Come and See | 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 -

This Sunday we celebrate the Sunday of Orthodoxy, which commemorates the restoration of the use and veneration of icons in the church after a period of over 100 years of it being forbidden. This Sunday is also the Triumph of Orthodoxy, which recognizes universality of our faith, a faith that has spread throughout the world across 2,000 years.

In this week's sermon, Fr. Gregory presents two main points related to the Sunday of Orthodoxy and the Triumph of Orthodoxy. First, he emphasizes that every human being is created in the image of God; that is, we are icons of God. Second, he expounds on Jesus' invitation to Nathanael in today's gospel reading: "Come and see." He points out that, if God wills that all men be saved, we should be willing too. We should not fall into the dangers of nationalism and parochialism, which counteract the universal nature of our faith.

Since every person is an icon of God and since we've been directed by Christ to preach the Gospel to all nations, Fr. Gregory challenges us to ask ourselves, "What is my part in this universal faith?" We invite the world to, "Come and see."

“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.