oJ

THE RIVER
OF FIRE
A reply to the questions: Is God really good?
Did God create hell?

ST. NECTARIOS PRESS

Dr. Alexandre Kalomiros
SEATrLE. WASHINGTON
 I,""" _UT ... ,. ..ukmas,
"....., ... dot "'-r,
UI I"'" .",.. UI My thotm pettpk,
U. pettpk ...... IjomttJ for Myxif
1M u., ..light dtotl ..,., My ""'
....

(1uMh #J

THE RIVER
OF FIRE
A re!� ID 0" If""l loll5: "God really good?
Did God ",.1, h,ll?
Dr AleXillldre Kalomiro5

Covrr liIustr.lllion:
FRESCO OF THE RIVER OF FIRE
1Vn.! EM fI/u. 161! ",,1Iory Mt1tW#ry c{V.-...u, R_ ...
..

ST. NECTARIOS PRESS

SEATTLE. WASIIINGTON

TilE RIVER OF FIRE
by Aleundre KalomiTO!l
019&0 ST. NECTARIOS PRESS
All righu res«vt<i.
ST, NECTARIOS !'RESS
10300 ASIIWORTlI AVENUE NORTII
SEATrLE, WASlm�GTON 98133·9410
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WWW,51n«lIrioSDrt5HOm
INTRODUCflON
.",., Rivet 01 fitt· ..... IN key.- IIdcl.- ddi..,red .t 1M
Orthodooc Youth c:o.u-noe tpOnIIOm;I by IIw perish of SL Necwb
AmIrican Orthodoo< Ow.... .1 SNItIt.. w� d"rin& July 22-25,
,....
Tho ..td... _ ddlw-Nd in Enpsh uod ...... ftUiwd.. 1M MofI
It.\l
••"d Al<hbllllop 0I�. Vitoly, ...� }Q ..trni..tion noc
""'" ...Iwn ... MId thai ·ftkIom ..... _ IUd oud\ _ whkh bmolho
forth the &.fi. .... both oIlrue knowledp uod 01 pn...w ... ..... .
pn;.,
bul _ mole ...Iwn he pe.-..Dy onkftd the -.14
... to bo l....uled
and prinwd in � and f.mcll edltionI..
Dr KUomI_ hN blat known UId .� in Ihe En&!ish'
IfINItinSOrlho6ox world ...... the publi<»1K>r\ of Api ..1 FalK 1)1lio.ll'
IraNIMed InIO EnsJIth from the Crftk by Georp c.brieI....t publdlled
by Holy Tnmofil""liorI Mon.stay, Thi. book. wtUch hat sone ink>.
fourth printlna. publlthed by 0\1' poriAh, .... bHn ..trnUm for ito datil)'
in dmooNI"lIn& 0I1h0d00; -1aioIosY and � and refulins !he
fIand.""",, � Iop!riho.t motl...1loti '01. the Ecurnonl<al "..,.l .,...,.., 1M
1m!*, of Ihlt book .-1_ ....,.,Id bftn �sIt 10 pin Dr. KIoIorniJom •
'"f'e<1ed pl.... in the ..rue. of I.... and dediaoled thecl�
How_., 1111 FlpM of 'IlI1... Celestl.I', wlticll not only vrpoo.lI,dtd
the IhtoJosiaoI found.ilon.of IN 01..""'" ilR 01 Jconost-phy, bul
",,,pled • devo!Ior\.J ...ndoen!andil\li ...hlclt ;mpin�1 on Myttery,
verified 10 the El\aliJh"puklrll world thai N ..... . man ...ho I\ad
I�td U�L.N ocadank thecIosY and p� thI! U"1nc.
...pnimtlal thtcoIoc 0I11w Holy fau.n..
Tho fomtd ....1"". 01 Byuntlne Ic"""snphy in c-. the Mute.
Icct'IoSnphH Foe;. Kontoa,lOu. tIuouslt pI'.-.al oorresporod..-.. with
Dr KaIomlros ...hIlt he wu ytI • mtdiclll JtUdml in SwiturlAnd,
...ndentood hII caIlIwe. and orn<oU.apd !lim in his p&lrisOc studies.
'A ____ "., ' ' '"''' ....... ,; ..... _p'__ InMI
1oJ"' __ ...... �� ..._ Io. N·i1 ..
IiC �r_
_ _ " I. "pc.1oIw _ -.-. .... . . 1. "' ... � ••
iI10... -,.-(pp.� r...�_, VcoL I f'). A-.n "'"
� AnIIabIo ""'" St. _J>N&

KontOSIou WIOle ." intro,h.ctIon 10 n., firs! C_k edition of AII";ut
FaIN U..lolI, pu� in 19W, In which heo� hi' o.dmifltion for
the authot and d-nbft him., • ,,.. Orthc>doo 1heoJos ..... ""*<I. Dr
Kaloml... fftf\LIIOIb ..... oIlNt oIIwt phyJinan who rurrwd hit tWId 10
1NoIosY, EuM••o.. A....III, In the ...-mtemlh and eish-.th
<entu_ who WM • IumiIlOUt tuidle....d apoiopt for ltc �
0\'th0d0ll of tMte bma Hit wnring!: _ � and pn ..1ecI
by the Ecummlc.oll'_""..:hIote and Ihe PalriaoclLote 01 Aleundria. B"
WMohm called upon by thftn 10 publldy� IIwOrthoo;loo. Faith.
Apparently, . prophet if; no)! without ""'- aoepc in IUs own
" pmllli God'i light 10 n:aeh our eyes.
rounl,.,.: lor '" apllIt! 01 the _i,'.w:t.1i on by KonIoKlou ...d Iho .......
01 Dr ]{abniIW' other wntlnp. the -..-. of fire" hid Md .... Creft
i!di_ w..._, .lIhouato II exiSied '" ootvon! foto4n �SQ
"'vin& Mc-n. M we ...id, orisuWly "'n_'" £n&Ii<h. Fi.-.lly, in 1m.
Cfftk ,.....tion by �... !lobi. wu pubf;,toed by Zaphy...
pubf.... in � It _ that ltc InltW pubflootion of thi5 "'II<.
'Lone wilh theother add_ of OUr 1980 OrIhod"" Youth c:oru..�
puhliah«l orilli...lIy by our ....ritoh. "'" found il. way not only into Ihe
� of mlny 01 tIw t.ithful on Ihlt o;onll....t,
even in f.....w.y
. bul
mmI'''' of Ihe WQrid JUII _dy, tIw p.-..t ","pet by Or. KalomiI"Oll
appeared In a �rbIan tfiMlalion, publistoed, 'p","m>IIy, by 1M
TheoIoIl;o;al A�.my 0/ lIIol,rado
The "1Iiver of FI....• I, no)! only .n alUi])"i, 01 Qrthod"" toteriology,
01 the wo.idnp of Cod', dl�tion and OUr Redemption.
demonst.atln& that Qnhod"" t'-'osY hal • unique und .... "'ndi nS
th....&"
.. tho .....,Jation 01 Cod II tpNib � ""'"' to .... , dri--. tou.t
IOrmmlc!d by triaLa. wh o .... in ""'peration: �Iow <an Cod Who is ,00<1
permit..rn "viII How can U. <'Of\d.emn .... "'...... Ihew tcmptotioN and
trialilUrpMI by IIrm,th to resiK? If II" if; .....
riful.nd I......... how can
Herondemn l1"li10 ilUdllU� he ... and in tho lile IOcomel
The �, pubfiotion io au. coHMn, 10 u.... many wounded
tou.lt, t"'- known 10 UI and tt.... unlo:nown. who can only 6nd
CONiOIootion to.. I.... -.uw. '" tho ....... "'!he lovin, Felton
COJl7ri&kt 1-. 20112 St. NKl.o
..... '-
ii
In the Name of the FlI�. and of the Son, and of !he Holy
Spirit.
The� .. no doubc Wt we are li..inll in the lI8e or apostay
pt"edicled for the Lut dayl. In Pfaclice, fI06l people are alhci.su,
ahboll&,h many oflhenl theoretically SliIl believe.lndiffemu and
the spirit 0( litis world pmoail everywhere. Whit it the reascoa for
this Ita"'?
The reason it the cool"" of love. Lovt for God no Il"JO£e bums
in human hearts, and in oonsequence,lovebelweea US isdead. 100.
W1w is the atu5e of Ihil ...nIna of men's love for God? The
·cr, tfttImly. .. Jill. Sin it the duk eloud which does not
a/lI...
But lID llwa)'l did "lSI So how did "C arnvc aI the poilll of
not $;"1'IY icnorina God, but of aaualy haling Him? Man's
aUilude: toward God loWly ill not rull)' i�, ..r really
Indifftrence. If you rumine men carefully you will notice tIw
lheir i,roorance or indifTtmIU ill !.Ilnted by • deep hatt BUI.
nobody hales an)'uuna tIw does IlOl exist
I hIove the 5U$picion lhat men lCiday bdieve in God mo� than
at any other time in hlllTlln hlslOI)'. MCI knowthe ,ospel, the
teachlna oflhe Cburdl, Ind God', nOliOll oolellhan It any other
time 1bey hIo..e I profound cconsciousness of His uistence. Their
atheitm II not • rul disbelief. It is ralK! an ...ersion loward
somebody we know very well but wllom we hale wilh all our
hell1, euell)' as !he dcmoll!l 110.
We hate God, lhal is why we ipre Hm, overlootin.g Him as
if we did not fee llim, and pretending 10 be llheisu. In reality we
coll!lide:r IIlm o ur enemy par exccliera. Our negation ill au r
venatanc:e. our .tbeilOl it our �cnge.
But why do men hale God? They halt: Him not only because
their deeds an dark while God is lig>I. but abo because they
Wl"4idcr Him III. tnena«, as an invninm and ncmal danger. III
an advenary in COlIn. as aD oppollem aI II",. IS I public pro:KW­
tor and an etemal pe-n«Utor. T.. tbem, God ill no more the
a1mipy ph)'liclall who came 10 _Ibcn! from illness and death.
but IMber e aucl JudlC and ...engeful inquisilor.
You _, the devil managed to mike 111m believe tIw God does
not rull), love us. tIw He really ooIy loves Himself. and that He
aceepu us only i( we behI� IS He WlIU us 10 behlve; thai He
lwei III if we do nCII behlve IS He onIered III 10 bdIa'"e. and is
offended by our inlubordilWion 10 aucb • degree that we ttalSI pay
for il by elemal tortures. uemd by Him for that JIWPOIl'.
Who can love. torturer? Even those who If)' hard 10 saye
tJx:mseIYC$ from the wrath of God cannCII really 10ve Him. They
love only themlelus. uyinc 10 eICIpC GOd's � aDd 10
IIdtieve �emal bhu by rnaNlillJ 10 please Ihi$ feanomc aDd
utremdy qnous Cn:uor
Do you perceive the devinllander of our aU-Iovins. all-kind.
and abtoIwely JOOd God'! 'IbM is wily in Grcck the devil .....,
livm the name &Mo�. "the alllIIkr�.·
z.
8m ....hIt was the imtl1lfllelll of the devirl II-smng o( God'?
What means d id he use in oNcr to COIIyilEC humanity . in order to
pervert humaI'I thoua,M?
Hc UIed "theolop.· He fin! inIl'Oduced a llip a1tention in
theoIosY Whlch, once II WN KCqlIcU. he manaaed 10 inc:.eue
mou and molC 10 the dq:rcc thai. Christianity became compl�cly
unm:oJIliubk:. This il what 'file call 'Walern theology.'
Did you cvcr Iry 10 pinpoint what is the princ:ipa! char.tncristic
of Weatcrn theoloJY'1 Well, iu principal chuactni$lic is lhal it
COIl!;idcn God .. the real cause of all evil.
What is evil? Is it IlOl the estnn&cmeN (rom God Who is Lifc1'
Is 11Il0l dealh? What '*' Western theology 1C8Ch IIbout de:uh1 All
Rocnan Catholia and most ProU::SWlll OOIIIidcr deuh IS •
1 ]
puni� (rom God God considcred all men JUilly o( Adam'1
lin and pwmhcd them by deaIb, that is by MtillS them.....y. from
HimseI(; dcpnyina them of Hillifc-Jiving eoergy, aDd so killin&
them Jpiritually at fil1l and later bodily, by IIOInC $Oft of spUnal
ltlrIation. AUJUSliDc interprus the passage in Genesis IS. 'Ifyou
eat of the foull of this tree, you will d� the dalh.·'
Some Protottnll oonslder death oot IS a punishment but IS
.omethi", nKUnJ. 8uI is IlOl God the eteaIor oC all natural thinp1
So in botb t:aICI. God - for them - 15 the real cmse of dea!h.
And this is true oot only (01' the dWh oflhe body. b is �ty
true (or the death oCthe $0111. Do nCII Western lheoklJians consider
hell. the ecemalJpiriruai death ofllWl. IS a punWunmt (rom God?
And do they IlOl eonsider the dnil II I minWer of God fOl' the
elcmal punisbrnetII of IIIeI1 In hell?
The "God' of the W� is an offended and aogry God. full of
wrath (01' the diJobedlmee of mtn, Who desires in His desuuctiVi:
pa»ion 10 ,orment all hurnJ,nlly I11III0 Clcrnity for their lilll. unless
Hc =eiv� an infinite salisfaaion for HIS offended pride.
What is tlx Weslern dosma orsa]yation? Did nCII God till God
in onkr 10 misty HIS pride, which !he Westerners eupbemlStjg,lIy
call jllSliee? And is il IlOl by this infinite Jll.LSfaaio n thai He deigns
10 accqII the salvation of 50rrIe of us?
What II salvalion (or Western theoiOIY? Is it DDI sal...ion from
the wrath o( God�
Do you K'e, then, ,lui Western theoloB)' teaclx:l that our real
dangcr and our 11111 enemy Is our Crealor and God? Salvation. for
Wellcmcn, il to be saved from the hands of God!
How can one � Iw:h • God? How � wc hayC failb ill
IOn'ICOI'Ie we dete:5l'1 Flilh in ita deeper essence is • product of
love. therefore:, it would be our desire that one: who threatcnIus
2. tU.�:I·'. .MiIoIul"·_ ' '........ _a; 'If
,.. .. ... .. .... 01 ... .... 1_ .... ,... -
1. �n.. ,Olio; ..,...,.;/'ice t!',; _ ..... ".,
_. �I' ...
1
"'-1J_ ItdoIIoe __ ......._...... __.. �
". _ .. lie tIoo-.d _ .... , ". ...wy III oil , � ... GooL "
�:..-.. "-"" 191001Eo: .,.....,.. 0 w.... E'pU....
(_ 0-.), _ nt, U Ap:iI 1910
 IIIX even niSI, especially when this threal is eternal,
Even if thI:re e,ds!s I IIlWlI of c:supin& !he eternal wnth of
this omrupDIcnt buI wicked Being (Ihe death of HIs Son ill our
Jl.e.I). iI WQUld be much bener if this Ikin& did 001 e�L5I. This
was the LI'IOtI lo&icII "",Iullon of !he mind and o f Jhco hun of !he
WcstCTllpeopl�, 'becIuKrvtIl ctemal Paradisewouklbc: ab/Jol!U.
WIth IIICh • tl\lC:l God. Thu.I wu Ithe:isrn born, and !his is why !he
Wcst wu iu billhplaee Atheism was II!LbJov.Tl ill Eastern
Clmsd.llIly Unlit WQlcm LheoIosy was inlrodul;ed Iherr, too.
A!he1S/'ll is the consequm;:e of WQlCTll 1hec:Nogy.' Atbrivn IS !he
dmIlLl, !he t'Il'ption of UI evil God. Men bc:came albeists LD order
10 be: saved from God, hidLntI !he,r head and closwa their eyes like
UI (JI(lich A!heI$lTL, my brothen, is !he LYplion or !he Roman
CalhoIiL: and ProtC$llnl God A!heilm is not our real enemy. The
.eat many IS thai f.lsifled IIId distorted "ClLriilimity,"
interpretation of God', jllSlice, was oothill8 else than !he project.ion
or human P'Sllons on 11leoI0IY' It wu • rerum to !he pagan
J!IIlUSS of humanLlLlII god and deifyill3 man. Men are vexed and
anaerm when noc taken senously and consider it I humilwion
..llich only vencrancc ..an rtmove:. whrlhrr it is by «iIm or by
duel This wu !he worklly. puslorwe aluceplion of jusuce
pIn'tlLII, in the minds of, so-aJled "Chri$tian" �iuy.
We5IemCluUlianl though(.oo.n God'sjustiee ill the wnc_y
also; God, the infinite Iktlll' ..;., infuuldy Insulred. by Adam',
dLsobedJnU. He decided that the guilt or Atbm', disobedience
duc'ILded equally to all HIS childrm. and ttw all were 10 be
Knlmecd to 0eIlh for Adam', SIn, ...hich !hey did not convrut
God"JLISILU for WQlcrnen operaIed like I vmdetll. Not only the
man who iRSulted you. but liso all his family must die. And wlvLt
_ IrI,ic for men. 10 the poLJII ofhopelessness ..as th:a! no RIm,
•

not e\lcn all humlnLl),. (ould appease: God'i IRStdled dignity, ev m

3. if all men In hwory wert 10 be: SlL:rifoced God', dignily could be:
saved only if He ((JUld pUI'L1sl'1 someone of the $III'le di8rury as lie,
WCllcmcrs speak frequently of the Good God."J Western
" So In order 10 savc both God', dlJlliIY and manIond. there wu no
Europe and Amuio:a, howe\lCI. were never «>nvi� thai such. other iOlUlion than t� incarnaLion or Hil Son. so that I man of
Good God uisced On the tonIrary, lhey we.e eallill8 God good ,ooly dillnLly o;ould be 5aCnrK:ed 10 save God'i honour
in the wly Gr�kI c.alled the curse and malediaion of smallpolL,
evloaia (.�Mv<"). thai i,. 1 bleuing, I benediction. in order 10 4.
exorcise il and th.'ITIll it Iway. For lhe ume rCiSOn, the Blad: Se.I
Will tailed lhe Evh� Il,,� - the hospitable 5eI - although ThLS pagamllic: tono::eption of God's juslice which demands
it was, in fact, • dreadful and treacherous su, Deep Lnside the infinile sacrifices in order to be appeased clearly mak� God our
Western IOUI. God Will fell 10 be the wicked lllliJe, Who never leal enemy and Lhc QIISC of all our misfonunes. MoreoVCT, iI is I
forlO' rvtIl!he ,mallest ofe
f nse done 10 Him in our tntlS,rc:ssions justice ....hich ill noc It all Just SInce il punishes and demandl
of Hit laws. Satisfaction ftOll! pel'lDllS which ....
ere not It all TC$pOnsihle for !he
This juridical a:mctplion of God, thIS �Ietety dislorted lin of t.hcLr forefathers.· In other _rds. what WCJ{erroers call
•

.. "T...ty ..... ....r-,

.. .... t.d.... 011 .... '. '.. """ ..-I.�. .. "DolL .... .,., ..mty ..... ,.,.. 1M by ........, .. Lbo <110_
.." ..... ... God. ,,� """' ... \osI ;. ... __ • � ..". ..,.. 11M '_ M_g 5 ' .. ....... .. -. .... _ ..... ... _
OR it __ 111 m... I ...... LIocif _ .. _ 111 .... .... ...,. __ _ ... ..... ... .. � WIooI ..... ..... ' .. .., .. do .... .., How
_ � _ LIoe poe!. ... ...... ....." 11M Ik aisa .. 011, nile ... . � .... .. ..... _ ... t> .. .... 'I>CfO ' d ... _-. .... �
_ ....... Hiooo . .... toe-c ....... IIbt it it< . ... _ III ...... it< • < .....,. God.,.,. "n& ..... ...... ... 1Ic ""' .. ..... ... .... -.. MII k_ .....
... ..,001; . .... ... ..... ..... it . ...... lllGod." Sl 8I$iI_ GmLI. EJIE. ... "" pool "' ..... ... _1Wotn; ha,_ ..... .. . las .... ... ., to...t.

....... 7, to. HI.�SlnI)". .... ... _ ...._ .... _ .... ____ .......
S. • "- ...... *.. . ....... .....,.. __ ..- ..... "'God. ( .... )

j
• ,
justa c:JU&hI: rather 10 be: talled resen&merIt and v� of the misunderstandtnp.
worst kind. E� Christ's love IUd nttiflCC lola iu Jipflalll:e -1'" (dil:oo:J mrJ brings to nund an
Fim of all. tilt word &....
and Joste in IhIs sdliwid notion of. God who kills G od in �r fqIW disnibution, This is why it is � b y ,�mee. The
10 Ulisfy the so-c.aI)ed juJlx:e 01 God &ood � rewarded and w bid � punished by burnm society in
Does this conr.epIKIII of jusl:klt luve anythi08 10 do with the • fair way. This is human jllS!iu. W I)Ile which tales place: in
ju$lice tIw God re\leaIed 10 111> 1 Does the pbn.se "juJliI;:c of God" �.
luve this lDW'Iing in the Old and New TCSllUl1elU1 Is this Ihe mu.nm& of God'J ju$ti�, ho...evCf?
�rhap$ the bc:giMing of the miMakm inlerprelalion of the word The word &,_w., "jU$lice: is • transluion of the lIebnri<;
jusfitt in the Holy Scriptura wu ii, translation by the Greek word word rstdoU.' This word mt.ns "Ihe divine energy wllich
,!ua......v.".' NOI that it is I mistakm translation, but be<:ause this acoomplishes nun', salvation.' II is paullel and almost synony·
wor\l, beina I W(lrd of the �glll, hwnlnislle. Greek eiviliutioo, Il'I(lU$ to Lhe OIher Hebraic word, haM ...hich LTlClIns "men:y:
wu charged wim human notioos whi<;h eould easily Iud to "COI1lplUion,· ·Iove.· and to the word, mlirh whi<;h LTlClIIlI
"fidelity." "truth: This. u you tee, lives a completcly OIhrr
dimmsion to WhaL we II$tWly roncClVC u jllS!icc' This is how Ihe
'" (",.. d)
OJurch undastood God'I jllS!icc Thil is 1iIhat Ihe FIlhcn of the
.... �__ o(....,.., .. .... woy r.. A___ r...-...-
Md lilt ..:Ibis life In ........ "' .......... MI)'. ... ...10010 _ .... Church tauJht of iI. "How an yOli call God jtw," writes SaiTI
•
_ Dr """IloI "" . ....... .-. ..:I .. IoooI)r .... � Md _ . ..ht;n yOli IUd the � on Ihe ...... liven
1uac Ihe Syrian, ",.

�=,:,_� __ -.
.... .....,. �I pkaft .... .......,. iii< ___ or :

_, ". ....
,,,,,,,,"- _ 100 lOt _ .. .... __
, ....... pIcaswoo: Md .......-- , _ 1000 .. _01 .. 11<*.
'" 10 Ihe workers? 'Friend, I do lIB no wl'Ollll. 1 will B'VC 1.1110
1 thll
IasI even as \IIllO thee who worked for me from Ihe first boor Ii
.. _ ......, .... � ._ I . . ..... Iaw � __ --..... thinr eye evil, bccai4C I am JOOd?'" "How can a AWl all God
...... _ ....... .. � ....... _ of .. -. L•• A"-. _ ill< ..,. oho jllS!." continues SaiOl lsuc. "when he comes ICf05Ilhe JlUU&c on
bcoo:_ .......1101.. ........ 1OtdIn ..... A.-. - r", .... , did DOt .....
01 oil_ buI .. 100: ... _ 1101 _ 0I'b>d0 ..... foo l'" ..... doe low of ... Ihe prodipl son, who walted hll wealth in riotous living. and �
bocaux 0( diJobcd:....ce . """'"" ...... . -'- toot.. .. r ... ..·ioh � only for the 4:OIlln1;on v.llich he lihowed, Ihe faahcr ran and fell
oM iii .... ....... -.., lnlJOduwl .... L · SI. Cyril of A....",h,
upon his DCCk • •nd I've him IUtoorilY ovel' all hill wealth1 None
iIw,."...Wi<><t �dw EpMIt ",dw R_V'C7' 71..719) •....... ft",I0 __
lr!hoy "bo ..... bam r.... AdaID """""'" __ 011 ........ of h.. I....� ill OIher but His very Son pid these things concerning Him lal wc
oil juJlotc, 1I><y"", DOl loabIo, r", Ihc)' dol IlOl brc...... ...... 0( """'
....1.<'; o:Ioubt it, and thus He bIorc wit� i:OnCcnting Him. Wh«c. then,
IlIel'd. .. .... ImiI ....... II .... ....001 . of·___ boc_ dcaIi is ....
peMIIy 01.... Sioa: ill ........1IooIoionoo;I __ � -.al. 011 ....,.
..-bo ... .. .... ...... of ... bttadilr 'I "Y .... -'OIoIy ...."
Eoodo)t z. ...... �Pi"'_." E,IJ....... "-, j 19
7, . Sloe. , .... '""'" os .... 1UidrraI
IU ....,111 _101 be _ "'"" iii ...

:.lc �� ":
be ,
- __ r!.-....��-:
no -.I_.-...ar',zI .: .", ..ul--'ly] ....
. .:::.....,;;-:;"!�
.", .'.�.��
.
ia." boIIitaIy. ill ...... of !lie 0I'0I'd .,..... . • eo. wood .
..... ii.....
_
.. ,..,.... iii no I,.· by -.. '" ... I ... I'1:1' .,., joosIity
� " .. .... -. .... Md ...... ...... to ... £.ncIi*. ... --'
..... 100... toea • II"" "jooodoo, " .. k II Ci a • -.. EocIiIII- no
(ndo; ...,..! wtoi<tI -.lot ... nnslMod u"jrooIIII"" ••• otioc .. joarikaI
jooao<e" is "__"F•• """,,*," 4ih; , oIlhi1.-- ....iHE MOIlAl.
IDEA 01' TIlE MAIN DOGMAS Of TIlE fArm. � "'*-1
�ibIt;" S)'IIIXit I'mI. 1914, ..... PII. 102·10S

• 7

is God's justice, for ....hil51 we wen: sinnet), Christ died for us!'"
Ie. 'If. _ ft:odil)' and joyfully "'<qIIJ. 10$11 for 1M JO/<. of God. be II
in...ardl y p""'. And if he doeI .... look _'II "fI<I'I ... y man beaux of b ..
okrocto. io .uy ""'" lie i< � If. man is .... pkaoe<l willi __ '"""
horooun �un. ..,. dlSpleosed ""'" _ IfI'ho dishonoun h .... he is ...... 10 1M
world .,;I ICI lhiJ lire Tho: _hflolnal of dixmllnml II JUperior .. e>'C1)'
disc""ine of ...... """""'J'Ii in ..y ..wy .. on)' de&-.
'Do not 1II1e !he sinntr For .... � IIlIIdaI ..i lll pill If for !he sUe of
God )'l1li'" ...,.td "' oppose h ...... up"" ., h .... 111jI 11 do r Oll hOI< him ? I IaI<
hiJ .... and P"'Y fOr h ......... you may ...... ChruI Who ...... ..,. """"" � iIh
""""'... t... inl«<...... !'or!ban. Do you "'" see howH . ....pt c�., '....7
W. ... IDO<ktd by 1M <leva in rn...y _cs. so .....y "'""'1<1 .... haw: 1M .......
who is _..:Iby �im ....... """, b os abot Why, 0 man. do you hOI< Ibo lUI<><I'l
CtJuId iI be � ... is "'" .. �I 1S)'tN7 !lui w ...... iJ y""r riaJneouso
ness when Y"" ha,'. "" love? ""'by do)'llll "'" oiled IeI<S O'o'et him? !luI)'IIII
_... h ..... In � _ .... "",ftd ,,"" MI<", �iDa .........1>'..
10 be disc<....n . of ill< W<IIIi. of sin.... .
"Be: • "".. Id of God', ,,,,,... ,, for God nlics ""... }"'" ""'MlIy !hoop
Y"" 1ft:, far IlItIou&Io your _ 10 Him is 110 1"'11. yc\ II. is "'" ..on .......
pa)....,. (rom you, ond f""" lIw: ..,.,U ,,<:lib )'l1li "" II" ....IOWS ,,..,, """"""
...... YOlO. 00 .... � God jIdI. fOf It .. ,iosl>« is .... monlfosl HI \lie d"nlf
.........,)'OIL AM if D .. id u11s II l11\jIdt ond """"', (.f 1'1. l4:&. 144 11),
lIis Snn ..>'UIctI II> ... lhot 11. is .- ond kir4. '1'< if pod: II. ooys. '11> tho
... it ond IClIbo ionpiouo ' {d. .. L b 6JS� fto,. .... yo. <aU God juoI "bon )'llll
_ """'" .... Sc ripllnl ......,. "" .... ,.,. ....... 10 ...... orton1 ' rriend.
I do 1IIec 110"""" 1 will live ""'" this .... ..... IS un"' ...... 1$ thine eye ...11
110<' 0&1$< I .... ,oolr
r (MIlt. 2O'11-t' � I""" ... . ""'" u11 God ju;o: ..,.... ...
....... ...cos . .... I'IJOIIC on 1M prodipl .... ..,., WOSO«I b il w .. hb .."" rioIoIH
li.ilI&. how for Ihe ...... .... lion ...... wII ic:h II< � Ihe r....... "" WId fell
"""" his _k MIl JAv. bon � 0'" 011 Mt _? (L.... 1':11 fI'_�
N.... _ butHil '01)' SOlI SlId "",.. lIIinp coneemin&Hom. Iesl ..., cIoubI iI:
and!h.. Ik "-...- ..-em",,, 1Ii.n. \VII=, wfIoq iI 06<1', ju<lic:c, for
wII il<I,... "'" sinnm Christ d>ocI ror ",! (d. RnI.s.•), IIwI if ..... II. is me""fuI,
.... COlO)' 1I<1ic>c _ II. will ,.,. m...,. [i.e.. .. cqorcIJ ..... ... . 011<. cS<ach,
_ SI. 1.... .... IIIioru ... ;" l i mit bclo,,·�
"f"he • thai we -.Jd ever lhcnk JUdI . . iniqulC)l "'"' God "",,1<1 ""-
........, ; ""11 For !he PfOII<'IY of Divinity .... ,.,. '1IIrI& ' .. do "",",Is. G od
.... II<It 0tqIIft � wllicll I I< .... ,.,. .......... __ II< '-. ....
....,a. _ill _ II< .... hi ..., .. do .... lIIO<I brin&J. But what Ooct Iw &am ...
Iqinnin&. II< wiU have ond bioi 1II1II 1... 1 ....... 1 end. .. 1he b.... CrriI _
in his _naery ... Oenosis , r.. God, he .yo, OUt of lew. !Of II.... II1II il0l
for ... -. ....... tboI Ik Iw bcaI p.tu. ..... .. Him .. you cq:hIlO ......
Him: II<It for what lk MIl Ji•• )'<HI in 1he fulurr. IouI for ",hat,... ha... �....t.
WId lOr this -.....leI ...... ....... h He has <.. 1IItd for ... 1M1 II the ___ ....
......y Him? Wbm is Hi< �nl '" be ro..d in ..... ......, Who penuad
Ii.. in 1M lqinn int 10 brio>f; .. ioo1O beia&? Who . .. , cdQ Jbr '" btfoKH ....
"..... ...,11\0.11 possessoo[/io;ully of! --..y, 1$"""'" ........ tJtiskd7 Wbo
("""""..."Lj
8
So ""c sec dw God is IIOi JUSI, with the: Inunan lI\l:aoing of this
word. but ....e sec thai His j�ice means Hisgoodncss. aOO lo�e,
whicll arc gi�cn in an unjust manner, lhat is. God al....ays gi�cs
....ithoul Ill;", anything in recum, and He gives 10 persons like Wi
....ho �rc Il(l( wonhy of rccci�i"ll' Th.ar. is ....hy Saint Isaac lcaci1cs
Wi: '00 Il(l( e.all God jWit. for His jUl;lic;e is 001 manifest in the
c ing you. And if Da�id calls Ilim just and upright,
thilll! coocm
His $on revealed to us thai He is.good and kind. 'He 11 good •• He
layS. '10 the elli! and impious."11
God is good, lovn i g. and kind loward tI10sc who disregard,
..
10. \.. _lIIIII<d)
will ....-.to!his 011' booIy ISj'TJIC: 0.. """'fI1I>OIl f<lt iha, 11r.� Ap.on. �·he"".
""""",,, !he ncM;'" of""""'ledv in"' ...... O .... ,.ondrood .... roy ..rGod' 0
...._""""'''' II .... """nl)' of"'" God """ C-"'" 0 misl" for "hJCII .n II
possib..1 0 .... immc_ .-.... IhII tJnnp our ..- ...............
""""" "'" be, II>HiI ..,<O<nIJOII ond ",JOl Who is ...IT", ,..,, '" JIorify IIcm11k
mootup the �ond blosphernet. he........,. dull ...ndo,,·�..,til -.
mole ;" , it noIic>Ml ond <QIII dJCudi",
I" ond .... ...1I<ICd and in ....ib. .. dust on<!
tho ..- kllJ<S II• ...u.... �.... I. ...... worthy 0(Jbou&In. 1lIc! ...... is
onab.. ICI <".".. ...... \he.,ac:c of U .... 1UtT'I!UiooI . "'1Ierc .... tw:n... lhII ...,
01
amJ<t ",' ....'IIm
. iIpc:nIiIion, !hot lerrifoes .. in _y .. ..,ysWld """""b .. \hej<>y
ofll" 10••1 ADd_ifpn....< ompatt<! .."" .... 1IfO« ofH.. �lioa.
....... lie ""II rai>e \IS _ 1I:odc, and a.... our oomJpbbIe Nlu", II> lit d"" i n
irJConupIlon. ond � up .. JIoI). hial ..... has f.U." ..... llodn�
-C............ of dise....-nl. ond be filled "."".......sn1 ....... monel ..
1lIff",i<ndy wile ond ....... 11ous 10 ........ ' _il)' 01 .... bounl)' o f..... CrcMor1
Iii< """"pe " n.. o f Ii.... is...... in$Icod orljusI � ,H . ..... ...:Is ......
,.
. iI/t � 0li<l ...... ... of ...". _ ... wich "to;eh .hq o:arnpkd U{i'IXl H "
.... II< -.lhe m wrtb perfon ,lor) ond 00r0rtupti<J0L [S L Isu< speaks. here
of _ who "'"•• cqw:r>IOd , IS is ,"n' rionI _ similar PNP&'C$in h is -- I
'Thor. ...... ".""..by "'" .. JnWJeCItd olin ... ",", . ....... Is ........ !han !be
.
..... . wIIi<h broop' .. ioIo he"" ............ ".'" not. Glory be "' Thine
.....,..,.,
... Ic ru. 0 Lordi Behold, Lord, the ...... of Thy pe <Iooo III)'
mouth widt "lctJC.. oDd "'"'" is,.,.. """'&bIlcfl in .... btforc \he roc:. of Thy
!honkqi..... WhM """""" .... _f... Thy pno;,." 0.- Kin&. n.o.. Wloo
1oY<SII our life? Glory he II> Tho:< foc: .... """ ,..",.... ,"'bleb 'lbou l>osI ...... d for
our ...... ond doloaJot. \codin, '" by III m.... which 'lbou did .. fuh.... II> !he
u-'Icd&c of Thy ,lory, !'rom now and ""'" \he "I<f. A ..... .• So. .....
I tho
Synaot, II� 60.
II. lind.
9
•
 •

diKlbey, and lanore Him." He never returns e\'il for e\'U. He
never likes ven,:eance.1J His punishmmui are loving means of
corm:I:ion, at Iona at anythirc can Ix corra:led and braled in this
life.\0 TIley nt¥U eJ.lmcllO elernily. He c� evCf)'1hina Cood.lf
The wild beuts � as Ihcir mISIer !he ChrUtian who
throu&h humilif)' has pined !he likmcss of God. They dnw nev
10 him not with fear. bill with joy. ill JrMduI and loving submiI­
,
.ion; Ihc:y ..... their heads and lick his hands am 5el'Ve him with
11. "'.(lad.� .. .....w •• ,-H.. o.I)ol._ s.._ ....
b i1. ' No! 111M , .. UIIIId _ ..... ,,* •• .,. -. _ ... He .......
. .... .. 11 0 1 . ....... .. .. _._,... ....... .. ....
OIIlltioo.l)r.aw. s.. -."1 ..... ..,..._ pru;o.._ Hits-.
Ii< _ ... .... Ji>G it ... _ Ala. ioo ...... 11M ....... iI_ ... -'" be
gralilUde. The irnlionaJ beuu know !hal !heir Masin and God is
(See allO
not evil am wicked am vm&<:nol, but rather full of love.
St. Isaac of Syria, t..l'i¥woo 'A�qn«ei IArhenI. 1811], PII. 9S-
96,) He protected am $aved us when we feU. The ec:mWly e\'il
MI /IOthUI& 10 do WIth God. II comes nllm from !he will of His
free , Iotical CTwura, .nd Ibis will He respec1J."
DeIlh.".. not inflicted upon \IS by God." We fell irl;o il by our
1n'Ol1. God is Ufe am Ufe is God. We revolted apinst God, 'Nt:
cloHd our PIes 10 His hfe-livi", crxc." 'For • much • he
deplned from life.' wrote Sli,. hil. "by 10 much did he draw
ncarff 10 death. For God � Ufe. depfi"'lIion ottife is dealh.,"
'God did not CI'CIIC dalh, - OOiIlIl'US.sao,. BasiJ. "but we bl'\ltllhl
it upon ounelvrs" "Not at all, however. did He hir.kT !he
diuoiutlOll . . 50 IhII He would not make !he infinnily ifrwooml
.

'"-"' ..... . 'I__ OOO IlfH.. I I ...... I .._ _ ,-- .... y� in Uf. -. As SIInI II'CIIKIIS puIS 11 -SqlaraIion from God is dWh,
10 _ r.-s-. .-....p • _ � '" 11_ .. .. . ; ... lie Itt • be io ICp.lration from li&hl is darknrss am it � not 1M hCM which
_!hoi .. __ .lOn...... 1110 ..... .. ........ 01_ .....
..iI.- SI. _.., s,.,;.,1'-'Iy II
u. • .. _01 ....
r t )._IWIIO_IoIDlllld .... Lood'. 1
.... 10 Pn<o-, 10 foo&ivc
....- _ ......'.COiI)' -. __ F... lie _
•
,..... ... od 10_ .... H .....If .. fw-.' St. lcno�
u.Mtr <I DtWM .un.... s..,. 26 (0-: lIoIy T....fipnI:.... �.
1911� po ,.1
14. '" _ ...100 io just """ "Qo is like (lad b<c-. lie ...'.. ch .... I .....
..
in .......... _....,., "'" 0111)' in order 10 <om.:! him, ... !hoi oGers be
o6aId.' St. '- .... Syrlon. H� 71 "Ood .,......t .... pal be...r� 10_;
!hoi he .... obicIo: in ......... okmity" ThcopbIIus of Anliodl To A""""'", 1.26.
IS, -,.".. Ood .... 011_ ....... IhoI fie bid onado:, MIl bchokl. they ..... very
$Ood."Genait 1 . 11 1(lad1 t-.d .� ...b .h _ tood quolilies, but ....
pooII ..-cy of "'" detnono ... ...... ... of !he � of ........ fOr C"iI
__ """ ,,"" or nil
&he. II'r .. ....ich done ..... it ""'" IIM:m ond _ hili
.... paht (lad," T _ AllInu 10 "'" Gr..b '7, -n.o � ...... .......tel
;. $Ood. ..... !he �" _ ,.... 11 io bM." tbod. 19 "F... _"I ""'" 1110 firSI
_ .... ..U .,. God. ..... all Ibio&< &ood. ,..., very $Ood.- TIooophi.... 0(
• !tnIIocII T"Jloooo/)noo 1. 17 "!'ow 1"Ioebre... Ie ocuiNo I'.. ".. --. ..
IIooubf. L<'" .. v'" ".. <10 10 __ Le _ .. lib ....' n-Of ..,
11clftw. pa<qItiIoIo ..... ... _ ... il, _ ... ..,. 4oapi. . (1iI.. a
o .),
EriI .... ... _ t- .... � ...td ;''¥UJ' ...... .,c. T .
u-I_lohMh llo., • <"-19$)� "'t-. . ...... .. w. ooIIdo
....... por\Ikt "'.. IoooooIituI .... """"" 51. Dio:cQ_ lie AnI, . 010
IIIor lJtol. "_V'G} lOt), "1'Ofeveo ilobo _ ""' _ ... _
... -.... .. ... .. ""-be_io_ ....... ...... niI ....
.,..., pOoI.' 51. BooiI _ ....... EJIE, 7, Ill. "F. it . ... _ ,... 01 ......
__ .......... _. 1M OM. ....... 1ix:lI) plOd,;'-.Dy
..... .....' ".,•m. c..a.....y 16

I. "
brina' upon !hem lhe puni,lunenl of blindne5$. _I,
"�Ib." NY' Saini MUIII1US !he Confes$Ol'. "ill principally Ihe
sepu111011 from God. from which followed n -n
... nrily Ihe deatb
of lhe body. life is principally He who Aid. '1 am the Ufe.'·U
And why did deJJh come upon lhe whole ofhum&nily1 Why did
those who did DOlI .m w,lb Adam doe A did Adam? Here is the
rrply 0( Sal.lll ANSlaSius the SIII.ite, ·We became the mbc:ritOfl of
!he CUQe ,n Adam i "''e hold disobeyed
We w� IlOl punished as f
tha divine COInIlWIdmm: 1.1011& with Adl.m; bu.1 t.eryv Adam
became mortal. he tranwuued lin 10 Ius posterity. We
monaI IIIJDe we were bom from a moruol ·U
And Saini OreJOf)' l'abmu makc:s ibIS poInI; ·,Godl did 001
Ny 10 Adam; rerum 10 whence Ihou wast tuen: bul ile RId 10
him Eanh thou In and UnIO !he canh Ihou sllilt return .... He did
corne at the behesi of God bul as I consequence of Adam',
seven"1 hiJ relations w'tll the wurce of Life. by lIis disobedience;
IIId God 11\ lIis klndneu did only warn lIim of it.
·The Iree of knowlc4Ce IIKlf.· P)'S Theoph.ilUi of Amioch.
'_ JOOd. and it. frull was lood For it l1l'i$ 00l the tree, as some
i
IbUlk. thai had death in il. ilia the di5Obedimct: which had deub n
it; for � was ngthi", dse ill !he fruit but knowledge�. and
knowlc4JC is JOOd when (II'Ie U$c:ll 1I properly ·IS The Fa�rs leach
UI lhIt !he prohibllion 10 lISle !he � of krio9>'lcdle "'U IlOl
bcume IbIolute but t� Adam W)!J I 5pllltual infanl Not all foods
arc aood for [nfanu. Some foods mIIy even kilt tbtm Iltllough
-,,,lIS W(lUid find them wholesome The lree of knIrA'!edge _
planIed by God for man. 11 "'IS &GOd and nlJ\lriWoa. But iI: "..111
$OIid food ..1'ti!e Adam wulble to d;,esc only milk.
.

IlOl uy 'in whaUoc:va Iby ye sIull eat of il. die!' bill. 'in
",1Ii(S(Ie\'a <by ye J.hall eat of it. ye J.ha.II ilUrely die.· Nor did He ••
•ftawards l.Iy: 'return /lOW UnlO (he eanh.· but lie sDd.·thou shall
return: in Ibi, I1\.aMrr forewunin&. jlAlly penninina and 001 So in lhe IIIII� of the Holy Scriptures. ·just· � lood
obstrucllna -.-hat shall come (0 pull .� We see � death did IlOl and 10\'1111. We lpCll of the just rom of lhe Old Teswnent TII3I
duel not """an IIIiI they were loodjudles bill tIw they were kind
IIId God·loY'na people. When we uy that God s i jusi. ....'e do noc
1'. "Boo. '" _1" dqIM (;om GooI by ..... OWI! .� He inn;.". tIIaI mean thM Ik is • lood judie Who Icnow1 how to punish men
....- ... hom It.Mdr ...bl<h IMy ho •• <boxn of lIItir ""'" � &t equillbly 11«0«11"1 to !he Illivity of liltir crimes. bul on (he
........... (;om GooI If daIh. ..... ''I'l'/1II0II from I"", is __ , h If -.
C(lI1Irary. we mean (hat He is kind .nd lovi"l. forgivilli III
-..... liioi .... 1'IiM .... Inni<'k<l "port ...... !he ....11)'.. at dArlnoss." So.
(........ ,!pOOl ,,,....... , 21 J• •&, 0Ihen ""'" !tie I"", ..., JepanIt'-
Ih<tnS<fva ftom Ood • I,"",. , 2t I
U. f'ilJJoUIlIo, .01. J. p, 21 (o...t od,"....� So. Ma:" """ "'" Conf..,...
. 1t. I_coni"","",)
lJ. ·W. ""- .... ". . . of . . � "' ...-. C<RainIy .... """" DOl
..... ...
_. Ih< ..II'.
p
.....haI u...... .... b:I dioobeyed .... <....... ....... ..... b..... Iou! t...;a.,.. 11-. ..... "_111M Ood ·�od ..,. _. _. (Wiodom ( U�
_ 10)' '•
he boamo IIIOIItJ, he __ Iho lin .. "" ....a; .., ......, bam -a '- 00 1ho body. •, foo ...... ;.. f..,. p.. .... <00.. d fk didobIoD cat oil.
• 1BOItoI " Sl. ..._ ... s_ '9 Viok "_N K_ � _ )'< .... . ... 01 ... Goor bat '\00 ,,·_ 'a <by rc
_ ...,.
""" did fk af/L , • •" "", _ _ _
4rytoton.;( """',,,I.la( � �.. K� £.. �. II- lJ, rc ... .-l)' die' to.... Z,I1).
•

.. jUJdy
U. �'I ' : .- ..- "," er-'.� ......., 1ho_'. .. ..: boll .no. ..... ...". (Gcto. l "� iI ... _ ..
.. ..foe '- "" " __�SL Goqol)'
�
- -- ... rtroa. ,...... ow .......... fonoot GooI ud ...... .. .. .... .... .... ..,. I, Ct
i ' • �l (PC lln-I I60�
.... _ .... w. .. ' ' .... _ .J .
t "" ...... .. ____ -'-I b ,...,,,11 �� JoknJ " fnx,... 0
. .... _ pod. Foo it ...
... _ .... .. ... _ ....... God '""-slY .. .
..""' _01... _ u. "T\oc .... fIl_"",," ..... _ pod. ..
... ddt1 _ """
...
.
M *""- .... � .. .
J . .. -..c ol.... .... "body._ "" .. _ ... ... _ Io ll, ._ ....
...
.
fNiI MIt .... .. I,. .-.; floc
_ 10 11; " """ _ .... .. .... ..
.. Ho,," . ... , .. � . � .... ,... . .. ..,..ot H •
. no I'" AMiodo"':
<I
...... iM .. . ; I 1 .11..... ... ... I " did _ ny .. �
· - .. ....... ..... - ..... · . · _ .... lII. iM __ .... _
........ . .. . pool .... .. _ _ iI
... ....,..., L :IS. "T\oc .. olio! _.. t ...... .. Goo!
.. ..,. ..
c;:..". .
<lid ""
..
_·(O"ll'� ,.,... """.... ... .... • __ ... , OJ!I_....· .. Sl� D
1": __
, JWy S ., '0 (I'(;' '' "la�

12 13
lransgressions and di&0bc4�es, and that He wants 10 save us by
llal't won God OWf atId III(Il/t hllft fO d!iJIIgt, bill thal
all lUWll, and never rtq...
ilCS evil for e\'11.1OO In 1be fin! volume of
IhfOl<gh ()IlT actions and Oflf /liming 10 Iht Di..uul)', ...,
the PllilotDliQ lhe� it 1 I1IIIniflCCTll tUt of s.int Anthony which '(hdMu 0Jtd $I) Of!« trWNt NJI't
htnY CIIrtd ()Il1 ..
1 1tlll$ol read 10 yOll helli'
OIfil)'mnll ofGod'J goodlln" 11wt /I) say lhat God �ms
alOV)' from Iht wictrel is litt say/llg that lht 1l1li hlda
God is good. dispDSSi(}ftQu, (lIt(/ ilN1llUQb/t. Nqw d{from
Iu tilt blind n f(}t(Jp IlOJ
1_ ,"",0 lhinb U fflISombituNIlfllt 10 affi"" IMl
God don IIIX driJngt, ntI1J wrI/ ast 1Io'w. in IMt tast. il ••
is fIODiblt 10 Jpd 0{ God QS ft}oidng OWf IlImt .. #10
Oft good Qnd showing IIItrry to rhost who honour HIIII, You ste now. I how God was sbndered by Western
hopr,
Qnd as I"ming a>oV)" IfiJfPI 1M "'cknl uNI bnll' <JIll,.,
theology, A...gusti�. Anstlm. Tbonw Aquinu and a)l their pupIls
",rII $I·nMfl. To rillS II lll/Ulbt QllSwtrtd111m G«J "mh"
eonlribllled 10 Ihis "theologICal" c.alumny. And they Itt 1be
rtJoicn 1I0f glOwI ongry. 10f 10 rtjoict wuI 10 be oJJttrd­
fOllncbtions of We5ImI 1htcIogy, wtonher PapiR or ProtCSWJl
.
rei Qf,pasJiOftS; _ is Ht _ OWf by 1M I,," of lhast cte:arly that
Cmainly these theologi.ns do IlOl. say e�pressly and
:Ito honouf 11(111, lor IIlDI "'YJUld fMfI" lit il I"''a)·td by
..
God is . wicked and passionate bemS They tailltr CQIISidcr God
pltw"rt. II is /IOf rl,hl tlttJl 1M DI.,nJl)' lui pI�..ft Of :abI
e
as bellla chained by I SUfl("rior foree, by I gloomy .-I i�.:
displtw"f'jrom h_ condIlioru. lit is JOOd, uNlllt
N�ity hke the one wlllch lovemc d the pagln Jodi Th�
011/)' btlloWl blnsings and n�r don lID,,", rtmDining
Neecsslty obhges HIIII to ret...m evil for evi l .-l ooe. not
permit
a/lOV}"s Iht SQIM. Wt 1IItI'I, Of! lh, OIhu hond, If ..... evil done: ",aiM! Hl$ "",II. unless
111m to pardon and 10 forJCI lhe
,tmDill JOOd through rtumhl,ng God, Oft IIIIIltti 10 llim, In in!inlle WisfloClion is offered to HIm
bin If "''f' � ffll IhrrJIlgh /IOf rtstmbim, God, ".,
We open hcl"e the greal 1jUe5I10Il of p.l!an. Gredt influence on
aft StpGflllnltr- Hi ll.l By Ii..,., ill hQI,nt$l WI!' dtdl.,
Chrisllanity. .
10 God; bill by b«omtll8 ""did ..., mait llim Ofj, [\
1"111: pasan mentality was in 1be fOllndalion of &11 heresICS
mtlN)" II is /IOf � lit "OWl 0/11,., wid! .., in an In the East, bcc:I I
use lhe East ..
-as !be road
c-:oss of
was ''CI)" $1l'0III
omlrory I0'Il)'. tNt il is (JIl' 01071 siru IIIDI pftl"tlll God .11 phllosophic.allnd Ilillgioulo;1.lrTetIU. Bull! we Iliad ,n 1be Ne�
from shining "llhill .., and �t .., II) dtmOru ..M TestamctII, ".. here sin tboundcd, Vaec: did IlIIoldI more abound
'
IINfIlrt lIS. And Ifl/lr()llgh prrr)'u and (J(IJ 0{ rompau/(Jft and
So when hcrcslC$ Ilourished. Onhodo�y flOIIlUihed ilI50.
"-e ,om rtlfWtlrom 011' sins. (his don IlOl mtall dUll "-e it al ys
....
although il was persoecllied by 1be mighly of thIS world.
survived vic:toriclu$. In lhe West. 011 the eomnry. the IAPIl
Gredt

mentalily elllered in unobl lu

s ivcly, wIthout wd�1be � of
u. "·...116 "hoi io • """,11'ul
, t.o.n'/. It .. die 1Io:an', bumina; rot .... ..... . 01.... tau dicWed
heresy. II rTlered III through 1be multitude of n
l
La!
..,,;,. --. b ...... b bords, _ ....... _ .-- ODd _ �.-.d
-..: ODd bJ lit • • • ODd ..... ot_ ... "1CI ot . .... it.I _ ,.... by AUlU$line. bi$hop of Hippo. Sr.illl John C.UIIII �ho
WIS hm
. �
font! iIi\O.IndOIII ..,. F""" .... ....... .... .."" " .... , mercy ..· h .... pip< IIiI htaII
lhen in the West undcw.ood the poison WI wu In Augusu ne !
IIId Ilum Us put n "", loa Us IIeaII il looo.hIoooI ODd _ _ _ _ ... .....
lilt ... _ .., ....,. _ ...... _ iIi .-. rlllt .... _ I>< • .,. tuebl llP, .-I fought � iI. But 1be flC! that Ausmtlllc's
0iIIIttI ..,1artW _. CYftI b imoIioBoI ....... .... .... _ ... 01 .. '""" _
for "'* ,..100 ....... h .... .... III<)' \Ie prOIOClO<I ud .-;. . � ....... ill like
.
__ lot __ � "" ... foooIIy 01 tqIIiIa t-x 01 ... ..,... ;
.. .... . _ \lan ........ _ il ... �oIGod.. S l. 1 _ " ll. " � is nat God ..100 it �I<. buI n; rot God " ...,..". _ik," $I. ""'"
S)'rioooI. Hc./Iy II � (I'G 61, .71�

" 15
 --------:--1
boob wcre wrinen in Llein and !he fact Uw !hey were: u�ly Israel believel in God.
Im&thy did noc permil their study by !he otlw:r FiUhmi of I� Papnism believel in ,realion That is 10 say, in pqanWn
Churdl. and 10 they were never oo!ldemned as Origen's worb crc:.uion is deified. For me �, God and cre.uion are one and
vnfe c:ondemIled ni \he EasI. This fact pmmned them \0 utrtise me same thi", God is iJnpenOfW, personirled in J. IlWltirude 0
I II10llI influenu bta" in Wale", though! and theoIoaY. In Ihe ....
W�I. linle by lillie krlMiledte of the Greek IqIugc Y'oi.bed, israel (and when we 1pC:J.k: oflsnd we: mean the trve Israel. me
and AUlUMme'1 ruu were the only boob .YliJ.able dalina from spirinW 10m of Abnlwn. those who IYve me faith givm by God
ancieN: limes in II� I.II'denIOor.I !here, SO the WesllClCeivcd 10 His cho5m people, noI tlDc 1IIbo hlve J.bIrKIoncd thill faith
as OItLSlian • texhull wbieh was in many of its aspea:s papn. The real IORI of Abnlwn an: the Owreh or Chri$I:, and not liJoK
Cao:mo-paplSl 6cvt1opmms n i Rome did IIDI permit any healthy carnal clcscmdJ.m, the JewISh nee). Israel knooIo'S that God and
reKlion \0 thIS lIMe of aff',n, and so the West wu drowned in crution an: IWO Bdlcally diffcrenl kinds ofuistenet. God is self·
!he hwnauiSlK:, pqan thou&hI which prevails 10 Ibis d�y.· existent. pcrsorW. Claml, immortal. Life and the: Swrcc: or life,
So '1ft have the East on the OtIC side which. speaking and ExIStence .nd the Swrcc or eJ;utence; God is the only rc:J.I
wrilina Greet, remained esstnually !he New Isncl with IsrxliC It Ex.i§lenet 0 ':Il� 1M ElIislinc, the Only Existin&: litis is tho:
tbouJhI and 6aereO ("",Ilion, I!1d Ibc West DIllhe' OIlier side which meanilll of the Inkle 0 It
havllli forgotlen !he Gmt Ian'\lalc IJld having been an off from Creation, on the tonIr.ry, has no sc:lf-u.isteRCe. It is IOIJ.lly
the Ea$km iwe, inb:riled �an Grulr. thouaJU am illl menI.llil),.
and fonned with It an .when/cd Christian leaching
In realny, tile opposiliOll between Onhodoxy and Wesltm
ChrisrWlily is nothill& else: blJl rhe pet'J)mWion of the oppo$ilioo
between Israel and UeU••
We IJIUJI never forgel Uw the Flthcn ohhc Olurch oomidered
thmlKlveji [0 he the 1M: spiritual �hi1dren of Abraham, t1w the
Church considered luelf 10 he the New Israel. and tIw tile
Orthodox peoplet, whelher Gm:k. Russian, Bulgarian, Serbian,
Ronwtlan, CIt , were: conscious of being like Nathaniel, tnIe
Israel;u:., me People of God. And ....lIile this was the re;J con·
8Ciousness of Eastern Ov i.lianily, me West became more and
more I. tbild of papn, IIW1W1istk Greece and ROIne.

• 7_

WIllI. wm tile pnneipfl thulClnUtics of IhiI differm;e of

IlIou&hI bct....eetl Isnd and papnism? I call your �ion to IhiI
very impon&nc mMter.

u.
;��,-::
_::..�:
.. ,, . :,:�
�
:::
_ ... (10 o-t) (AdIeu. Iff7}.

.. 17
dependenc on the will of God. II exi�1S only 50 10ng ;iS God wants
i IlOI eternal. It had /10 existellCC. It was null. t
it to ui$(. It � i wa
compkfely notbillj. It was created OUt of IlOIbingness ." By iuelf
it has 00 force of existCllC;C it is kept in existence by God's
Energy. If thi$ lovillj Energy of God ever stops, CfUlion and .U
created beings, illlellectual or roon-intellectu.ll. rational or rntiona[
i and immonal. something that always existed and will always e"w.
will vanish illlo non--existenct.:. Wt; know that God's lo� for Hi�
cn:ation i� etcTnal. We know from Him that Ht; will never let us
tall into non-eJI:istma, from which He brouglu us into being. This
is our !lope and God s i true in His promises. We, Created beings,
mgels, and men. will live in eternity. root because we have in us
the power of eternity. bin becau$C this is the will of God Who
loves us. By ourselves we are /IOIbillj. We have I>Ot the least
energy of life and of uistence in our natu�; that wbich we have
tomc:S entirely from God; nothillj is ours. We an: din of tile earth,
and wben we forgot it. God in His merq permintd tlt.:il we rerum
to what we an:. in order that we l"eTnain humble and have exact
knowledge of our nothingness." "God," uys Saini John Damas­
cene clsewhere. "can 00 all that He wills. even though tie does not
will all things thot lie can do - for He can dc:Mroy creation, but
He does not will 10 do 50." (Ibid. I. I"�
In the Crw EudwloglQtr (Venice, 1862), I fundamental
liturgiCIJ booi; of the Church, we read:
-0 God. the ,rw and most high. Thou Who alone basI
irNnonllity- [7th prayer of Vespers, p. 131;
-Thou Who ll� an life-living by nature...O onJ)' m i monaJ"
[Ode S. Funeral CllJIOn for Laymen, p. 4\OJ;
"Thou an the only immonal : [po 410J;
" The only One Who s i immo naJ because of His godly nature"
[Ode I, Funeral Canon for Laymen, p. 4711.
This is the faith of Israel.
What is the teaching of paganism? Paganism is the t:On5eq_
of the lou of eoll\.ad with God. The rtwltituck of the sill$ of
.10. ·11. _MOd wiIhouI .....- . St. l",," etoy_ (I'(; ". 3(1).
It. St. lam 1lonIao<coe, ",.<iL 1 . 14
3l. St. Jolin � ",. cit. 1. I.
I.
bumanity made men incapable of receiving the divine light and of
having any union with the Living God. The consequence WLii to
consider as SOI!1ething divn i e lhe creation wllich they ,,"I" bcfo�
tbent e�ry- day.
Paganism considers crear.ion as being somethillj self-eJ'.istent
In paganism the gods are put of creation. They did not create il
from nothingness. they only fortntd the e�isting mauer. M iner can
tau diffen:nt forms. Forms caine imo nistcnce and vanish. bUi
maner itself si eternal. Angels. demons • • 00 lhe soul! of men are
tlte real gods. Eternal by their Ralun:. IS is maner ilKlf, Lhey are.
however. higher titan nuueT. l11ey mighl take diffen:nt material
forms in a s,equeroc:e of material existences but they remain
essentially spirirual.
So in paganism we see two fundamental tharacteristics: (I) An
auributing of the tllanocttri5lics of godhood 10 tile whole of
creation. that is: eternity. immonality, self-existenc:e. (2) A
distinction betweet1 lhe spiritual 100 the material and an antagon­
ism between tbe two IS between spmething higher aoo romething
lower.
Paganism and humanism Ire one and the .wne thing. In
Jl-3lanism, man is god becaU$C he is eternal by nature. This is why
paJani$ITI is always llaug.hly. It is narcissism. It is self-adoration.
In Greece. the gods had human wTlll(terwics. Greek n:ligion was
lhe pagan adoration of man The soul of man was considered hii
.
real being, and was immonai by IlitUre.
So we see thal in pII,anism IIIe devil suc:cceded in creating J
uni�rs.il beliefwt men were gods and IO did not need God. Thb
is why pride was so 1Ii&h in GIftCC and why Iwmiluy was
iCJ:onCeivable. In his work The NichomDchMII Ethics, Aristotle
wriles lhe following words: "Not 10 resent offenses is the marJ[ of
a base and slavish man." The man who is convinced by tbt: devil
(0) btl� in the error IIItt h.is soul is eternal by nature. can never
be humble and can never really believe in God. because be does
not need God. beingGod himself. iii his error makes him believe.
This is wily. from the very- first. the Fathers of the CIturth,
understanding the danger of this stupid error, WJrDed the Chris·
tians of the fact that, as SaiDl irenaeu.s putS ;1: "The teaching that
I.

the burN.n 5011] is lIIIunlJy immorul is from the devil" (Proofof
� Apaf,olic PrttJdli,.,. m. 20. I). W� f md the samc: warning in
SaiIM Justin «()jlllog� wi,h Trypho 6. ]-2). in Tbeoplllius of
....ruioch (ro Au,oIyaiJ 2. 97). in Titian (To Iht a,.«ks 13). etc.
SalIM JU$l.in uplains the fundammtaI atheism wbicb nlsu in
the belief of the lIIIunl ccemity and invnortality of the iaIman
50111. He writes: "Thc� � someOlbers who. llav;", suppoIed that
the soul is immonal lJ1d imnulerbl. believe though lbey hive
comnuned evil they WIll 00II wffer punislunclM (for that wbich is
imrrulerial is also ll"lStnsbi lc). 100 tlla the 50111. in consequene<: of
ill invnonality needs IlOIhing from God" (Dilliogut ..lIh rrypho
I).
PllganiPtl is ignorance Ilf the true God. an CTllJoneOUS betief that
HIS ereahOO is divine:. rully a cod. This cod. howevet". "'110 is
N.IIure . is impersonal, I blind force. above.1l personal gods. and
Is called Necessity ('A""""'I). ]n reality. IhlS Necessity is the
projection of human reuon. &l; , mathem.u�al necenilY ,ov�ming
the world It is I projea.ioo of ...iooaJism upon nant� This
ruion:l.listic NtteaSity is the true, lupreme blind rod of the �.
The papn gods are �rll of lhe world. and lhey are lmmonal
because of the immo nility of IWU� which is their essence In Ibis
pq.m mrntallty. man s i also cod lib: tbc: «hen. because for the
pIIpns the �al man is only his 5OII].)J and they believe �I man's
soul s i Immonal in ilself. sine<: it is pan of the essence of the
wtiverv. ..t .llth is COIlIidered immort.tl n i itself and sel(-exiMent.
So man .tso is rod and I 1IlCI5U� o( III minas
But the &ods arc: IlOI free. "l"hey � governed by NecessIty
wbich is Impersonal.
•
I.
II is tlli5 pagan wly of !hough! IIw Willi mixed with the
20
-
O!risIiln taching by the various heresies This is Wllal happened
In the Wesc, 100. "l"hey bepn 10 dIStinguish IlOI ba..__ God and
His crution. but baween spirit and mallt!".loO They bepn 10 think
of the _I o( man IS of somethilll ccemal in itself. and be8:m 10
consider !he condition of man IftCf de.IIb 00II as I sJeep in !he
bands of God, but as !he re.al ltfe of man.- 10 which !he resurrec­
tion of !be dead. hid lJI)(hing 10 add and even the need of the
resurrection was doubtfUl. l1Ie feu! of the Resurrection of OIlr
Lord. which is the culminalion' of III feuls in Orthodoxy. belln
to fall into second place. because its neal ..... as UiCOllipldJens.ible
10 the Western CbrlSllam as il was 10 the AtheniAnS wbo beard the
5ClTTIOn of the Apoltle Paul.
SuI wlw. is more important for our suhject. lhey belan 10 feel
lhal God Ilo')l subject 10 Neceuity. 10 this tllionalislic Nea:s:sily
wIuch was nothi,. dse but human loti!: They dCl:larl'd HlRI
uapable of wrllllll into concact with inferior bei.., like men.
becaU$e their rationllistic. philosopltical t0tlCqll1om did not permit
it. and u .... this beliefwbich _ the fOllndllion of the hes�
disputes. it had lI.--1y begun wllb AlIJII$t.nc woo t&U&:hI �I i,
WIll IlOl: God Who IpoII:e to Moses but :m lIlJel I""cad
It if in Ihil eontext of Necess ily. which e�en gods obey. thai we
lTAISI wder$Iand the Westernjuridical conc:ep!ion ofGod'ljustice
It ..... -"'1 for God 10 punish man'l disobedience It .....
impouibl� (or Him to pahIon. I superior N«essily dClJWlded
vengeance:. Even if God was in reality ,ood and loving . He ....
IlOI able 10 aa Iovinaly. He was obl igl'd to KI COIItrU)' 10 HIS
love; the only !luna He oouId do. in order 10 $Ive humuuly, ....
10 punish His Son in the plac� of men. and by this meaJ15 was
N«ess;ty wisr.ed.
. CO" _� ... deriL
:w. "1'... oodt .". ...... all<r .. k..t, is a body. II< II ....L
StIbde Ihowp tbc)' _ ..n .. . t ....... tbono< ... . WId ...... occ onl"" '" "'"
� oftlri- r ; � • •__ floor ..., _ bod.. - So. Mocontn the (ftoI,
� � �. .. '.
.l5.. 't.cI . .. .. ....... in .. .... ... _ II _ be-.. lbod for _
-' . _�." c.w. £.rioJ.,p. ev..,itc, (162), p. 41' """... joIII _ .... Iipt
wbat II _ .. .... � io nor. IGot. ... _ .... _Ii>... ...... II> III< .,."" Of
if -..: )'<t lit io po
.... ed for .. do... 01 ... .
. _ ..... . Sc. JoM
.
""'
2,
 ••
Thi$ il 1M IrilllTlpll of Hellemstic thougl!! in Christianit)' As .
Iltllcnis.!. Orlgen had Jrrivcd al 1M same conclusions. God WiIS a
judge by _.uy. He was oblipl lo punllh. 10 '''mae, 10 �nd
people 10 btU Hell _ GooJ', trUlion. II "'as I punllfuneg;
demarw;Itd by juSlice Thi$ demlnd of jllSfice vas a IlC«SSlIy. God
WIS obhgcd 10 submll 10 it. He was no! permi(led 10 forgive
There was I wperior fOfte. I N�'I)' ""!lich did 1101 permit Him
10 love uncono1ilkm:aUy
However. Origen was also I ChrislW! and he knew IIIaI God
was full of lovc. How is It possIble 10 acknowledge a loving God
Who keeps people in torment elcnlllly1lfGod is the cawe othell,
by Jlle(e$SIIY ttlm t1xrc n,ISI be: an mel 10 ii, Dlben.;� we ann(JI
c:oncedo: thJI,od is good Ind 1(W11li This juridical CQnCqllIOI1 of
God as In instrument of I superior. imperso�1 forte or !kit)'
named Necessity. lads loaiaJly 10 DpQta!asfllJlJ. "!he reuOtallOll
of all things and !he Gdlruccion ofhdl," (Itbmr,'iK we mtIM lidmll
I�I God is cruel.
The pagan Greek menul ity cwld noI comprehend li'lal lhe eausc
of hell wu no! God but Bis IOlical creiIlUf". If God was noI
teally rift, since lie _ l<M'med by Neauit)', how could lIis
crcal"'� bot free? God oould noI giYC IIOII'IeIhilll ..
- hid! He did not
posst$s Himself. Morcover. HIe pqan Greek mernalil), C(lO.Ild no!
i lhe 1IiJhc:st
l:OI'ICeive of disilllcrested love Freedom. howC\'er. s
,ift It... God coold ,ive 10' Cl'afUTr. becau$e f..
.Worn makes Ihc
Ioatal eTWures like God This wu an meon.eivable ,ift for
ptgan Greeks. TIley eould 001 ima&ine I creature which could llay
"00" 10 an almiatuy God. !rGod wu almigluy. crealU� eould noI
loll)' "110" 10 Him. So if God pve men HilI,I'JU, men could IlOl
•
ITJeCl '1 0lhcrwi5C God would IlOl be almi""y. If we MlITII! It...
God is tlmigtKy. then His grace must be irresistible, Men elMO!
� from il. llIII means 111M IboK men who .re deprived of
God'i ana are dcpn� beause God did IlOl ,i� His ,I'JU 10
Ihcm. So Ihc loa of God'I 1race, whieb is eltrnal, spintWlI dc:aIh,
in other words. hel l. is In rcality an ICI lotall)' �ent on God.
It i$ God Who is punilhln& � people by deprivilli than of His
crace, by not pmnirtm, iI to slime upon !bern. So God ill !he QUH
••
oflhc eternal. spirilWll death ofthoK who arc damned. D.amnarion
II an act of God an act of God', jultiec. an act of n«:eu.iIy or
,
.nltlly', M • result. OrigCll tbouJhl that if _ arc 10 remalO
ChristW\S, if we are to cominue 10 believe thai God 1I 1T.lly lood,
wc IIUL$I believe IIw hell is not I:IctTIIIl, bul will luive ilII end, ,0
spilc of all tlUt is Wllltm 10 Ihc Holy Scriptl,lres and of whal: \he
Church believes. Thill ill the faw, perfeaty locieaJ conelulIIon, If
God i. lhe cause of hell, hell m� have an end, or else God is an
evil God.
>G.
Origcn, and all r1IionaIi5� who arc like him. was not able 10
undcnland thai Ihc aca:ptanCC: or Ihe rejcaion of God', grace
depends I,'hrdy 011 !he raional creatures; tIw God, like the sun,
�r lIopI Ihining 011 lood or wicked alike; that mional .rUlUres
lIT, however, mlilTly free to accept or rejec
t Ihis arxe and lovc,
and thai God in HII ,etlUmc love doe5 not fora HIS 'l'CIIures 10
xcept Hun, bu1 rapecI$ lbsoIutdy !he" free decision.» He doeI
not wnlldrAw Hil grlCe .nd love, bul the attitude of the logical
.reatur� IOwan! thill unuasina &race and love i$ lhe dIfference
bcI:_ p.l1'Mli5C and bdl. Tbo$.e ..110 love God are hippy WIth
11"", thoK who hale Him are uucmel)' mlSCnble by be,.
obli@ed 10 h�e in HIS pl"esCntC. and there is 110 place: ....here one
ean escape !he lavina: omnipresence of God
PandIK or hell depmd.s DrI ho... "'c ...111 xcept God', love
Will � retllt)1 lovc for IoYe. or will ...e rapond 10 II I1 Iovc w,th
hate? This is Ihe .riual differenoe. Am this difference dcpend$
mlirel)' OIl us, on our freedom, OIl our innel'll'lO$l free choice, on
I perfectly f= IIl1tude ..,1ucII II not IIII1I.1C1lC1:d by wernal
c:ond'lJOIII or iDtetTIIIl fat:aor1 of our nwerial and psycholocicll
1\UIUl:, bcaUH il is not an external It:! but In inlCfior ltI
illide
comilli from the bottom of our heart, eonditionina IlOI our lilli,
but Ihe way _ thint about our JiN. II il is clearl)' IIttII io Ihe
13
 case of !he publican and !he pharisee and in lhe case of lhe two
,obbclJ truclroed willi Orist. This freedom, Ihis tOOke. Ihis inner
anil\lde tow.rd our Cla!or II !he inncnnoM core of OUt eternal
pmoollli ),. it iI !he most profound of OUt charaaeriSlQ, it II
wha! mattJ lIS thai: wbicb we an. it is our etelllll face _ bnght or
dark. lovlna or h aing.
t God. in H.. love, ...iII pardon them. God is alwaYl lovma, Ile is
No, my brothers. unhappil)' for \IS, pltlldi K or hell does no4
<kpcnd on God. If it depended on God. wC' would llave nothing 10
(Qr, We have nothina 10 fear from Love Bill il does flOC depmd
on God.II dqlmds enll�ly upon WI, and dll, b the ..
'hoIc Irqcd)'
God waftS lIS 10 be: ill H.. inuge, tlemaJl)' free He �pec:u WI
absoIulcl),. ThIJ is love. WlthouI respec:c, we et/UlOI! speale: of love.
We .re Illefl be<:ause we arc free:. If we were IlOl free:. we would
be: dever .ninuJs , IlOl Illefl. God will neva' taU back this lilt of
freedom ..hich rmtkn WI ",hit we an. Thill means thai: we ",ill
ahnyt be wh.at we want 10 be. friends or enemies of God. and
I�re iI no dlanging In Ihll our decpeSI Kif In lIIis life. lbere Irc
profound or superficial dlangtJ in our IIfc. in our char-.:ter. in our
belief., but all lhrsc dwlles .re only lhe expression in lime of our
deqlesl tlernaJ self. This deep eternal self is tlmul. With all the
meanina of the ......,.u This is why par-'isc and hell an also
etern:&l. There iI no c:han&ina III what we rcally I�, Our len'IpOnd
dw1CIC1Uliai and our 1I�0t)' In life depend. on many JUpe:rlIc:la1
things .mitll vanWi wilh death, bul our ral personaJily Is flOC
$UpCrfceul and docs IlOl depmd on chanaina and Yanislling thinas.
II is OIIr real Kif, II remains Willi 115 when we sleep n
i the lrave.
and will be OIIr real fxc III the rcsurrcaioD, II is eternal.
II.
• Saml John of the LacIder $1)'$ $OIllCWhe:re In his worle: thai:
'before OIIr fall the delllOl. $I)' 10 \IS that God
ill frim;I of man;
but aftef our filli. they Sly thai: He is iuaorable.· This Is the
wnnina lie or !he devil: 10 convince lIS that any harm In OIIr life
has 15 iu cause God'1 dilpOlilion; thai iI ill God Who will fora:ive
us or Who will pwtis/I us. Wbhln& to throw lIS into sin and then
to mate lIS 10K any tq.c: of freeina OIInclva from iI. they _Ie:
10 present God u lOmCtima fora:ivlna all li�. md lOmCtina _
..
inexorlble MOI!;l Cbmlians. even Onhodo� Cbriltians, havc ,.lIen
inlo III!, pi!. They CQnSkier God �poi'ISiblc> for our becng
pardoned or our beina punished. This. m)' brothers. 1$ • terrible
faJ5dIood which mates moSI men lose ttemaJ life. pnoclpally
becl'rse in considerina God', love. they QlIlVince Ihems.cIVQ thM
alway. p.rdoning. Ile Is always I friend of man. However, lilal
wtcktc never pardon5, WI whleb !leVer is • rriend of man, iI lin,
:and � llCYet think: of il u we ought 10 Sin desIroys our soul
indepcnde ly
nl of the love of God. bcaus.e lin IJ pfttiscly the rOId
...tuch leads .way from God. bec:aw.c: "n erec:u a Will ",him
5qW'IIICS tiS from God. bec:aLI$C sin dCSlrO)lll our spiringl eycs and
makes us IIlIIblc> 10 see God's lighl, The demons Willi 10 make U5
always thUlk of our salvalion or OIIr etern.tl Ipirituai death in
juridk.al lerms, 'They ""'Ill us 10 tIunk that either sillV,"on or
tlcmat dealh is I question of God'I decision. No. my brothers. we
ITIUM Iwaken inon;Ier not to be 1061 Our WVlItion or our tlerrgl
dealh is IlOl I question of God's decision. but it is I questIon of
O/t, decision. il is a queslion of tho decis,.,., of our (ree will which
God resp«u absoIulcly Let us IlOl fool out$elvcs with conf1dence
in God', love The dan«erdoeI lIOI awne from God; it OJ"'" from
our own Kif
12.
Many WIll sa)': 'Don IlOl 1I00y Scripture ilKlf often Ipe:Ik
about the anacr of God? b il flOC God Himself Who says thai He
will puniJh us or thai I�e "'il1 patdon usl l1 il not wrinrn thai 'lie
i s . KWlrder of them tlw dIligently I«k Him' (Hb.11 6)?" Does
He IlOl say lhat �engunce il His :and thai Ue will roquilc the
wicle:edness done 10 1IS1 I. 11 Il0l wrilten that il is fearful 10 fillt 11Il0
JJ. ....... -c.. _ ...,. � _ ....
51 • __ p.-.
_ __
"Con'....
. IIcIftws '0'35
•
25
the hands of the livinl God?"· I hteral �... tho5c who hive . mioo undenllOd this" (Homily
83. p. 317).
11'1 his di$OOlfl Se milled nw God U IlOl lire (au of E";I,
Sail'l Basil lhe Oreal wmes the followilll: "But 00II: 1liiy say. f i
Sail'l Bali! in the WIle discourse"" giva the cxplarwion of
God IJ IlOl lUpOI'ISible for evil thillgs, why i, .t said in the book of these uprcu.tOnS of the Holy Scriptures: "II is because fear: J.t)'l
be, 'edifIeS simpler people: and !his is true IlOl only for simple
£saia. 'I am He that prcpmd haht tIld Who formed 1Artnc:ss.
Who matea people buI for aU ofus. After our ,.U, we Deed fear in order tooo
peICe U1d WOO �rt:aICS evils' (.S:7).' Aoo . apin any profitable: thiDl and any JOOd 10 OW1dves or to ochers. In
'There came: dowa evil. from Ibc Lord upoo the gates of Jcrusa­
order 10 unOmand the Holy Scriptures, say the Fatbers. we IDISI
lan' (Midi. I:12). /too, "ShlII Ihcre be evil in the City wllicll the
hive in mud their PUrpoH ...hit;h is 10 J.tVC US. and 10 brine ...
Lord IwlI I'lOl �'" (Amos 3:6). /too in the great Ode of
hnlc: by lillie to an undcTstaooilll of our CreaIOI" God and of our
Moles. 'Bdiokl. I am and Ibcre is 110 god beside Me. I will sIOlY.
wrctdlCd oondllion.
and I w.lI make 10 live; I will NIU�. and I will heaI- (Dan 32:39)
But the wnc 1I0ly Scr!plures in OIhe1" pllII;CII apWn tous trIOR
But � of these alMlons. 10 him '"ho Wldcntands the docpn
lCaI....ely
. who is lbe real cause of our evils. In Jemny 2: 17.19.
meaniq of the Holy Scriprurea, casu any blame on God. &S if He
we read "llath IlOl thy forJakiq Me brough!. these th.1lP upon
...cre the CIU$C of evils and their crealor, for He Who said. '[ am
thee? Allh tht. l..ord thy God .. Thine apmmy shall chastHC thee
the One Who man. Ugh!. and cblknest;,' shows Hunself.u the
and thy ...ickt:dness $hill reprove thee; blow then, and _ Ihat thy
Crealor of the uni\'crsc, IlOl that He is the Crealor of any evil . . ..
forsakin8 Me bath been biner 10 lbe!:. Aith the Lon! thy God.'
"Ue Creales ev,...· 1ha! means, "He fulnoRS them ..ain &lid briOCS
The Holy So:nptUfCI tpe:ak our lanc�. the l.�ge ....hich we
lhem t o . betLe�l'l .o dial they kave lheir evilllll:SS, 10 lake 011
undcntalll:l in our fallen stale As $liN Grqary the "TheologIan
•

the nature of good ,,.

Slyl. "For -.:card'na 10 our own comprehentiiott. _ have given
As Saini Isaac the Syrian writes, "Very often many tIunp Ire
nlmC'S 'rom our own IItribulcl 10 !hose of God'" And SainI Joim
said by the Holy Scripturea .l'1li in it many nanJeS are used 1101 in
Damucc:ne uplaiRS I'unMT that ....hat in the Holy ScripruTCli "is
Aid of God as if He had • body. ;s Aid symbolically ... [II
COIll.aInIJ some hidden meani"" which Ihroush thin&s COrrt::5flOoo·
illl 10 our l\IIure. IUches ui things which exceed our Mture.-01

Il.

However. tbere IfC punishmcnta Imposed upon us by God, or

rather evil. done 10 us by the devil and permitted by God. But
these punishmenQ IfC what ...e call pecb&ogieal ptIIIishmew. They
have as tht.ir aim our colTtclion III fItis "fe, or 11 least the
correction of oIbtn ....no would rake I lesson from our �

.... IbW. 19'

.1. So. GretooY .. T' ,va F'IJo 1M 'ruJ � ]l (,..:l l6. U7).
n. Sl. .. D .,. ... 1 It

17
UId correct Ihcrn&clves by far. Tbere I� lIso punL.l.luneDl$ whicb All Ihc:5e punWlrnelllll � and have llIeir purpose in llus
do no! hive lilc pu� of c:onetlina anybody bul simply pul .n rorrupced SIIIe of Ibinp; lhey do no! Ulend beyond Ibis corrupted
end 10 evil by pulhoa an end 10 !hose who are p�illj il. 10 hfe. The,r purpose it 10 COrrtd. whil can be co/reeled, and 10
ItIaI !he eareh may be saved from perpetual tomIp(ion UId local chan&e thinp lOWI.Id. I bener coM. , lion, wllile tlungs can $Iii!
dc:s!rvttion; such was !he ease in lhe Oood during Noe's lime. UId chMwe In t/ut chan&illl world After 1M COI't1D'IOIl Re$urm:tion no
In Sodom'1 dealrvttlOll " � whalever can �ke plaee. Eumity and inconupc,bihly I�
1M 5Im of u� things; no llterU.ionII wtullt1:oer happen
then, only ckvdopmenu in !he 5Im choseD by flft penonalilio:s:
�l. "F....... """ ....... """ IIoodJ ..., __ plop« <If".... """ _ (lemal UId infinltc dtvc:lopmelU.but no ct.angina:, 110 Iltrnuion of
...0:11 oiord 1hc ,.._." ..�. � ,. . ... pIoj._ iI._r.ar. dlreelion. no JO'na t:.c;k Tbe chingLlll world we.$ee Il'OOnd \IS is
� if .. � _ ,.... ... ...,..",. ID Ib< body (lor 1Ioo ...._ ...'" ill<
d_. ... """ ....... III< ..trcm� .. .. .... _ __ God is """" "'.... chanalna bc:eause It is COI"rupubie. Tbe r(emat New 1I��D5 and
Idol. • ..._ ID t •• ).. ....... III<_ <Jl pMi<ubr ;
<'
;':;;';;
; ; New Earth whJcll God will brina aboUl in His Sccocd Comma an
!lui t'" """ .....,. 40 ,.... ... ;peo/I: �OI) "' ... "..,.... ...... ... _ ineorrupliblc, thal �, 0(]( chan&i11l. So in chis New World
_ .... ,... .-.un -.. -.dac_ -, _ < i '..Iy ... die body. ever. Iherdoce, pec!aaOSIC,lI
there CIIn be no collection ... .,..,
\IuI)'O'O.... I'.'c .... _ """ oddtta .. IS .,_ -. be COI'I&<i _
d_ .. . "O .... """'" .....r......,. _.- _"""'" body I�, punl5l'1mC'nu I� no kwl&er neces.uf)' , Arty punishmml from God
.. ... )'ClIO ... . <I )'
, ...... . 11I1 .
00m . ' io _ .....,...., .. I ...... .." on chili New World of Resurrectio n would be durly and WUhoul
_. . .. ... oU IoMo;b. )011 do> """ $IonDIo: ro- .. _ I t.!o'I' ••
...... ...... ... .... PIo)...... """ s.._ ' 51 8uil 1IIo GreM, .... cil. 1," I doubt • revenadul .cI. inappropnl le and motiYaied by hate,
. ...... tOIl -r K«pI 1IIo ...... ' 1 bll -.d I wIl _ .. live' (D<u. U;l') wlthoul any good intemKln or purpose,
1....1ly. of )"\Olll ..osIo, IIncc St. odllld ill< _ ..... ' '1 ..
·m "",.. """ I ..m If we eonsidcr hell J$ I punl5hmetII from God, we �I admit
"..I' (ON.. )2J9� k is "",r_ lUbe...... 1 duo '-- 1-.011). ,... Ib<
....... ......... r.." ,,'h,lo III< 1IulioI, ...... .. .... &. � IS p<mt0l<d l....
lhal II is I _less punWunenl. unless we admll thaI God is an
....I<u,oo_"'
... ... . k>I\.o<r ...._... of.... �•• 1 wilI .lly """"'" nfinitely
I wicked bcioa
.io """ ...u ID I.... -ch . ....... '!lul IIIoIo&h ..... ....-anI .. "'"" pmsh,
Iu Saini IJUt tbe Syrian says: ")Ie woo applies pcd:i10l1Cll
� doc 10 ,,-...1 ...... tS ........ od <lay II)' <loy' (11 Co< . 16� Thmfbtt, H..... "'"
punishmclls l in ortkr 10 live hellLh, si punuhinB with love, bul he
I loy Ollt • ...:I .". �f. ID IIIO!hn. bu'_*" ...._""'.... I:edry1,He."..
lof. ID. -. ond lie """1$0 _ ..od'I ..... "bl<. H. ""lit. hila. K<XIIIl"" ,,>I'" who IS looklnB for vengeance, is devoid of love. God punisheS
prot",,,, ",'h;c,h ooy... ·f... lbou ....k btl, hIm "iIh III< tod, ...:I ...... deliV<f II" f.r it - but He wams to
_I ""'" de""" (Prow 2J 14) So III< IInh • d...tMd for .... ..... ID bebtaltd.
wllh love, no! defending Himself - be
ond mil ",,' 1D drOll! 1'0< � ID Ii.'� \\bnI )'OII _ "lbtn: ikI1I be heal His irnase, Ind lie does no! keep lIis wrath for long. This
IID"� .. aclty ... bloh Ih: I. on! __ .. """bt' (ef, "'- ) "� .... r>tond by wly of love is !he way of upri�, and II does not ehan&e wilh
"'" _ ' ,.11' N' 1110 ..on! .._.... .... lri blllal .... bn>J&hI upce ...... 1'0< 1110
<omni:Ooo ofolr...... For � 00). ... 'For i tJ1Iio:It<j ..... """iIA,....... 1Ioce.
passion 10 • dc:fe1l$C. A mill who is just iI!Id wise: is like God
ID dO """" ID ...... (er 110M, I.l� 10 !DO is ..il ln'IIIirIaIcd bc lilln: iI "';Ib DIll
·
�U5e he nc:ver cilutises • man in revCTlle for wickt:d!letll, bul
-.-...s. II . ...... diU ... ....1 IIDIdo bock • ri..... only 10 order 10 coma him or thai others be .fnJd" (Honuty 11).
·r... .... ..-., ......o(,..... III<l ...... ...... bIrmmos$ o(1II<
So "' see Ilw God punishes as Ion& as theK is hope for
.... oo:d", _ tWI\(a. � . . .... life of ...... MofI'lbc ....... or
....-.
... n... _ . .... .- t.. God 10 II II> """"" .... ..... .....ih. b
die Ir't I't., fIlill< body IIIdall ,..t\It .. ,... WIIIIouI IIa•• btoeOI dtnied
..... .. ,oA. ... '" _ (Iod, .....rc.... ox;'" ..-;I: ....... ....iI rr... God
TIoc_ofe....... .... .. "ond -.. .... _<Jl_ ....._ k; <U. ( ')
... .. 'I ...... ..,., .... ..... _ ... ... ... .. ... .. ... "'... II n "'..iI, .,... ... _mspoo... · ildepaII* ,.... .......
n.. ... ""*- -. ...... .. ... -... 01 ... � __ God II> ..... &0. ..;I .. 10 be .. ...,.
-or ill< .... .-ia, _ ..., ...... . be --'"' b ... _lot til
.-.- poobIot cri ... ...... oc-aa
"1'Iot ,...... ...... _,., .....,., io _ _ ...... . _1liiy .....,. -... -toiIo _ _ .. ... � tII... oo:d _ ... b _ �
(.. ' ) 1D ..u ...... ... ..... • SL BIIiI ... 0.-. op,,,," 7. "102

2.
comaion. Alief !he CO".'1OiI Re$urreaion there u no question of
any punishment from God. Hell i, '1lOt a punWuneOl from God but
I Kif «lI1de:mnalion, AI SaIni IbsiJ the Grw $30)'$, "The evil$ n
i
hell do noc have God II !he.r QU5e, buI ounc:lves,·..
...
One c:oukI insist, �". tbat \hc � �lipnu"eIlIld t/lc;
FatheT$IlWll)'$ spat. of God IS the Grw Judge who ....
ilI rn."Ird
lboie who were obed.enl to HIDI and ....iII purush !hose who �
disobcd_, In lhe day of !be Great JudJmmt (2Tm,4:6-8), How
are we 10 undenland thi, j\lclgmem if we IR 10 under$llnd !he
divine words noc in I human buI in I diVine manner? Wh3I is
God', juc1gmcn11
God ill Truth and Light God', juclgmrnl is noching else than
our corm", inlQ contact ....uh truth and light In !be day of the
Grw Judgmelll all mm ....d l l(lpUr wed before this pcnnratina
liaN of truth The "boob" ....ill be opened, What are these
n
"books"1 They are our heII s. Our hans ....iII be cpmed by !he
pcnetl'llina liam of God. and ....hal is in these heans will be
revealed If in thole hans � is love for God, tlxm heans will
rejoice in 5Ceina God's light. If. on the eoNraJ)'. there is hatrte!
for God in � heatU. thQe men wlllsulTer by receiving on their
opened heIIn• •his penetratma light oftruth which they detested all
!heir life
So 1I\aI whk:h will differentiate between oroe IIWl and another
will noc be • clceislon of God, I reward or a punisIunml from
111m, but tN. ....hod! WJI in each one's heart; what was Ihett
be revealed in the Day of Judgrno:.-. If
duril1l III our life ....iII
there U I rewanl lnd I punilhmcnc in this revelatioo - and !here
ruJly u - il does noc a:mc from God but from !.he love or IlIIe
"'hich reip in our heart. Love has bliss n
i ii, hatred has rlespl.ir.
bitterness , arid, affilcuon. wk:tedness, -ailil
ion, COMlfaon,
darkness, and &lI the other nterior
i condilions which ....
. ..
1p1lI5e hell
(lCor.4·6).
30
The Light ofTru.h, God's Energy, God's grace which ....ill fall
on �n unll1ndtm1 by corrupt conditions in !he Day of Judgment,
willbe the wne.IO III men. Tbcre wHl be no disunaion whatever
All !he d.ffcrence: llet in tbo$e ....ho r�ive, IIOl in Him Who
aives The wn lIlira on healthy and di� e)U lliU, ....ithout
any distineeion lleahhy cya enjoy light and bea... of iI K.:
..
clearly the baury which IU1TOlIIIds !hem. Diseased eyes fed pUn,
they h.ln. $lIffer, and wam 10 lUck from this same lighl which
brinp IliCh Veil hllppineu to tIxm who Nve healthy eyes
But alas, !here: is no Jonaer any JIOAibility of tsCI]Iina God's
liam Durnil thlll life there _ In !he New CfUll(JII o f iht
Raumaion, God will be CYCf)'Whcre and in evcrythina HIS hght
and love ....,11 anbrxe III There ....iIl be 00 place hiclden from
God, .. wu iht cue clunna our corrupt ife l in !he kingdom of the
prince of th� worlel Of The dcvil '. k1J!&dom will be cIe$poiled by
!he Comlllon . IIIr.e pouessiou apm of
Resurrection and God ...i
ll
lIis crellion.- Love ....iIl cnrobe everything with iu sa<:red Rn:
which will flow like I rivcr from !he ihrone (If God and w.1I
,rri,ate paradise. BUI thu same rivcr of Love - for ibo$e who havc
IIIIc in their hcaru Will ruffocll.c and burn.
"r...,r our God is I oonsumirc fire" (lfb.12:29). "The vcry fire
which purines ,old. allo consumes wood. Precious mclals &IIlroe in
it like iht $lin, rubbish bums with hllCk smokc. All are in the
wne. fire of Love, Some shine and otbcrs become black and dark.
In the 1&rIIe fUllIICe steel Mira like the lun. wherus clay lUrns
dark IRd is hardened h" Mone.
The d,ffcfencc is in man, IlOt in God, The difference 1$
eonditioned by the free choice of man, which God R$pecu
.bsoIu.ely, God's judgmenl is !he revela"OIl of .he realilY which
III .n man,
.s. "TIle dtviI bcaIoIt tile '1'nIIee 0(_� A& a.... �, 2', n,
"""' 1" __ I tr
..
. .
. ...... "'" _.- .. - ...,. ... .
�"wrl t ....... ..... .. poea ... ooyMIo
, ... "- ... ..
• _ ..--. .. .... ..... ... lIIId bca bc.,.- tor- _ did _
.... .. __ ... _ ... ...... ... _ ..... ...,. tdoi<ocl, 1OIaiocd
..... .. Goo! H-.tf." SI. '- Monyr S«.-� ,.
... "... .... ..,.. ... S- <1lGoo! ..... t I _He .... ....." ..
-'" of ... 4eY11.' 1 ,... U.
31
 ...
Thus Saini Macanus ....r . ius, • And as the kingdom of cbrknes$,
and sin, an: hidOen i
n the: IOUl unlil lhe Day of RaulftClion, when
the bodies al$(I 0( liMen JlWI 1M: covered with the darkneu ttw
is DOW hidden in the I0I1l, so Idso the KiQldom of Light, and the
Heavenly Image. JeJIIJ Christ, DOW myJlitalJ)' enliglun the soul,
and mgn in the soul of 1M airu. bul an hidden from the eye5 of
men ... ullli] the: Day of Resurreaion, bul thon the body also shan
be cowffil and glorified with the Li&!u oflile Lord, whith is now
in the man'li soul IfTom thi' tanhl), lIfeJ. thai the body .1so mil)'
reign with \he iOUl ....hw.:h from now receives !he Kingdom of
Ouisl and re$1S and is enliahtened wilh etemIl lighl" (Homily 2).
SaJlIl Symcon the New ThtolOilian $1)'1 tNt il is IlOI what man
doe$ which rounts in e1emal llfc but wh.tI he ii, whether he: is like
JalI$ CIuiR our Lord, or whecher he it dirremll and unlike 111m.
He $lI)'I, "In the funue life the OIriitian is IlOl examined if he has
ro
.... "llCCd IJxo ...bole world for Orll11', love, or f
i he h.u dislribul­
eel Ius rkbc:s 10 the poor or If he (wed or kepi vigil Of pnyal. Of
if he orepl and lamcnIed to<- hil lllll, or if he has dolE any OIhH
aood in !his tife. but he is eumined aUmlively f i he lias any
'im,lnudc: with Christ. as • IoGII does with hIS '.ther.·
...
SainI Peltr the Damuecne writes: 'We all receive God',
ble5sinp equally. But some of UI, receivina God'. fin:, lhal it,
His word, become 10ft like beeswu, wbile !he OIhrni like clay
bcromr Iwli as 5!One, And if we do no! want Him. He does no!
fora. any ofus, bul lite the 5\111 He JaK!s His rays and IIh.umnales
the whole WOOd, and be ..' ho WIlU UI see Him, _ Him,
...br:le15 the one wlx! does not Willi 10 see Him, is not forced by
Him. And no one is responsible for !his privllioa of light Hczpt
the one 'tIbo does no! WIll! 10 have it. God en:ated !he SUD and the
eye. Man is free to receive the lUll'S liar. or not. lbe same is 1!lIe
�. God JaK!s the lishl ofkoowledge like rays to aJl, bul He aJso
la� us fai!h lite an eye. The one who W&!Q to recei ve knowleGae
throu,h faith, keeps it by his works, and so God ,Iva him more
12
n.
1 think !lw by now we lave reached the poi� ofllndr;Blandi�
oorrectly whal etermi bell and eternal paradi$e really are, and who
is ni reality responsible for the ddfelenoe.
In the icon of the Last Jlldtmmt � see Our Lord Jesus Chris!
seated OTII thro!lC', On flos ri,b!' we II« Bil friends. lhe bleued
men and women who lived by llis love. On His left we ice His
eroem.ies, all !hose wlx! passed lheir life hating Him, even if they
appeared 10 be pious and n:verell! And then:, in the midsl of the
lWO. springing from Chris!'5 throne, we KC I r iver offin: oomina:
10'I0-ard liS, What is !his fiver of fin:? I. it an insu,"ne� oftortun:?
Is it an _flY of Ventrance 00JI\Ina: 01.11 from God ,n O1dCT to
vanquISh His enemies?
No. nothing of the ton This river of fire is the n"tr ..hich
'arne OIl! from Eden to ,,-.tr Ihe pmod.o.sc:" of old (Gn.2'IO). II
is tbe river of the JBU 01 God ...hld\ irrigated God'. 5Iim fTom
tbe begi"""". In I wonI, iI is !be OUI-pouri", of God', love for
His en:wllu. Love It fire. Anyone who loves knows thiS. God is
Love, 10 God is Fire. And lire ton5umes all those woo are no! lire
lhan.selva. and renders briaht and lhinina all lhose who an: fire
lhemselves (Hb,12:29),
God fNny limc:t appeared as fire. To Abnlwn, 10 Moses in lilt.
burning bush. 10 tbe people of 15rae1 lhowina !hem the wly in tbe
descn as I wlumn of fire by "I&hI and as a ,luning cloud by day
...ben He oovCHd Ihe IIbcrnatk with lIis ,lory (EJ..40:28,32l, and
",ben He rained fin: on the IIIIMIII of Mount SlI'IIi. God was
revealed IS fin: on the mouruin of Tnnsfigundion, and He Wd
tbIl He arne "to pili fire upon the earth" (U.12:�9), that is to
AY. \o-Ie, becml5e' . Saini JQ/m of the Ladder 5IYS. "Love: is the
IOIIfU oHire" (Step )(l, 18).
The Greet ...mer, FOUl KontOSkN Aid IOI'I)e'fIbere tIut "Flith
is tire, and ,iva warmth Ul the bean. The Holy Spiril eame down
upon the heads of the �� in the form of 10f1IUCI of fire. The
lWO disciples, when the l.md was revealed to !bern. Aid '�id I'lOl
our heart bum within WI. while He IIlked with us n i the WIY"
]]
ChnS! compara filth 10 l 'bunting tudk ' �I): John the
Forenlllnu ulel in his smrons lhal Chnst will baptize men 'in the
Holy Spin! Ind fire.' And truly, tile Lord lIid, ' 1 1m COITIC to 5md
fire on the earth and willi will I if it be Ilrudy kindled?' Well, the
most langible cluncteriSlic of f.ilh Is wamuh; this is wily they
IpcIok .bout 'wlrm flith,' Dr 'f.ith provol(ing wlmuh,' And ('Ven
as !Ix distinc:llvc mark of flith is warmth, the SUR: mark of
unbelief is coldnss.
'00 you want 10 know bow 10 undersUnd if I man his flith Of
unbo:lid? If you fcd "'lrmlh conting 0tIl of him - from his ern.
from his words, from his I!JIf\IICn - be ccnain tlw: he his f.ilh in
his heiR. If Ipln you feel cold amina 0111 of his woole bcilll,
thai meaJlI thai he has IXM faith. ...!wever he may say. He may
kneel down, he may bend his had humbly, he may uuer III JOrtS
of moral leac:hlnllS with I humble voice. bul 11I 1he$e will brealhe
forth • chIlli", brealh "'hich fill, upOll you 10 numb yoo wnh
"'" . .
Slil): ]uac: the S)'ri.ul $Il)'J that "Paradiso: is the love of God, In
11!hid! the bliss of III the beatnudes is muined,' and !hal. "the
trft of life is the love of God' (Homily 72).
'00 noc deceive yoursc.lf," u)'Il Sau'll Syme<JII the New
1'heoIoa1lll,"God Is fire and when He � into the wOflll, and
hecame man, He sent fire on the eaRh, as He H�lf says; thIS
fire IUrl'lJ about scardling 10 find malen21 thai is • d.isposition
_
and an Intention IhIot is good. - to flli lolo and 10 kindle; and for
u.o.e In whom this fin: will ilnite, it hec:oIlles I ,l'Ul flam:. whith
IUChes Heaven . this flame 1\ fint punfies us from the poI]ulion
0( passions and then il bcromc::s in \IS food. Ind d.rink and litht and
;0,., and. rmden WI li&hI OOrRlves because we p&rtic�e in Hit
lip" (DuCOllTU 78).
God is • 1ovi11l fin:. and He is • lDvillC fin: for Ill: aood or
bad. There is. however, I ,!'CIt diffcrtncc in the way people
receive Ihilt lovina fire of God. Sllnl Basil $lYs thai 'the ,word of
fire WII placed I1 lhe gate of paradi$e 10 auant the approach to lhe
,.
\nile of life; it ..... l lmillle and bu� toward infidels, but
kindly .uuibk toward !he faithful. 001111111 to them the lip of
day.'· The same loving ftn brircs !lx day 10 thoR who respond
10 love with love, and. bums thoI.e who respond 10 love with
hatred,
Pandiu and. hell are one and the ume River of God, I loving
fire whith ernbtac:a and covers .U with the same bend'lCial will
witbout anydifference or dL5(rimillltion. The wne vivifyil18 Wile ;
Is life elema] for the faithful and'death eternal for the inrtcie]$; for
Ihe fint it Is the" element of life. fOf the second it Is the lIISUU'
mrnt 0( their etemal wff�ioo: paradi$e for the DOe Is hell for
lhe othrr 00 noc wnsm thb t'fIIICC The son who loves hill
fl1lxr will feel happy in his falbet', Inns, but if he does noc love
him, his f.ther', lovinS embrace will be I 10rtt1em 10 him This
also Is why when we love lhe man who hales us, it is likened 10
POUfllll liahleG co.1t and hex embers on hilt head..
'I say." wriles Saint lsuo:: the Syrian, 'thai !hoM: who are
....fferina in hell. au $IIfferm, in beq IoCOUfJCd by love .. ]1 iIt
._
tOUlly rllse: 10 thir* that tbc ,inne:r) in hell au depnved ofGod',
Ion. l.ove is I. dltld of the Ir.nDwled&e 0( 1rW!. IIld is ullCJU$lDI)o
ably liven OOfmlOnIy 10 &11. BlII Iove', power IICtS in lwo WI)'Il' it
k 111 the same time il deli&hU u.o.e who have
10rmetQ linnen, whi
lived. n
i II((Oni ... lIh ii' (Homily 84)
God. II love. If we reaJlyhelieve IhlS lruth, we know thai God
never hales, never punisbe5, OCVeT IIIkes vengeance. AI AbhII
Ammonu Dyl. "Love never hiles anyooe. DCVCI' reproves anyone,
never COUdtiiMd anyooe, never Jrieves lDyooe, never Ibhors
anyone, neitber failhful nDI' infidel nor ltraIlIer nor linnet !lOr
fomitalOf, nor lJlyone imp.m:, tu: insttad it is precisdy 1Uuw:n,
and weak and qliaml5DUlt that il \ovc:s more, and feelt PUI for
them and lricvc:s and Lamcnu, and it I'eeIt I� for the wlCbd
and ,i_n, more than for !he aood, irn1tllilll Christ Who ailed
sinnen. and ate and drank With them, For lhis ruson, showilll
whl! real love ii, I�e LWghl sayina, 'Btcome aood and merciful
.. !k a..i ... GrCOII "".,.", Il. :z. •
•
•
··
1
...
_ , .. H-'1 ...... (1'G 11 U.
oM ." Im�
"
like yoor Pather in lleavcn.' .nd as lie rains on bad and good and
makct the lun to riK on JUS! and unjUSl .Iike, so also is the one
who lias rW love, and has compusion. and pray! for all ...,
18.
Now if anyone IS pcrpIcJ;cd and does IIOl understand how it is
pouibk rOf God's loYe 10 rmkr anyooc pitifully wtC'lcbcd and
miserable and � bllmina as ,t were in fbmcs. let bim toD$ider
the elder brodIer of the prod..*' son. Was he 00( in bis (llher'l
cswc? Did "'" eo;eryduna in it �Ioa& to b,m" Did he "", 1uI"c his
fatila'l love? 0111 bis fatbl:r IIOl tome himself to mtra! and
beKceh him 10 come and take pan in the joyrul banquet? WIllI
rendered bun tnl5C:ral>Ie and burned him ..ith inner biltemess and
Iwe" Who refused bim 1nyt/l1ll,? Why was he not joyous II bis
brother's return? Why did he IIOl hI,'e love either 1000rd hi, falher
or loward hi. brotbl:?r Was it 001 because of his wicked, nner i
disposllion? Did he IIOl .CfIWI\ in bl:1I because: of o..? And whlll
...... thIS bl:1l1 Wu II any separate place? Wen: tkre any instru·
menu oftonure7 Did he IIOl oontinue to live in his father's house?
What $Cp&nletl him from III the joyous people in the house If 001
his own !we and his own bluerneu1 Did his flther, o. even his
brOther, .top 10vil1& him? Was il not precisely this very love which
llardcned hi. he3n more and more? Was it IIOl the joy \hal made
him $ad? Wu IIOl IuItreti bumi", in his hean, !wn:d for his father
and hi, brother. hatred for the love of his fllher toward his brother
and for lhe love of his brother tOVlllrd his f:uher'1 This is hdl. the
ncgllion of Iovc� the return of batc for love; bitterness at scci"i
.� joy; 10 he surrounded by love and 10 line hate in one'l
ban This is the eternal c:ono:Iition of all the damrtcd, They IIC III
darly loved. They are: all invited 10 thejoyous �. They are
all livina in God', KlIlldom, in the New Earth and the New
Heavens. No one aptll them, EvCl1 if !hey ...1Ilted 10 go IVllIy
lhey eould IIOl nee from 000'1 New Creaioo, nor hide from
God'l lmckrly loYina ormipres.ence Thrir only a1lernative would
16
be, perhaps. 10 go lway from their brothers and seard! for a biner
isolation from tllem. bIIt !hey coukl nevcrdepart from God and His
lovc And wlw ;. more terrible is thlll in this eternal lifc, [n this
New Creation, God is CYcrythin& to HI$ erearura. As San.
Grqory of Nyua JaYS. 'In the present life the thinp we havc
relations w1m arc numcrow.. for insu.nr;c ity, food
: time, air. IoaI
aDd drink. ellltllq. SWIIiV-, �i&ht. IIld other �ieI of
tife, lIO!II! of ",JUcb, nuny thouJII tbey be, are God: that blessed
i nectj of **' of these thinp. but the
satc wbk:h we hope for is n
D1vine Beina will bceoiQe all, and in the ilad of all 10 1lS.
dwribuun& Humdf ptoponiomtely 10 every need of that exist·
ence. II IS plain. 100. from the Holy Scriptures 0.. God IleoooItS
10 !bote who 0eJervt: it. Iocillty IIld horne and clothins and food
and drink and Ii".. and ticheI and kinpm. and everythilll thai
an � lhou&ht of and named that aoes to mate OUr life bappy'
(On /lit Sold lIIId /lit RUlUrffl;Ott),-
In the new cternal lifc, God will be evcrymin, to His Crt.illura.
IIOl only 10 the &ood bul ilbo 10 the wicked, not only to 1ho5e who
love IIll'ii. but tikcwllC to IIIo$e who Iwe lIim, But how will those:
who hlte Him endure 10 IuIve t:Ve1)'thina from the hands of H'1ll
Whom they !lettsl' 011. wlult 11\ eternal tOfJtl!:OI i, m'l, wtw 11\
eternal fire, what a gnuhina of leelhl
Depart from Me, yc cursed., iOlo lhe everlastill& inner fire of
� ·'I.r-, 1 . _. l_IIo .... _ I .�w..pKc. I_bJoI,
I ........ I _ -. I . h f '. oU ",,-_"- wIIat. 1 __ 'Be '
.... iI ... af""""'-- I .,.;0 be ....." • -. b r __ 10 _ . IlOl II be
..enod _ I . ....... ... ....,.. ... Iad, ... ....... ... ..... ... ,
..-...; I _ .n; ..,. ... ... .-.,. II> IlL I .... _ b "'":'"-
aM •
• 1 .. ... ..... .. .. c- ... ..... . ... IIIIOIlt ... ..... .... I _..
... _ IO .. F-. .. ... I . _ b .,. ... . t •I _ ..y
F.... r.. .. .. ..... . __. ... joioI_. _ ....... ... ....... .
•,.. ... '1 .... -r 51. .... 0. ) 1'-iIy 71 _ ,., �I '"
u.Jww(fG n_ 100).
17
hund." Kith the Lord. bee'''se I was tbirsly for your love IJ1d you like • river of fire. because IlO IYWler whal your heart has
)'011 did not live it to Me, I .... hun&rY for your bleuedneu and cho.Ien, you .re and you will eternally OI)IIIiwe 10 be, My

)'011 did not otTer it to Me, I ..,.. � in My tamw! nature children

and )'Oll did not � to visit Me in My chuR:h; )'O\I are (rer: 10 to Amm.
""IIcK )'OUT wicked desire wWw:s, .way from Me. in the tortutinI
hund of )'OUT bel.ru whld! i� foman 10 My Iovina bean. whld!
k:aowI 110 hatred for anyone. Depart freely from Iovt to the
t'IfflasItrc torture of hate. IlIIknotm itId foreign 01 Me and 10
those who are with Me. but preplred by f1eu1ooll fOl" the devil,
from the cb)'$ 1 cruled My free. ntlOOlll creatures. 8uI wherever
you 10 In the dacknm of your lulU. beI.ru. My love wiU follow

SI •..,... _ "' .. ....'..w ...,.r . ... _ .._� 0(1he � 1M ..

• It II t• ..,..,.. ... .. ... " f _ -...y . .. . ....... "' ..
.,., A..t .. Lord ooiII ..... 1n p.ry __ ...... T....,.u wiIt __ MII
-. ..w. po-' 'Ilor)' wil ..-d io _ -.I MIl __ AI ..ilI ""'­
..... .. !he ...... mutinloo lk I'rop/Io<t DomoJ, op<at ... "' ",. I.­
loodpcnl. ...- __ .. """.... '" Ooys, Ihc I...... ... on II.. ""- MIl
be...... I... . . /\or)' _ (0.. "'·10]. f"ft io • .,....".., �.... . _
... Woe 111 1 _ ir ... .... toe<:ooMo • pM '" lou; _: .... \lie r.. wiD bum
",. _ b;""'lr.
"1lIiI """ ";U be tied.... wiIhio I _: .......... ero... ..... . ill
. "jooc<.
bIII ...... ...w twt """ _1I>J.ioB. 1mOI'. ud �. Thus will ..... be di.1Ikd
-...-.,.. Tho vvy _ or I ....,·1 , I0Il1 ..... h. . .. _ fide ... Ihc ochu. ..
ritIM ... .. Iof\.
"'T'Ioo __ ..Iousl)o ond po....notr I .... ..... ... 1<>Ward God .. hit life,
tho vo..... wih be ho Jof ""'"" ... fonn" 'C..... .... Me. )'< bIeucd.' An6
.........,. , ... _ WQrIIo .. iU <al1 1IIe lin: "' ...... aDd ....... OIl .... ,, 100
dod _ ..... U .. .. hol'kd ItId iIou&ho .. No
. lfl ' Il.. ...... lheir U ranol
"'T'Ioo ..... J....-. ....... "'"" .. --..os .. _ ......... 1 t>OI)1II ""
it ioootriI:coI io lit IOII If "'_ 1tId ....,. ....:onII. .... boob art ope....t . ....
' '.

I..
, E� __ 01.. III all MIl 111 ....11 .
....... _ will CO III JfI1f, ..bilE ...... - III .......
'W1oooo '1IIe boob we opeD<d.' iI ..ill ...... 01 ...
... "'" .- "'... ......
"" . .. "'- -r.. _ "' . do -*:wd .. 1 1cdoer "","" Ioc: body .... dood.
_ ..,. .... .. ... . ..... _ NoI n- _ _ · r _ III _ ill _
-l llld .. ... _ ._ .... -'. _ irlhc _ ... _ tqICO*<I ''' Il00 _
_ ... .. hod ...,. ... .. M w'III _ III .. Lut Judc-M ....... _
_ ...... "" .. _ .,.jII _ .....,. ... ... II1II 10 ... $<l1li .... will be
.. ...... eI ...... _ ... _ � U j_ _ ..... ..· . . .. _
}
_ IF' . . ... .... .. d ,__ C •• j •• • -r- ... ... . ' . of_·
el .p. d lLw .... ... .. 0 I' ... of_
·It·"" ,-- ' - _Io" _ k " ..... .... wiII ... ..... _
. .... "'_· s.dI . .... _ofld.· ""tt 01 _ "'·' . ..... '"TIoe
t. J 's • (� ....., o-:o ....o,. I . 19M), 17'/·11.
.

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