DEIFICATION IS POSSIBLE THROUGH THE UNCREATED ENERGIES OF GOD

DEIFICATION IS POSSIBLE THROUGH THE UNCREATED ENERGIES OF GOD

by Archbishop George Abbot of St. Gregory Monastery Mt.

Athos, Greece

Abbot George of St. Gregory Monastery, Mount Athos, Greece

Dear People,

            The following article by Archbishop George of St. Gregory Monastery of Mount Athos speaks to one of the most fundamental differences between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Western Christian Churches.   I say Western Christian Churches because all Protestant denominations that were given birth during the Protestant Reformation in the 16^th century are stepchildren of Roman Catholicism.  The fundamental theology of all these Churches of the West is based on Roman Catholic theology.   Abbot George is a contemporary of ours and speaks directly to the issues that continue to divide the Greek East and the Latin West.  The essay that follows is brilliantly written and speaks profoundly about the ultimate purpose of human life, θέωσις (becoming God-like).  He presents his understanding of the Uncreated Energies of God is terms that are very easy to understand by the faithful of the Church.  He also states very clearly that the issue of the Uncreated Energies of God as understood by the Eastern Orthodox Church must be dealt with in the ongoing dialogue between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.  This is important because up to the present day the Roman Catholic theologians have generally rejected the idea that there is in God a distinction between the Essence of God and the Uncreated Energies of God.  The idea of a distinction between Essence and the Energies of God has come into conflict with Western Roman Catholic Scholasticism.  Scholasticism is another approach to understanding Christianity that separates East and West. 

The above is the commentary of the subject by Fr. Constantine J. Simones.  The following articles have also been edited by me.  November 12, 2014.