“Greek Orthodox Christian Church - Birmingham, Alabama”

Photography Credits: Beth Hontzas - Music: Presbytera Katerina Makiej






Sunday Sermon

The Gates of Repentance
March 02, 2025

- Fr. Gregory Edwards, Ph.D -


On this Forgiveness Sunday (also referred to as Cheesefare Sunday), the church commemorates the exile of Adam and Eve from Paradise. They had complete freedom in the Garden of Eden to choose obedience to God, to choose to not eat from the tree. However, they chose to eat of the tree and not keep this original fast. Fr. Gregory explains that Lent, which beings after Forgiveness Sunday, represents our journey back to Paradise. During this journey, we have the choice to be obedient to God and keep the fast, practicing self-control, obedience, and humility.

Fr. Gregory then addresses forgiveness, which Christ addresses in today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 6. He references a book, “Forgiving What You Can’t Forget” by Lysa TerKeurst, sharing six main points from the book.

Finally, he encourages us to remember the hymn we sing as we enter Lent, which says, “Open unto me the gates of repentance.” He reminds us that Lent is our return to Paradise, our chance to choose obedience and repentance.



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





close


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.