fr. Thomas Hopko said, “Christ is physically and spiritually formed in the body of Mary, so that he might be formed in us as well. This is the meaning of Christmas, which is the meaning of life itself.”

“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

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.