“God became man so that man may become God.” In this pithy aphorism, Saint Athanasius is saying that deification (theosis) is grounded in incarnation (sarkosis), that our ascent (anabasis) to God is rooted in God’s descent (katabasis) in becoming human. God takes on our human nature so that we may partake in his divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). Grace is… Read more »
The hidden wisdom of Heraclitus lies concealed within the Logos that the desert welcomed home at the heart of its mortal, immortal life, dying its life and living its death in the paradoxes of the divine-human Logos. Gnomic wisdom tradition in the desert revered wisdom that hearkened to the Logos, not only because wisdom IS the Logos awakening the heart… Read more »
Restoration of glory is called glorification by desert Hesychasm and glorification begins and ends in glory, proceeding from the originating image of glory to eschatological likeness as glory. Glorification is initiated in purification, empowered by Baptism and it is sustained by illumination, empowered by Chrismation, but its ultimate fulfilment is revealed in glorification itself, empowered by the Holy Liturgy of the Eucharist…. Read more »
The wisdom of completeness descends to anoint ascending incompleteness, saving hearts from delusion and protecting them from distraction, securing them in the Kingdom of the hallowing Name. Wisdom whispers to the troubled heart, turn and see, you who seek wisdom. Listen to wisdom, you who have ears to hear. Become by grace who ‘I AM’ by nature, you who awaken to… Read more »
The Hesychast wisdom of stillness points beyond the world’s strident exteriors to the timeless presence of God in his Name. The Hesychast poetics of prophecy regenerates the degenerated imagination, purifying old prophetic symbolism in the uncreated energies of wisdom and glory, radicalising its prophetic power to awaken the heart, sustaining pure prayer of the Spirit in the midst. Invisible angels listen… Read more »
The revelation of the Name in us purifies the heart with the presence of glory, the glory of the Son that precedes the foundation of the world. This is purification in the primordial glory of the beginning, the archeological glory out of which creation arises, the original glory of paradise before all falls. God’s Name glorifies the Son in us,… Read more »
Union with God in the Bridal Chamber of wisdom and glory reveals the uncreated light of glory in which the radiance of presence consumes parodied pretense, offering glory to God that restores right-glorification of God. Addictive gods are unseated at centre to enthrone God in the midst in uncreated glory. Elders surround the throne of glory but it is wisdom that… Read more »
Desert Hesychasm treasures the Book of Revelation as apocalyptic prophecy revealing Name hallowing mysteries of glorification in the Kingdom of God, including the Spirit’s unceasing prayer of the Name that glorifies God the Holy Trinity, God’s God-centred glorification of God. The Apocalypse has never failed to attract a vast plethora of contradictory interpretations over the centuries, perhaps because glorification, not to mention purification… Read more »
Rainbow glory surrounded the throne of glory in the Seer’s vision of heaven in the Book of Revelation (Rev 4:3). The Hesychast tradition is usually silent about the rainbow mysteries that embrace elders surrounding the throne of glory, but the Seer of Revelation does speak of rainbow glory in his prophecy. The mysteries of rainbow enthronement, crowning and glorification are… Read more »
The wisdom of the Beloved Disciple is perhaps the most profound of all living wisdom streams flowing into the mainstream of Orthodox Christian wisdom, watering the living roots of desert Hesychasm, wisdom that beholds the glory of the slaughtered Lamb, full of grace and truth (John 1:14; 1:29; Rev 5:6-14). The Beloved Disciple beheld the glory of the Word made flesh,… Read more »