August 15, 2021

Dormition of Theotokos
Do Good in a Good Way

- Fr. Gregory Edwards Ph.D - Dean -


Today we celebrate the Dormition of the Theotokos, one of twelve Major Feasts in the Orthodox Church. In the Gospel reading taken from Luke, Martha feels abandoned and approaches Jesus criticizing Him and her sister Mary for not doing what they are supposed to do. Our Lord answers her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Martha is doing a good thing but not in a good way. Father Gregory shares with us, that according to Jesus, anxiety produces and serves no purpose, cannot add one minute to our lives and is actually harmful. And yet, despite being one of the wealthiest countries in the world Americans suffer the effects of anxiety and stress due to our nonstop lifestyles. We must learn to be like Mary choosing the good portion, sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to His words and knowing that neither He nor His Mother has abandoned us or the world.



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

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

Photography Credits: Beth Hontzas - Music: Presbytera Katerina Makiej





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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.