January 02, 2022

Mark's Radical New Gospel
Sunday Sermon

- Fr. Gregory Edwards Ph.D - Dean -


Today, on the Sunday before Epiphany the Gospel comes to us from Mark 1:1-8. Scholars consider Mark to be the oldest Gospel writer and the inventor of the genre of the Gospel, the idea of a story about Jesus. Father Gregory shares a history of the meaning of the word Gospel so that we might appreciate Mark's intent to the people with his radical announcement. Saint Mark is announcing a new Gospel proclaiming that Jesus is the Savior and challenging the rule of Caesar. Jesus is the new victor, the Son of God who has defeated evil, sin, and death. Annually, we receive this message a few days before we celebrate Our Lord's Baptism and renew our Baptismal vows. The question for us as Orthodox Christians is whether or not we will be obedient to Saint Mark's proclamation and respond in faithfulness.  



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.