Theosis

Theosis: The True Purpose of Human Life

This book, written by a renowned spiritual writer and abbot of Gregoriou Monastery, Mount Athos, concerns the most important question faced by every human being, namely, for what purpose were we created? Drawing from the Holy Scriptures and the writings of the Church Fathers, Elder George shows that we were made in God’s image in order to reach even higher and attain to His likeness, to attain to personal union with Him. Our Creator, Who is God by nature, calls us to become gods by Grace, united with Him in love. This is the meaning of theosis. Although man cut off the path to theosis at the Fall, Christ—Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life—reopened it through His incarnation, death and resurrection. In the famous words of St. Athanasius the Great, “God became man so that man could become god.” Based on talks that Elder George gave in cities throughout Greece, this book discusses the theology, experiences, and conditions of theosis. In conclusion, he offers guidance on what to do and what not to do on the path to theosis. Although the book concerns the most lofty aim of human life, the material is presented in a very accessible way. It can therefore be of spiritual benefit to mature Orthodox Christians as well as those just starting out in the Faith. Its message is so powerful that it may pique the interest of even the most casual inquirers.

Contents
Theosis as the Purpose of Human Life
The Incarnation of God as the Basis for Man’s Theosis
The Contribution of the Theotokos to the Theosis of Man
The Church as the Place of Man’s Theosis
Theosis is Possible through the Uncreated Energies of God
Conditions for Theosis
Experiences of Theosis
Failure of many people to reach Theosis
Guidance that leads to Theosis: The Results
Guidance that does not lead to Theosis: The COnsequences