Understanding Salvation in the Orthodox Church

The concept of salvation in the Orthodox Church transcends the idea of simply avoiding hell or attaining heaven. It delves into a dynamic process called theosis (divinization), signifying a transformative journey of becoming more like God. This journey emphasizes our restored communion with God, broken by humanity's fall.

From Separation to Union:

The book of Genesis (3:23-24) recounts the Fall of Man, where sin entered the world, creating a separation between humanity and God's grace. This separation is a core concept in understanding salvation. The Orthodox Church emphasizes God's enduring love and desire to restore this broken relationship.

Salvation as Theosis:

Orthodox theology emphasizes theosis, the process of becoming more like God by grace through participation in God’s attributes such as love, holiness, mercy, compassion, wisdom, humility, forgiveness, goodness, and righteousness. This involves spiritual growth, purification from sin, and acquiring the divine energies (uncreated grace) that radiate from God. The central aim of Orthodox spirituality is theosis, where believers strive to grow in likeness to God by grace.

2 Peter 1:4-6 highlights the potential for human participation in the divine nature: “ስለ ክፉ ምኞት በዓለም ካለው ጥፋት አምልጣችሁ ከመለኮት ባሕርይ ተካፋዮች በተስፋ ቃል እንድትሆኑ፥ በእነዚያ ክብርና በጎነት የተከበረና እጅግ ታላቅ የሆነ ተስፋን ሰጠን።ስለዚህም ምክንያት ትጋትን ሁሉ እያሳያችሁ በእምነታችሁ በጎነትን ጨምሩ:: በበጎነትም እውቀትን፥ በእውቀትም ራስን መግዛት፥ ራስንም በመግዛት መጽናትን፥ በመጽናትም እግዚአብሔርን መምሰል::”

Ephesians 2:4-5 emphasizes God's initiative in salvation and our union with Christ: “ነገር ግን እግዚአብሔር በምሕረቱ ባለ ጠጋ ስለ ሆነ፥ ከወደደን ከትልቅ ፍቅሩ የተነሣ በበደላችን ሙታን እንኳ በሆንን ጊዜ ከክርስቶስ ጋር ሕይወት ሰጠን፥ በጸጋ ድናችኋልና።”

Saint Athanasius highlights theosis as the purpose of the Incarnation "For the Word was made flesh so that we might become a God (On the Incarnation).

Stages of Theosis:

Purification (Katharsis): This involves repentance, prayer, and participation in the sacraments to cleanse oneself from sin and negative passions.

Illumination (Theoria): This stage involves experiencing God's grace and light through prayer, contemplation, and participation in the Liturgy and other services.

Deification (Theosis): This is the ongoing process of becoming more like God, filled with God's grace. It is a continuous journey, not a one-time event.

Importance of the Church:

The Orthodox Church is seen as a sacred space where God's grace is present through the sacraments and the Holy Tradition. Participation in Church life, including worship, service to others, and spiritual guidance, is considered crucial for theosis.

In Conclusion, Salvation in the Orthodox Church is not a passive process. It is a cooperative effort between God's grace and our free will. Through theosis, we are offered the potential to become more like God by grace, reflecting His light in the world. Theosis is a journey of hope, where believers are empowered to embody reflections of the divine.