The goal of the Orthodox Church is Theosis. Let's look at how they arrived at this goal, and how scriptures tell us that we too can become the Christ - the annointed of God - the Divine Spark:
a·pothe·o·sis
əˌpäTHēˈōsəs/
definition: "elevation to divine status"
"Apotheosis" literally means the process of becoming divine. Here, George Washington is sitting in the heavens, literally made into a god.
Photograph of Constantino Brumidi’s 1865 fresco in the Capitol dome, entitled The Apotheosis of Washington. The fresco (a painting done on fresh, moist plaster) depicts George Washington’s apotheosis — or elevation to the rank of a god. In the painting, Washington has ascended to the heavens. He sits in the center of the image, with a rainbow at his feet. The female figures to his right and left represent Liberty and Victory/Fame.
It is the goal of these scriptures to enter into the very essence of God. That which is ALL things. Consciousness, Spirit, energy, all of existence.
Jesus did it, and tried to tell us in his mission here that the Christ Principle is within ALL of mankind:
JOHN 10:34 (Jesus)
"Jesus answered them, "Has it not been written in your Law, 'I SAID, YOU ARE GODS'?"
GALATIANS 4:19 (Paul)
"My little children, of whom I am in labour again, until Christ be formed in you. "
1 JOHN 4:17 (John)
"... because as He is, so also are we in this world."
Apotheosis (from Greek ἀποθέωσις from ἀποθεοῦν, apotheoun "to deify"; in Latin deificatio "making divine"; also called divinization and deification) is the glorification of a subject to divine level. In theology, apotheosis refers to the idea that an individual has been raised to godlike stature.
APO: from the Greek APO: "from, in descent from"
THEOSIS:
Theosis is the belief, mostly found within the Eastern Orthodox Church, that Christians can experience a union with God and become like Him so much that they participate in the divine nature.
In Eastern Orthodoxy deification (theosis) is a transformative process whose goal is likeness to or union with God. As a process of transformation, theosis is brought about by the effects of katharsis (purification of mind and body) and theoria ('illumination' with the 'vision' of God). According to Eastern Orthodox teaching, theosis is very much the purpose of human life.
To recognize the Christ within each of us, and to connect with that Divine essence, is the purpose and goal of our Spiritual nature.
Just a thought ...
~Justin Taylor, ORDM/OCP
