July 10, 2022

Symbol of Faith - Part 3
Nicene Creed

- Fr. Gregory Edwards Ph.D - Dean -


Today, on the 4th Sunday of Matthew, the Gospel comes to us from Matthew 8:5-13. Therein, we hear of a centurion who is a model for Orthodox Christians because of his extraordinary trust in Jesus as God. Father Gregory continues his series on the Nicene Creed by summarizing his two previous sermons, where we learn that belief is trust and that trust is in one God, the Father Almighty. Part three in this series focuses on who Jesus is from all eternity, which for the Fathers was most important. Jesus is the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages or periods in time. He is Light of Light, true God of true God, and one essence with the Father. To help us understand this reality, the Fathers use an analogy of two candles, one lighting the other with each flame being the same essence. Father Gregory concludes his sermon by referencing numerous verses from Scripture to answer questions related to how the ideas and expressions came to be in the Creed.



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.