'Fron thit day,Jiom this hour, fron thisminute, la ut stiue to loue (iod aboue I, andftlf II His holy will.

$1.flclmxn of Alaska

\YOK OKTHODOI( THG

For the Mission of Trae Orthodox Christianity
Iitablishd uith the blcsing of Sr.John Mtxinottitcb' nnd oJ'Sltanghai San Ftancisco. Archbishop,rrcl\Vontleru'orhcr I'ublishedu,ith tlr ltlrssingof Hit CruceMtxin, ol'theScrbianOrtltodoxChutch. oJ' Bisbop rc'Vutcrn AnrcricuuDioccse
V ol .44, N os. I 2 ( 258- 259) 5 llnuar v- Apr il, 2008 I SSN 00. 10- 58. 1')

in Annull Confcrcrrcqs Moscorvon " l'hc ()rthoclox Intcrprctltion of (lrcation of thc World" rhc (lreatcclirt Incottuption:'l he Orthotlox l)arristic[lndersran<lingof med Starcs Man rnd rhc (irsrros in l'hcir Originrl, Fallcn';rnd Rcdee by Hiuotnonk Danasctttr

of f'ront r'ovr:'I l't<crcarion the slttt, utoon and stars(" lights in the firnlamcnr on ofrhc hcaucns") r hc f bur r h dlv of cr cat ion ( G en. l: l4) . ( 'f lr c pt ant s are shown to have been alrcady createdon the third day.) Dctail of a Monastery,Moldavia, Rotnania'sixtccnrhccntury. fresco Suchcvitsa at
'l tl l i ()R I I IOD ()X !(()l { t) i s pul ,l i rhc tl nuthl r- (c .c epr i rr r c ornbi nc n rnurn-A pri l n' Lr.)bt' thc l bi J S t. Itcnn.rrol A hrLrl l rr' (h(rl x nal ($1v s . i ,' rh(rnruprc s torl ) l ' c ri r r.rl P os (.' gc pl rrI' l rri rt' ,(l rl i pc pcr l i rnri r.$4.0{) i s rc , 57.{ x ) tl oubl ci s uc . S rrhrri pti rrx :$ l ' t l ot onc rc rr, 5l l 11' t$r! \' trh s 46l i x rhrecvcrn.S rrdcrr$l x ri t,k nN :$l 6foror,(v .rr.S l ()i i trntr!c .rrr,54|l i rrtLrc c v (i A l i { (i gtt!rbs ' ' i P rubs tnpti ,rnr:S Jrrxonc 5 y l li ri orrr.rrcs:.t0l i x orl c rr. S 5,1or u, v c ,tn,57i fi ,rrhrc c c rn. Ii rc i gn s rl rl c nr ()l t;rrgc l l rrrtl l rl .n;nr.(l rl i l or' vt.rr.54l l i rr rs,r vc r* , S 6" l ,rrrhrc c rc ,rn. i l c c ol publ i t:rrhn:l { ) l } c c gurrr ti ni .r.t)opi a ol l ,reI i s us rntl ,rl i ndi v i dl rl .rmc l trl ri l .' l ' l c l i ,n N rri ,u.rl A ri hi v t P ubl i s hi ng r' . l i ) (1)p!ri ghr){ l 0l t hv rhc S r' I l ernH nol A l .rs k .r rthrr l ]dl l 481{ X , )' )' )8. R or .l .l tl ,A rn A rhr r. l \1i e[i Frn (l l ' () l bx 70 1' l ,rtanr'.rl i l i rrti .r I'OS l i \l A Sl l :l t: So rJ J r.\\.htrn86r,)l l l l i ()l tIl l ()l X )X \(t()R l )

'l hc crc,ttionof A.lunt. (lhrrrch o1 (ihrisr "l)rnrocrarrrr, [)cchlni Monastcry, I:rcscofronr thc Kosovoancl Mcohija. rrrid-fburtccnthccnturv,

ht Arunml Confbrences Moscotu ott

" Tbe Ortbodox lrterpretrttion oJ'the Crerrtiort oJ'tlte World "

t t r l. t t . l. t t t t t , t 't . lr l( l ( . ll] \ l. lr r Lr . r r i. r ll, . ( ) l \ ir l) . r r ') lr . t . \ 'r t it r t \ lr t : r r r Llt t Li -f-, ,1,,,,1,,t\l L\.r, , r r r r \ '1', 'r r ( ) r r lr ot lr r r I rI t , .r , r. .t ,t t i , , rr ol t lt . \()r((l L.()nl !r!rr((\ i r r \ lt , : r r r r r , , r r I lr . . 1 ( rr..rti on ,,1 rl r. \\, , r l, l. t lr llr , . , , r r lir . r r . , . ' , r n' , r r r r ( ) r r 1l , . lr r 't t r r '. . ri ,rn' ,,1 tl r. Irt,.rt t . t t i, , r r . t l \ . r r ir it r I r I r r L r r i, r I , r I li, . r t lir r t l. r lr 'r r . r r t fl rrt.r r' .r \Lr!( l 1r.l ..l .rrrrrLr.rl ltrI t r, , t tl i I t , ' t t t t lr , li. r r '. i. r r r . . r 1, ir . r l, r t lt , \ 1, '', , 'r t ,rt..l r.tt,.. \\ i rl r rl r, l ,l t" i r r r r , 1 lli. I l, , lir r , . ' l'. r t r i. r r . lr \ 1, . r r r r l \ lr r . Lr r r r 'r r r t l l \l l l i Lr' .r.r.tl rr" \l rr\ t ( r ( lr r ( \ \ ( ) ! i! l\ \ \ . r \ 1i, Lr r r , l, ,ir r r lr , r , . r r l{t t ) t ) l'r ( r,tt' t.tt t r it r t llr r l. r , r . I r . ( ( , r r 'l. t t r it r . i' t lr t r t t t ur r lr ' .\r..l r1,ri ,' r 'r l ( ( lr r r t . lr ir r \ r l'lr . r r r r l. I l )orntl ti on ,,1 rl r. ll, 'li \ l, , r lr . r {, i ', ) ( l 1 l rrrri l ,,r,, tt t , , t t lt \ lr , ', , , r r r . , r ( 1, ) ! lt ) r, 'l t ', , , 1, 'r l . r lr ( l I rr i r)t r ,rl ( )1 \ . ' 1,,,rr ,l l ((l utr' l .rt tl t,. \r. \ i, lr , , l. r . t t lt t r lt \ t lt I j t l I t r . ,t I l, l t t t t . t t t l'. 1 , '1 t lt '. \ I rr t , r rr,rt i , , rt .rI \,.r,l t r r r r ol \ . it t t r t ' t liLt ssi. t t r 1. t ior r l ll. r r , t . t r r ,'r , , 1 t , ' L:r.rl rl i .l r rl rL \()( i ( l\ . r llr 't r r r r ( r , l lr i\ 1 .rI i ' I ri , rrt . r ' . . r l( L''r 'l1i( ( lllir l ' 1, n.rr((l \rn,l l ' ,Lrri, r r , , r . r\.\ . 1\ r( I )| i Irr.l rr{ I| (I . r n( l lli\ ( n , t Lr ilir li r gt , r . . 1. 'r ( ) r r lr . r .r l ).r| ( r .rl .rrr1 )ttl r,, , l, , . , . lr r r r , lr . . 1r , , , 'l1, ,'. r r r '. . lr , . r !t ! l) t ( ( l t lr , rl ,rr l ' .rrri .ri L l I I r( II I \ I .I I I ( I ; I Ii I ( ) l ! l( . llioI l ( ) \ ( l lllr \ ( ( lll ll rl l ,rt . r i ,t l i t t i 1. ()rr!. l l .r pr()tt\ r,rttt t t l ( ) t t lr , r t l, r r ( lr r i: t i, r r r l\ r r r r l ( \ ( r r . r ll, 'r r , , l t , , . , 'r r t lr , I l, , lr Lr r lr . . r '\ . r l r r r ( ) , t l', , r 1, '' . , 1r , ', , 1, lr ' 1,.' rl r, l .ri rl r,,l ( rrttrr.ttrtrttttl rotl ' lr r . sot t t , t lt it t t qt llt t 't lt . , 1, , r 1,r., ' t t t . t l'r ( ) t t ll, 'r 1t r r t r r ' l i ,r.t' rt,,r,. ,r\\.rr! ( ) l llr ( l', t t r i't i, t t . r , lr ir r r i r r r , l , 'l r lr , . , r t r r t ill, . 'r i rl rrtt tl r.rr \ttl )l )1) r l\ t lr i. t , . r , lr ir r r l. lli' I r r . r ir ri tt ' I , i t .I t t, , t I lt t l. t l. r t t q r r t t r r lr "''' I I I ( ) lI I I ( I I ) I (|I 'iI r 1I rl ri ' r' r' 1' rr' r' l l i ,. r "r r r "r r l' \ r 'r 'r I lr ir r r li. '" l'. t t r t r ollr

r Utr.*

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I I l l ' ( )l t I I l ( )l X )\ \\' ( )l { l )

,\NNt':\t (.()\l:t.Rl,\(.t.s l\ \t()\( ( )\\, ( (icorgiil,Selbi.r. l.rnirclir, lirirnce irnrl Italv. Ilrc thcologicllrrlks havc [rccn givcrr lrr' .rrchinrundlitc\, irb[)ors. pricsts.serrrirlrrv irrstnrc(ors, 'l llrthors irr)(lnrissionurics.lrc scichrrrchschoolrcacllers, ciltccllisrs, bccrruivenl)\'(l()ct()rs cnrilic tillks,rvhichc,rrrPris,. rrrrrjolin, rhc lrrrvc (biocltcrrrisn. atrd profi'ssors triolog\' of ntolccrrlrtl rtrttl1.ro1rrrlarqti, 'rt gcol(uy llr(l .lslr'()n()nl\', nclics,zo()log\'), nr.tthcnrillics, \vh() Physics, institutiorrs. Ilrl\'ilre cullcnrl\' \ v()rking scculilr in scicnrilic/rrc:rrlcr)lic int .lecarlcs ol-cxpcricrrcc thcil spccialized in rlisciplincs. thcscsricntists tcrtifi' thrrt tlrct, h,rvc rr,tt sccrrct,nclrrsivc plooli against thc Scriptrrrtl/l)rrtristic rrrrtlctstrtntlirtgcrerttiort ol .ttttlltistorr', rtntltltrtt,rtt (lrc corrtrrrry su[)strrnti.ltirlg.rrr.l ir ol] thcy hirvefirrrntlrnrrchcvitlcncc fcringulirnpscs into tltc rvisdortrrrtrl ttltjcsn of (iorl. ()r'tlrorLrr (.hrrlclt ltrtvc llicrarelrs tlrc l{Lrssirtrt of prcsirlcrl ovcl tltc ''Shcsrotlncr," irclrrrlingArchbislrop[)rrrirrv of Iobolsk confi'rcrrccs, untl Arclrbishop r\lcxvol ( )r'ckh,rvo-Ztrcvo. tortlcrI:rtclt irrrtl I\'rrnrcn, rvith l)ivinc l.itrrrgl or N'Iolclrtn. At cncc is inrrugrrrrrtccl ,r hicrrrlchical rlrc nrost rcccnr confi'fcnccirr l(X)li, r\r'chbislrop I)nritrv gilvc thc oPcrring lsl)c(ts()l'rhc()rthotlox rcuching rllk ()l)\onlc of rhc Plirrr.rry ott ctcltt iort. "Shcsroclncr," prrblishcti has boolisof thc 1tloccctlings cacht'c.rr''.s of 'l brrt scconlcrcncc. hc lrrxrks :lll in l{rrssi.rrr, u,c plirrrto tlirrrslatc ilrc ol-tltisnrilg.rzir)e. lccrctlltticlcs:rntlptcscrrr rltcrl itt tlrc prtgcs ln this issLrc, plcscrrt,rrr \\'e cxpunrlccl vclsionoia rlrcokrgical ralli givcn at rltc l00lJ corrfcrcncq.'l ltis.rrticlc rvill itlsolrc inclLtrlctl thc in (itrriis. ()trtiotr trnr/lnr/y sccorrrl crlitirrrr l:r'.Sclaplrirnl{osc's of book. s'hich is norvbeingplcprrretl prrblic:rtion.'l nov ctlition o{lirr lrc ,41a1, Irr.Serlphinr's [rrxrkrvill irrclrrtlc scicntiflc nrarcli:rl otlrcrconfircrrcc bv spcirkcrs, rvill bcncllr lnrrn thc plctlrolaol b<x,ks,rncl alriclcspul.lirrrtl ycirls rrol only br, Slrcstorlrrev" lishcrl in I{Lrssirr ovcr the lrrstsevcr'.rl btrr bv orhcr ()rthotlox prrblishcls as lravcfirrrhclcdtltc "vcll-rvlrich rvork of l:r. SerrrPhinr Prescntirrq rrplrr,ltlinlthc SeriPtrrrirl/l).rin unrl uolltl. tristietc.rchirrg crcrlt;on on antl thc {irst-erc.rtcrl
| | i tn tttou k l rt nrtt\tt'nL

l)r. r\lcr.rndcr l.rl.rrr.r' rpt,rlirrq,rt thc sccrrnJ ljcbrrr,rr I, v l( )()('.

(cil(lting crciltionllil(lltv rhnt tirrrcltccnptrlt\tu(licsilr thc I)arlisric on l islrcdin I{ussia. Havirrgirrrcxrcnsive crltrcuriorrirl [l:rcligrotrnd botlr rhcology irr arrtl nltrrrirl sci(rrcc, Irl. (lonsti rtinc \\,rlswcll Pr',:P,rr.ccl llcx(l rlle ro "Shcstotlncr:'socicr\,. \\,hil( r\nna's rrothcr lrlcn.rbcc.rrnc nr.rirr rhc or', joinccllrrlrr thc slilrt l)\,lnolllcf grlnizcf lr)(l sc(fcrll\'. 1'lre sotictt *,rrs tloctorof gcologvltrr cl nrirrtlrtlqgt,, Alcxrrptlcr l)r. Lrrl6rrr9r., <lirccrtlr 9lthc AI{O'l [1ll scokrgic:rl rcscar.h l.rlror'.rrorv I{rrssi.r. in llcsi<lcs hclpinu rvirh tlrc rvork of-",Shesrotlncr'," l-alonrov sincccrrrrrpilcd l)r. lrrrs thrcc ()f volLtll)cs illr .lllthology of'scicrrtiflc rrlriclcs cnti rlctl.\ot t,rtrtt (C,rct i1,c rttion). Intcrcstirrglr,, rvasirriri.rlly lre br','trqltr [r.r.li r,' rlr. t)r.rlrorkrx (llrLrrclr rhrorr{:h scicntillcrcsenrch. lris s,hcn rhc nrosrrcli.lblcn)(rh, otlsof-rrcrrstrring rrgc placcrnrincralrlePosirs rhc of confirnrctl lrinr firr rlrc Scriprural/l)irrrisric lelding of rhe crrrtlr'.s historv r:rrhcrrhrrn rhc gcncrallvacccl)tc(l sccrrlrrr lcatlinq. 'l'lr( rlrtnrr,ll c()ltfcrcr)ces hcltl llt' "Shcstotlncr," hrrvcfe'lrtrr.cd trrlhs ()n both rhcological untl scicnrific sLrbjccrs. Whilc rrrosr ol-rltcspcaliers havc bcen nirtlvcl{us:i;lns. sonrc hlvc becrrfionr thc Unitccl St:rrcs,

Createdin Incorruption
'l-HE OI{l'H()t)()X PAI'I{lS l lCl UNI)tiRS'IANI)lN(, OI] MAN ANI)'fHF, (]OSMOS IN'I'HI.]IR, ()RICINAI-. IrAi.l.t'.N,ANl) I{t'lt)UtlMUl) S IXI'tis By Hie rorrtonk [)arnrtscerte Arlapted.f on d ta/k {it'ttt ttt t/tt "()nlirrnct' orr Ortholox.y tltt Nn'tntl (.hlilitrnia, Otobt ural Ent'iruunotr," St. Nitlnhs Rtnth, Dunhp, 27, 2007, tnd tgtrirr tt tlr lnunmtiontl Nttit'it.y I-)luntional l?ctdinw of'tht Mosuttl httriarthta', it tlr srtiott "'l /tt OrtLodox lntoltrrtttton of'thc Crcntitnt ol tlr Wtrlrl," htLl tt t/,r lllostou' Sttt Uniuar:ii' rlf Rai hua.yL) trr t'i ttg, ./ttrt ua n, J0, 2001t. ngi 'fltrough sin, lLis rostrtos btc,ttttcr (orfuPnon. St. MaxinrLrs ( lonrcssor tlre l. lNrnooucrroN of conscn.Lrs thc Holv Frrhcrsof rhc ()rrhorlox(lhrrrch holcls Jtnr I tlrlt nrrrn rurrl thr: rst of rhc visilrlc crcutiorr rvcrc phvsic,rllv incornqt (ti60ap:os, wirhout decry) befbrc thc tirll of rn:rn,en.l that clcrtrh lnd cornrpriorr cnrcrccl rvorltiorrlv ur rlrc irll. lhis cftrctrinc thc is lrasccl a comrnor] interprctationof both rhc ()ld and Nov'lcsriron ntcnts. In thc book of(lencsis wc lcurn rhar nriln wAsnraclc strtrject to
c r c r t ion ol l: r c lior r t t hc lit r ol Ac l u n r . \lotrrrstcrt. SLrehcr'irsir lrr'csco lionr rhc (lhLrlch ol th( Ilcsurr(.(i()r1, Nio ldlv i. r .l{ or r r : r r r i;s . t c c nt h c c t r r t t r r '. r ir 'l-hc St. Nl,rxinrus th,: (irnfcssor. )d ll,ala*inn 65; ILrnloti,tt (ittcat (l\(i) ( ) {) ; l , i 0 t l ( l '. r r i s : ( f.- [] N l i q r r e .l l J( r 5 ) rcf. II:r n s L l n vo r r Il a l r h ;r su r .) tstu i c l i r r r r sl Il r luircr:t tltconlitry to ,l l,t.ritntr tlu (.irr/rsar (Srn ljr.rncisco: I lgrrrrtius. J{X}.1), lt{5. p.

7l,ttt,,l r/c,tt/ttutr/

l tlL ()l{l ll()l)OX \\/()ltl) ar clearh and that thc carthwas"cursed" the frll ((icn.3:I7-I9). In the Visdonr of Solornonit is said thar Cod did not tttakcdeath and did not crcilteliving things fbr destruction(\(is. l:ll-14), and furrhcr (Vis.2:23-24).'l'his tcachrlrarnran wls crcatcdto lre incorrup.trible ing is repeatcd the Ncw'ltstament by St. Paul,whcrc lrc lfllrnrs tlrat in sin clcathcanrc into rhe world tlrrough Inirtr'.s (llorn. 5:12, l7; I Cor. the creationwas nradcsubjectto "ftrl5:21-22), thar bccausc ofman and nran himsclfawaitdelivti lity" (Ronr.8:20),and that rlrecre:rtion fiom rhc "bonclage corruption" (Ronr. 8:19,2l-23) at the to crance Ccncral Rcsrrrrection. -['lreconrnron Parrisric intcrprctationof rhis Scriptulal te:rching finds concisccxpression thc rheologyof St. Synreonrhe New 'I'heoin logian, rvho wrircs :rs follows on the incorruption of nran arrd rhc world in the beginning, and on thcir tall into corrtrption: otrewhichrv:rs with tro<1v, thouglr Achmw;rs crc,rred un incorrLrptible wascstablishecl by spiritual, an<l nrercriul on thc rvholcnot 1.er lncl (lod tlrc Crcttor rs tlrc imnrortll king of ln incorntptworld, lncl I . .r lnd nrclnby thc lattcrcvcrt'thing un.icrhcavcn not jusrParadisc.. rlo You scethen th,tt not ttnrelson,rbly n'c savrhat all thc crcby attdwls firrnishcd rltionwirsllso incorruptfrom rhe bcginning, (lor.lafrcrrhcordcrof I'arlclisc, rvas witlr corruption rnd bur curscd rvhcttit rvrs strbjcctcd rhe firtility of nrcn (cf. to lcd inro bontle{ac 1 llorn.8:20-21). 1'his Scriptural/l)atristic teeching,that tlcath and corruption etrrered thc cosmos only at thc fall, is r basic tetret of the Orthoclox
I Sr. Svnrcorr rhc Ncrv I hcologiln, lltltiLa/ I)iwurr 1.2; Sourctt (,ll'ftticnuct (S(l) 122:lll4 (f)rrris: [-cs[.]dirions (lcrf. 1966)i cf . idcn. ( h rl,c /VystitalLifi: lht du vol. I ((lrcsnvoorl.N.Y: Sr. Vlldimir's ScnrinurvI'rcss.1995), pp. l:ltlical I)istorrrtr,t. )6 )7: tlx'l:irst-()tt',rtcdi)ldn (l'lirrin.r.(lelil.: St. Hcrnritrr ol ;\l;rskitlJrorhcrhootl,

(ll{trAI-lll) IN IN(lOl{ltLJP.l l()N (lhristian worldview.lr is ticclto, ancl inclcedforms an integrll pirrt ol, Orrhotlox lrnthropolo[y, sotcriolosy rll]d cschatology.Becauscthts worldvicw sccul,rr today'.s rcirchingis such a crucial otre, an.l lrecattse agrinstit, it is worrhy to trc cxallined in clcpth.In rhis arriclc nrilitatcs it we will ,tttcmltr to [)rcsct]t irt :r gencrlllv chronologicalnlinncr. otltlining firsr rhc itrcorrtrptsrlte of nlan atrclthe costnosbefirrc thc firll; thcn tlre clearhlncl corrttPti()ltthlt enteredat the [rll; end fintrlly the Son try redcnrptionltrd sllvttiotr of ntan and the cosnros the inc;rrnere (lcneral st:rre aftcr thc of (locl, cuLninarinein rheir final' ;rcrfcctcd ittrd corrttptiotl will be pernunentlv overwhcn tlclth RcsurrccrioIr, thc horv,sPccifically, Orrhotlox Chtrrchs conre.\Wcwill firthcr clisctrss to relatcs hcr tcachinqort thc rcincorruption orl tcachir)g ;rrclrtpslri:rn condiatlclotr tlreir flnal, redccrnctl dernption of ttranantl thc costl)os, the ()rrhodox Lrndersrlntlitrg how rve tion. In conclusion, will corrsiclcr world, rhc titl. .rnd thc firturc lge crttrittfirrnr ortr flrst-crcated of the frrithas Orthodox Christians.

IL THe Onlcrr.rel CoNnltIoN oF MAN Man's Spirintl Condition bcJbn tfu full

Bcfirrc cxamining the subiect of thc oriliinal incorruption of thc whole cosmos,lct us begin Lrylooking sPccifiolly at the original stlte wls crertecl "lortl thc of man, who St. Synreort Ncw l heologiansays 'ts rncl who' in rhc wordsof St.John and king of all thc visiblccreirtion,"' to Chrysostonr,is "rnore preciotts God tlrltr irll cre;rtion."' ()rthotlox Patristiccosnrology, the cntirc visible According ro thc rvasm:rdc fbr rhc sakcof tnln' itncl Irtln was nllde filr tttrtorl rrniversc with God. Man was crcrtccl"in [)ivinc grace."as St. Creqory of Nyssa

I9().'rp. 90. ), i\lan. lll.\. p. 'llrirl.f.5rS(llll:2llrcl. l:irtr'(.ntnd

lo

, ftrid. l . l ; in On lu, lt'lytticalLili. vol. L p. 21. 5 St. : on liigh Strntout tfu Rolk ol (irtctit 2 (llrooklirreNl'rss fohtr(ihrvsostrltr, (l<rss()rrhodor llcss,2(X)4), /t 1. p llolv
II

t t It. ()l{fLIot)()x \(i()t{D :rf1lrms." John Chrysostonr Sr. writcs that'thc glory fionr abovcgarbcd thenr [Aclrrmand L-vc]bctter than any garmcnr."- t_ikcwisc, St. John I)amasccncsmresrhar, in l)aradise, Adam "had the indwelling Cotl as a dwelling placcand worc Him asa glorioLrs garmenr.Hc was wrappcd about with His gracc."' -l-hcOrthodox Clhurchundersrands gracero bc the very cncrgy of Cod, distinct ycr inseparable fiorl the L)ivine esscnce. God is whollv presentin His energies. Thcrcfbrc, when man was createdin gr:rce, hc had God Hinrself within him. He wils nreanr ro particirrare God s in lifi'rhrorrgh rhc Divine cncrgies. bc firllv and pcifccrlv ro bv 1.,.n.rrate.l gr:rcc, and thus to arrain to union wirh God-a Lrrrion which rhe Holv Frthersdo not hcsitrte to call dcificarior-r (\toaq). St..fohn Danrasccne tcachcsthar Aclanrwas not tleifled ar his crearion, but wascrearedr0,r deification:he wls "to completethe nrysrery bv bcing dcified rhrough rcversiorr Ciod-rhis, however,,ror bv lreto ing trlnslirrnrcd into rhe Divine csscncc, bur bv participarion in the "" Divinc illLrnr ination. Marti I'blsiml (.lonrlition bet'itrc fitll the In the Visdorr of Solonron ir is slicl; "God nrrrtlcnran fi>r incorruprion, end nrrdc him ro lreln imrge of his own ere rr]itv Ncvcrrhelcss,throrrghthc cnvy of rhc dt'vil .'lcarir .rnrcirrro rhc worid" (Vis. e 2:23-24)- As thc Holy Farhcrs univers:rlly taught, Adenr ancl Eve wqrc crea,tcd conditiotrirl/y irnmorral, thar is, if thcv hacl nor sinnctl rhey could lraveliveclfbrevcr in incorrLrpttroclies, pirrtakingof thc Trce of I-ifc in I'aradise, and cventuallylrraining ro hcavenas well. 'l'hcrc was
i' St. (ilcgorv rrf Nlss,r. Ot tfu illaliug ol'llan 30.l'4: Nitn aud llnr,Nicttu, hr t / , rrL(N I ' NF-),2n cl Scrics, ol. 5, p. 417. v St. John (ihrlsosront, llonilits ot (),ntiis 16.14;Iithtl oJ't/t((.:btt.b |:(.,),\(.r1. (\X hshin {ro n.l).(1., I-hc ( ler holic Univ c r s ir y ol Anr c r ic l It c s s , 74 1 9 8 ( r ) ,p . 2 1 7 . x Sr..fohn [)rnrrsccr.t,:, l-.|*ttr l*2otrtiLttroJ tfu (h.tbotLts f:aitL 2.ll: l:i_, vol. .]7

l()N Cl{t-A tlt) lN lN(l()l{RLlPl l inro irlcorrttPt irr rhcir f'alling or cirhcr in their remainitrg no nccessity factor.In thc wordsof corrlrption:thcir fiec rvill was rhe dcternrining (lrertt: rhc Sr. Arhrrnasius in cc,trltl inclinero cirhcrsicic, anthlt rhefrccrvill ,rf tn,rn Knorving rrf tlrc llc sccltrc grlccliivcnthenr'b1'nrerttrs 't ticipation l(lodl rnacle ((ilrdcn)' rhcnrinto His orvtrI)lr:rtlisc lrrv ancl phcc. lror,bringine a thc so I Ic glvc thcnr:r l:trv, rlrrt, if thevgtrardcd grrccartdrctrritittctl rvhichis frecof'sorrorv, goocl, the tho' nrighrposscss lilc in I'rtr.rdisc iolr of hrvingthc plonrisc itrcorrtrpt itr hclvcrr. plin or crle,bcsicles "' 'l'har thc flrst Iran wrs gntrrtcd inlllorralitv et his crcconditiorral (lanotr approvedat thc (louncil ofOarrhlgc in lrion lvirsaffirnrcclin a flcrr 419 and ratificcl rhe (]uiniscxt(buncil (692)" and rhe Scvcnrh (btrncil (787): umenical \Whosocver thirtAdant.tlrellrst tnatr, crearcd so rvls nlorral, rh,tt srvs tlicd in body-rh:rr is' hc ruhethcr htd sinncdor trot,hc \\ould hrtvc his nor hc wouldhlvc goncfirrthflonr thc [r,rclv, becrtLtsc sin nreritccl L'l him bc iltlrlthenla ncccssitlr-lct this,but by natural ()riginally, the incorrupt bodiesofAtlant and Evc cliclllot hlrvc,i11 'l'hcologian,the "coarscr nrortal and f:lcsh, thc words ofSr. (ircgory thc Accorclingro St. (]regory of Sirlow l]ilve.r1 that our lroclics rcsistirnt,"
l'l Sr. Arhrnrrsiusthc(ircet. Ou rltt lluttatint cf. oJ rfu \lltnl: l'(i l5b:l0lli(l; tclch' ol vol. 1r,pP. .i7 .ltl lirr lirrthcr tliscrrssitrtt Sr' Athitnrsittss NI)NIr, lntl Scrics, ing on rhc inrnrortalitvol nr:rn belirrcrhc firll. scc pp 59-(12 belorv. ll l lrc hcld clcvcrtyclrs llicr thc Sixth [cunteni' Oouncil in litrlLr rvrrs QLrirriscxr itrc clrl (iruncil, :tnd its rlcerccs ltcccl,tc.lin thc ()rtltrclox (lhtrrch :tsrl c()tl(ln!tltl()t1 ,,f rlrc .rcrsof tlrc Sixrh ( iru ncil. rr (i:rnon l0') ol thc Aliicln (lodc'r in 7il Stt'ot l:lcuuttnital (.brrtrci1r. Nl'Nll (l'cd.rlion)of St Nicrxlcntrrsol i\'ftrrrnt lrrrf Scrics,vol. 14. p. 1t')6.ln lltt /lrtzlz/r'r t\thos. rhis ( litnon is listed rts( lrtnort 120 ol lhe (irrrncil ol (.lrrh.rgc. rr St. (ircgorv thc Ihcoloeirrr. or;llor -i8 l 2r t'( i .36:ll'i(l: cf. N l)N ll lrr.l Scrics. v ( ) 1 . 7 .P . . l 4 t i . It

{ le58), 232. p. 2.1 " Ibicl. 2; p. 135.

tl

't H t.:()t{l'H()DC)x wot{L) nri, rhey wcre "wirhour boclily hunrors"i" in rhe words of St. Maximus, rhcy did not have"the rempcramcnrwhich makesthe flcsh denser,nrortal,and tough."'' From rhe writings of many Holy Fathcrs-Srs. Ircnacusof Lyons, Athanirsius the (lreat, (iregory of Nvssa, John Chrysosrom, John l)anrlscene, Maximus the (]onfessor,Syrncon thc New 'l'heologitn, anrl Ciregorvof Sinai-we know that, befbre the lall, Adam and Eve rverefrcc fronr rhe boclily necdsofsheher and clothing,'t'anclcven of sleep;'thcy hatl no scxual relarions cvensexurlpassion.:'' or rlrere rvas no ernission ofsectl;'" rhcir c),es did not producetcars;t" rhev partook of

l()N CRI.-A lN IN(l()Rl{tJI'l f t-lD incorrtrptiblefruits, but did not void bodily waste;'' rhcy had no alilicor physicaldefects, tnaintingsof thc riorrs,infirmities, illncss,disease, body;tt they kncw no difficulties, sorrows,labors, sweat, htlnger' or to physicalpainlr' they wcre not strbiecr rhirst;rrrheydid not expcricnce (ihrvsostom, writcsSr.John cold and he{t, or to thc elctnenrs.r'-fhus, wrrsakin ro that of the angcls: existencc beforethc fall rnan's

l1 St.(ircgorvofSin .Ou Connrtdnctrs atd l)o.tri cs8,81:in Ifu !,hilokdlia, v o l .4 (l .o n r lon: ir bcer r cflj e b c r, 9 9 5 ), p . ] 1 3 ,2 2 7 rc f.4 6 , p. )2l .l n rhcS l avoni c F r 1 p trrrrsl.rtionof rhis rvtrrk.firund in thc Sll,..rrticllilokdlid (Dobrotolubie), rc (lrcek (trlnsl:rrctl ,rL'r,J yvp'"oi hcrc:rs bo<lilyhumors")is rcndrrcd.rs uoxpcrrr,r, which nrc:rnsntoistttrcs. l' St. l\4:rxinrrrs (inlcssor,,,Lalrqrntn45: lt3 9l : l35lll. rhc l(' Sr. ( ihl, s os t < t ot,o rti l i ts tt (i u ti s 1 5 .1 4 ,1 f,.2 . 7.1,17.30r H o 1 I;(1.vol .74, Jo l r r r pp. l0l--]. 207, ))2. 1.18. Sr. N4:rximrrs (lonfcssor, rhc Anbigrun /t5; l'o 9l : l .l 5 3 l l . 1- St. frcnrrcus ofLyons, I )tnrnt tt,t iott of'the t Apo*li Prrachir,g in idcnr. Oa rlr )jl tlpouolit l\uJiry (( lrcstw<xxl, N.Y.:Sr.Vlrrdimir'.s Senrinury l)rcss,997),p. 481 Sr. I (ircgorvof Sinrri, Ootnnuultteur,t Docnircs8:ft lrhilokalia, Ot vol.4, p.2l-). rHSr.Athrnasirrs ()rctr, Oonntnury onth l\alnx (I'sdnt50:5); i rhc l)( 27:240(lt). St.(lrcqory Nysse, tlr hltkiqol/lln 17.l 3; Nl)Ntl2nrlSerics,r'o1.5,p.407. of Or ( Sr..fnlrn )hrysostrrm . llonilieson Gtutis I 5.I 4; l:C, vol.74, pp. J02-3. Itrid.I lt.I lr , lrC,vo i .tl 2 ( 1990) pp. l0- ll .S t.J o h n [)a n rrs c c n cfs :a ttL s posi ti on l , 4.24;1C ., , 2.l vol..17. 2.1I,.194. N4rxinrus Confessor, / hdl,tssitltt in i<lcnt, thc pf. Sr. rhc Al Z1; On (.ln i'trltrt.,'t ol16ro(-'lrrr ((lrcsrrvood, N.Y: Sr.Vledimir's Scnrinrry l)ress, 200.i), pp. f {)9- f 0. St. Synreon Ne.rvl-lrcologi:rn( irctbttiu l I) ix.on 2(r.4 in idcnr, thc , lcr r 7lr 1)rlrzrrro(Ncw Yrrrk: l);rulist [\css,l9tt0),pp. 2(11)-7(]. l" St. Svmconthe 'l hcolosian,I:lthiatlDistorosas l3; in idcm, Ot tfu Mytti.tl LiJi,, vol. I ((lrcstwoo<|, N.Y: Sr.Vlaclinrir'.s Scnrinurv Prcss, 199(r), 167. p. r" St. Ot I cf. lsr vol. JohnOhrysosronr. tfu Stttut't I .3: l)( i 49rI 221 N l)N 1.. Scrrcs, (), p. 414. Scc l)rrnrviotisNclllrs.Dcilirtion lr CTrlm(Cresrwood, N.\'.: St. Vl.rclitnir'.r Scnrinlrr' l)rcss. l9tl7), p. 7.1.

rl St. Synrconthc Nov l'hcologillt. I';hial I)istouncs l l' l.5r in Ot rlu'lll.ytical t l 0 :i n An d r cr l l .o u tl t, An s L i l i , w l . | , p p . 2 ( r ,.1 l t.Sr .l vl :r xi r r r uth c ( l o r r l e ss( n . b i ! ()trli*ar {l.ondon :rnd Nou York: I{otrtletlge.l()9(r), p. l2(r. Sr. (iregthc 'l'laxintus and thc l?rsarzlriorr;NI'NIr frrcl Scrics.vol.5. p.4(r5. St. orvof Nyssir,(hrhc.\o (iregorvof sinai, Ot ()tnn,ndtntts rtul l )orrrittrsS-t); in l'l'ihlalu. vol 4,p. il.1. St. Svntcott taught that nrrtl ncedcd to cilt irrcorrupt tirrit bcfbre the f.rll (sec pp l5-l(r, lltl bclorv),rvlrilc Sr. Mrximtts tartght th,rt Athnt rvotrld not hrvc krst his inr' nrortllin if he had obcycd (iod;rnd bccn nottrishcd fronr rhe trcc ol lifc (cf. (icn. ol l:9). St. (ircgorv of Nvsseancl Sr. (ircgorv of Sitr;rilistcd fcctling,.rs.r rrrrrrk thc frtll; horvcvcr,lt,rth of thcnr listc.l it tt,corruprion thilt cilmc int() cxistcttcc:tt thc tcthcl rvith thc voiding ol botlilv wrstc. I:ronr thc srrntol'thc l)erristictc:tchingon this rubjecr, wc crn concludc thar, whilc incorrrtpl nran tlid clt incorrupt lixrcl bcforc rhc firll. this c:rtingrvasnot thc sittttc:u rvhlt rvc knovv t<xlltvwhcn thc kxr,l rrndcrgocscorrtrption,rnd wlstc is cxcrcrcdrr St. B.r"il tlrc (ircrt, Honil.y !)sphining l lttt (iol Is Nor lr ('ltttr' ol h'il 6t irt Sr' iLlcn, Ot thL'l!unar Oondition ((lrcstrvootl.t'r-.Y.: Vlldinrir\ Seminarl l)rcss (lrcgorv of Nvssr, Oz rfu Sotl nd tt Rtsut'ttttitttt. 1>p.464 651005), p. 73. St. ( lltritt i,tn \Vrittrs, no. I li ($/cst nt instcr, l\4t1.: llcn, C)t thc I.orrl's I)uyo 4.2; Antiet t Ncwnun l)rcss. 1954). p. 5ti. 5t. i\'hxinrtts thc (lonfcssor, Anltigttuu 1t5; l'o ( )I : l 3 5 l l l . (ittrtis 17.41 Ii(1, vol T'i' p. 14.) St. John (lhrvsrrstonr. Itonilits ott hltial I)i'tour*'s 1.2;in On r,tl.vttital IiJi vol. l, Synrcorrthe Ncrv l-lrcologien. (.l,urhtitl 57, in [)i*tursts pp. 9(r ()7. Iclcnr. l)irourttt pp. 27-2S. ldent, I:irsrCrcatul tllan, pp. ( , 91 92. I I L rr St. Athenasiusthc (ircet. Ol tlJ. I otrtttttio,tol tlr Vovl 3; NPNI', 2nd Scrics. vol.4, p. -11t. John Ohrvsostort. Honilies on (ienuis l7.l' 30r F(l' vol. 71r' pp. St. 'l hcoloqiarr, ()tttcltrtic'tl l)irouttts 25.4; it [)iv 22.1. l3tt. St. Svmcon thc Nov l?Xr:n'J, 169 l). ri St. Nlirxinrtts Anbiguutn 45; I'}(l 9l: Il5lll. St. Svnrconthc Ncrv thc (',<t lesxtr, 'fhcologirn, (.''rtrclnial Djstorrso i.7, in l)iscotrrtts. p 97. Itlcnr, l:irt-(.tt'rtttd rrSt.

r5

'l'll li ()t{t H()t)()x \x()Rl) Up u n t il t har t inr c I of r h c f]l l l th c v w c rc l i v i n g l i k c rngcl s i n P aradi sc and so rhcy wcre not brrrning with desirc,not:rssrrulretl othcr Plsby sions, not srrbjectt<l the ncedsof naturc, bur on the contrrry \\,crc crcrrte<l incorruptiblc and inrrrrortrrl,:rnd rhat accounr{r xny ritc orr thcy had no nccd ro wcar clotncs.. . . (irnsidcr, I ask you, thc rrarrsccnclcncc rheir lrlessc'd of conditiorr, hol rhcy wcrc supcrior to all bodilv conccrns,how rhct, livctl on c:rrth as ifthcv rvcrc in hcavcrr,.rnrl though in ftct posscssirrg,r bocly thcy dicl nor lecl the limirations of rhcil lrcdics.Aficr .rll, rhcv hatl no nccclof shclrcr or hltritation, clorhinq or irnvrhing ()1'rhilr ki n cl ... . you sec, He [(io<l] nratlcrrrri urrangcdso thlr rhrs F,vcrything, ra ri o n albc ing { m anl c rc rte d b v H i rn h rd rh c g i o o df orrune ro bc of thc grcirrcsr irnporrrrncc, anclirr fronr bcing inlcrior to rhc lifc of-the lngels, cnjovcd in rhc lrorly rheir imnrunirv frorn strf]ering.l" F.lsewhcreSr. John Chrysostom wrircs rhar, befbre rhe firll, Aclanr rnd llvc livccl in [)rrrrclise in hcrvcn ancl rhcl.cnjoycd (iodl., conrpany.[)cirs sire for scxull inrcrcoursc,conccpri()n,hbor. childtrirrh lnd evcry fb rm o f c or r upr ion ha c ll re c n b a n i s h c cfro n r rh c i r soul s.... A r rhur l ti me th c r ewc r c no c it i c s ,e rl fi s , o r h o u s c s ....N c v c r thcl css, nothi ng cithcr thwlrtecl or hinclcreclthar haPPy lil'c, n4rich u,as far bctrcr r rl ra n th is . '

( iRt._A lN lNcoRIt LJPt-t()N l t..t) Dcsirr nnd llrnsurt h(irc tfu Fnll Describingnrrr'r'.s originil condition, Sr. Symcon rhc Ncw Theologiln wriresthlt of nr,r.lncss dcsirc rhc :rtrtl flcrv lust or nrovcrlcnt. thc irmtionrrl or wrs lot irt all cxist, lrttr in hirr IAclanrl lifi'withstonr.rch, ycr did is was our inrernrrl discold, and hisexisrerrcc frccfrornp,rin.'" Fllscwhere, rhc srlnrc Saint says that the fiuits in Paradiscaflirrdcd Irronl rnd enioynrer)t."r" nlan with "indescribable pleltsurc flrst-crelrccl "plcathlt, irt cxperietrcirrg thesetrvo strtenrcntsit may be concludecl surernd cnjoynlent"irr creatcdthings prior to thc fill, thc flrsr htrirrltionll dcsircfbr rhcrl. nrans did not cxpcricncc r'tl:ltlw:ls at According to Sr. Maximus thc Confessor, his crciltior') supposedto dircct his clcsircand longing not to creatcdthings bur to (rilar,{) in Him: God, and to find his grleastrrc pleaVhcn (iod crc:rred Irum:rn nirturc, did nor crclrcscnsiblc He it surcand plin .rlongwith in rarhcr,Hc furnishcd with a ccrtrttt httrran bcing,t spirirr,rirl capacitl, plcasure, plcrsurewhcretry firr a cnjoy Cod ineffirbly. Rut togcrhcrrvith conrwould bc atrlc to by of s<lulrrdcrcd tlris ing-into-lrcing, flrst rrran, Lrsc his scnses, thc ('od on scnclcsirc the nrind firt of spiritual capaciry-thcrr,rrur,rl siblc things. "'

Ltu,yt.60. Scc.rlso Scrlphinrol Sirtl, '(irnvcrsirrion Sr. Scrirplrinr Serov Sr. ol of on rhcAinr of rlre(lhrisri.rn l.ifc."it I.irtb l?lrl'ti,u I'lilol',rlr. vol. l, 4rh cd. (l)larin:r, (irlil.: St. Herrnen Al:rskrr ol Erorhcrhrxrd,200lt), 9{). p. r('St. ( lhr y s or r or n, o u i l i ti o n (i c ttc s i1 5 .1 4 ,1 6 .1 l 7.l ; f(1, vol . 74, pp. s H , fo l rn l0r l , :0 7 .2. t 2. r- St. (h 14.J. 5; in itlcn. Ot Vitqinity, folrrr(lhrvsostonr, Virgi t.1, lEtintr Rr r r, rn r,rg(l .r : r v is r on, Y . : lhc l i l w i n J \l c l l c nl c s s . l 9 l .l .l ),p .21. t N. l
t6

r8 Sr. Svnrcon thc Nerv I hcokrgirtn, (itd,ttttl )5.4: S(, I I.l:56 I)i*tnnt (l'Xr5lr cf. idcnr, l)rr,zrnr'l, p. J(r9. r') Scep. 25 bcLrrv. r') Sr. Mrxinrrrs thc (lonfi'ssor, Ad 'l/tttk'siurn 6l Oorpu Ohritti,t ttonrttt, Srrir: (,rzrrz ((l(lS(i) l2:85 ('lirrnhout. Bclgitrnr:Rrcpttls/Lctrvcn LJnivcrsirv l)rcss.1990)r (.itstttit,\t.rrtol,, l3lliclcnr, lhiotrs /i.rt: rn l hology, tlrl)it'im Ii,on' p. cl.On rln ort.t,ltrl Vi rt ttMt llit 4.3.)-35, I lr I'hibfulid, vol. .l (l.ondon: l:rbcr itnti I:.rbcr. l9ll l). p. 1.'t.1. t7

I t .: ()tlf t t()t)()x \(/()t{t) "plersurc"in irs fallcn courexris ir conrlrirration lbr St. Maxinrtrs, of scnsuelfi'cling arrda passit>natc dcsircfbr l scnsiblc olrjcct: ti,cry firlbiddenplcasurc conrcro bc throughpussion hus arorrscd throLrgh senscs sonrcobjcctofscnsc....Fol tlcsircldclcclro thc lry scnsurrl fcclingchrrngcs plclsLrrc. inro giving ir a slrlpc,rrntlscrrsrnl fccling nrovcd dcsirc bv produccs plclsure rvlrcn is appliccl sonrc it to objcct of'scnsc.'r In thc writingsof .Sr. Syrncon and St. Mirxirnus this srrtriccr, on wc scc rwo Flthcrs vieu,ing rhe sirrlc rcality fronr tlifkrcnr sidcs. St. "plcasurc" plrtlking of rh. Sytncon,in savingtlrrr nrrn cx;rcrienced in fi Lrirs Flclen, of wrs spe:rking plcasurcin cre:trccl of tl-tir-tgs tttit/toutirrlttion:rltlcsirefirr thcrn.St. Maximus,on rhc orhcr liirnd,in savingthar nlrln wils not originllly crclrcd rvirh "sensiblc u,rr,spraking plc,rstrrc, prccisell of plcrsrrrcL'ont of't1esirc. Frorl thc sunr of thc rcrchingsof borh l"irrhers, lrrivc at rhc fbllowing: in expcriencingplcasurcirr we crcatctlrhingsbctbrc thc firll, nran tlid not turn his dcsircrowilro rncrl.l, but insterrdkcpt it clirectcd rowarcl (lod, rlre nltural objcct of his clcsire. Inclcccl,according ro a passlgc arrributeclto St. '['heodorc thc (lrcrt Ascetich'l'lr I,bi/olealia, nran's enjoynrcntofcrcatcd things was onc of thc wrrysby rvhich he coulcl raisc his nrintl to his Crc:rtor irr Paraclisc: 'l-hcfirst nrlrr coLrlcl indecrl. wirhout.rnr, lrindrrrnce, rpprchcnd und cnjovscnsorv rhings nrcarrs rhc scnscs intclligiblc bv of antl rhrrrgs (nrind,inrcllcct). hc should rvithrhc rrarri llrrr hrrvc his givcrr rrtrcnriorrro the lrighcrrlthcr rhln the lorvcr, hc rves ltrlc to conrfrlr irs rrruncrvirh intclliciblcthings through rhc zaro, rrshc rvusu,rtlr sensort, thing. rhrotrglr scnscs.do rrotsly rharAclirnr rlrc I oughrnot
'L St. Mrrxinlts tlrc (irnfcssor,,.llrlr(rrrrlr l0l in I tttth, i.l,t.,:jnu lx,(.ittfitttt, 100: cl. l'hiloltalit. vol. i. p. 277.
l6

CI {LAI ll[ ) I N I NcO I {RUI 'f l( ) N firr it wrrs not fbr nothitrg rhlt lre wirs itlto lr,rvcusc.l the scnscs, vcstcd u'ith l botly. []trt hc shoulcl not hirvc indulqcd in sensorv things. !(hcn perccivingthc belutv ofcrc,tttttes.he shoultl hlvc rclr,r"e ltrttnd his cniovfcrrcrl it to irs Sourcc lncl ls a c,rnsc.lLtctrcc nrcnt and his rvorrdelfirlflllcd irr rhrt, thus uiving hinrsclf.r rrvofoltl ar rcls,rrrf,rr nr:uvellintri thc (lrcrttor. Hc shoul.l tror havc rttt:rchccl hinrsclf,rs hc rli.l. ro scttsorvthings lnd hlvc losr hintself in rvonclcr :rr rhcrrr,ncglectinqthc (,re:ttorof itrrclligiblctrc:run'. " it thc pleilsr r r c r sensiblcr lr inlis t hat I r t r n cot lld exPer icnccbcinclulgent, cgori5tic Plcasurc, tlot an etrcl itr fbrc rhc fhll wlrs not il sclt-itsclf. Rethcr, it rvls onc lltcilns [)v rvhich nran cotrltl, in the wortls of St. M;rximus, cxcrcisc his "spirirual crP.tcitv fi)r plclsttrc" ancl "eniov (i od i ncffi bl v" A s S r. Max inr us him self t est if ied,( iot l plenncd f ionr t hc beginr r ir r g thrt man\ nrincl u'ould be ririscd to Hinrsclf lrv tlteatts of rhc sctrsilrle crcatiorl, fbr in all crcltccl things ttnc cJtt flnd "trllccs" of His rnrtjcsr"': 'I'his not g<xrdncsst onlv wls rhe pcctrlirtr plln of (lotl'.sconsttnrntatc of csscr r ccs int clligiblct hir t gscot t st itl i d thc cl i vincat r d ir t cor por c. t l of rute represcntrltiorrs (lod'.s inefl,rblcglorv, acquiring legirinlatclv rhc rvholc irlcontprchensiblc and proporrionallv rvirhin thenrsclvcs bLrt, itt rtcldition, rr,tcesof lovclincss:tntl inrtpproachablcbertLttv. (lod'.sou,n n)riesr] inrr'rnringlctl rvirh scnsiblcrhings, things rhat flll 'l'hcsc rrrtces (lod's nlrticsrl rtrc of fir short of intcllig,iblcessenccs. ,rbleto trlnslrort thc hunratt rrolr, rvhich tlscsthcnl rtslt vchiclc' ttrfi l l i bl v to ( iod. " ' l -hus,

yt.

tr St. Ilrcodolc thc (itc.tt Asecrie,Ilnnuilon:it I'lilok,rli,t' vol. 2 p 4/t. r i S t . N l : t x i n r tts h e ( i r n fe sso r 'zl l l l ta l d ssi n n Sl ;( "( S( i 7 :.1 ') 5 ( l 9 tt0 ) ;i n l ) l tr l M' r Illrrrvcrs, l.rtgrv., ,rrzl Spiritual l\tl ryogvin illtiutrs th ()tfistor (Notrc l):rnrc, lnci.: U n i v c r s i t vo l N o tr c [) u r r r cl ) r css,I9 9 l ) . p . I l {) l cl . St. l r 4 l xi n r u s, Vti o tr t Ia x ) .') 6 ' l'/tih[alit, vol. 2. p. 2011.

r9

t'l-tE oRf rJ()tx)x \f()Rt) 'l'lr Conditiort o.fMnn's Mind bcforc tha f:all

( lRt r . Af lll) lN lN( ioRI lt JP'fl( ) N St. Ma,rinus on Man's Origintl Conlition

I;ronr Sr. John Chrysosrom we learn rhat Adanr was originrrlly clcarccl rvith "incflirblc intclligcncc,"which cndowcd him with the cirp.rbilin,to rranrc rhc ;rnirrrllr((icn. 2:19-20), and wirh "prophctic ;rll gr'.rrr'."wlrich cnrrblctlhirr to prophcsvlbour Evc after her crelrron (( icrr.l:l.l l4). " St. MaxinrLrs providcs with furthcr insighrs us inro the originelintclligcncc mirn,cxplaining of rharthe hunrarr rlintl wasnot rouchcdbv inr:rginarion bcforc rhe f.ill: ln thc bcginning, passiorr pain wcrc not crc:rtcd arrd rt>gcthcr rvirh rhc body; rror lbrgcrfLlncss ignorarrcc and rogcthcr wirh rhc soul; nor thc cvcrchrrnging im;rrcssions rhc'shlpcofcvcnrswirh rhc in nrind.All thcscrhingswcrebroughtabourin m;rnbv his disobcdiencc....-l-he nrind ofAdam at firsrw:rs nor inrpressccl the inrlgilrv nation,whichsrancls bctwcen nrindand the rhoughrs, thc scrring up a wall lround rhe mind anclnor allou'ing ro cnrerinro rhc musr ir simpleand irnrgclcss csscnccs ofcrelredbeings.r' ln a sinrilarvcin, Sr. (iregoryof Sinai speaks man'smcnrory irr thc of prelirps:rrian stare: -l he ncmory wrrs originallv sinrple lnd one-pointcd, but:rsu rcsult of thc fall its natuml powcrshlve l,ccn pervcrrcd: hls lost its ir recollectcdncss(locl and hasbeconrc in conrpround irrsrcird ofsrnrple,diversificcl insrcacl onc-poin of red.r('

cxistencc bc[bre thc lxll has bccn proA dcrailetl description of ntan'.s vidcd by St. Maximus in l'is Ambiguurn 45. F.xplaining a phrase of St. (iregory thc I'hcologian-that tlrc flrst-crearcd nran was, befbrc rhc fall, " n:rkecli n h i s sir nplicit y and I in his] lif c wit hot r t ar t s and skills ( r ir i2r qr ) , .--St. Maximus writcs: and withour ltnv covcrirlg or Protcction" So I strpposcthlt thc' tcitclrersaid rhcsethings wanting ttt ittcltcltc rhc diflcrcncc bctwccn the tcn)Pcr.lnlclltof thc hunratr body in the lncl firreflthcr Acllrr lrcforcthe trilttsgrcssioll that which in rtsis norv back thert mrln clcarlv wrs not tort') bccrtrtsc .cen lnd holds 5q'31', aprrr l)y quxlitics contratv to arrd corruptivc of circh otlrer in rhcir bodily nrixrurc,but wasaccordinglt'rvithotttflux or efllux-an.l frc. of tlre constantaltcrittionlrenvcenthcnt, dcpcnding on which qu:rlFor irv prcdorninarcs. indccd nratrw,rstror dcprivcd of thc'irnrrort'rliry thlr is by grlcc, an.l dicl nor h,rvccorrttptiotr rvhich norv rvhips of tcnrper:rm.'nt thc b.rdv nranilisrlv hinr with its golcls,trut irrrotlrcr befit hirn. :l tclrlpcranlcnthcltl rogethcrbv qurlirics th:lt rrc sinlplc lncl without strifc'. Iirr rcasonof this rcnrperlmcn( w:rs thc first mrtn nakc<i,not ls or ottc flcshlcss bodilcss,t"but..ts ottc not hrlving thc tclllPc-r.rnrcnt trtorral,,rnd tough. According to this which mrtkcsthc flcsh clcnser, grelr re,rcher,thc flrst nran both livctl u'ithottt lrts lnd skills (d,':ixvary\ rvithout dissiprrirrgthc nrttrrirl eo(,d health givcn hinr atr.l *vls rvirlrottrnccd of plotccrivc cc,vcroncc firr lll in lris cssctrcc, xnd not stlbof ing, fe:rringno $hirnc bcc:tttse his innltc disp:lssion, jcct ro cithcr cold or hclr-firr tlre which rc:rsons cspccially tncansof

Chr v s os r on r, tri l i e to u (i ,trc s i s 1 5 .1 2 ,1 5.14, | O,vol .74,pp. Ho 16.16; '' St.J, r hn . l0 l -.1 ,2 1 8.S c e ol4. lli . p . 1 9 0 . als 15 Muimus rlre St. Oonlcssol qrrorcd Sr. Nicodcnrus rhc l{olv Mor.rntrrn.,1 in of lhtrlbookol .\pirtrn (.ot,tultNcw V,rk: l'.rulirr ltesr, l.)lJ()).p. 150. '(' Sr. (ircgorv of Siniti, (ht Oonnanlnerts rnt I)ocnirtet(tO;in l,bilokdlia,v<>1. 4, p.2 2 2 .

r; St. (ircgrrv thc l-hcolrgi.rn Oration 4511.1)(i.16:(;.]l(l; cf. Nl'Nl' lrrd Scrics' vol. 7. p.425. Js St. Mlxinrtrs is hcrc rclirring a rcrrching ()rigcnisnr. lhc()rigcnists, belicvine ot errcl bodilcsslttbrt'the firll (sccp. 2.1'notc 40 belorv),wcrc apt th:rt mrn rvasflcshless phr:rscof Sr. (ircgorv tlrc Ihcologian to nlcan ro firlselyintcrprct thc.rbovc-qrtotccl rhrt mrn wiu originllly 'irakcd of flcsh.

.t

t. t oRn-l()lx)x !(/oRt)

(ll{liAl-trl) lN(l()RRUI'l l()N lN on St.Mnxintus and St. S;ymaon \Ylnt Might Halr Bcen cvcr of Suchwas thc conclition ttranin rhc beginning.Bv clrawing (lod in love. by naturally direcring his dcsireand longin!! to closcrto Hinr rather rh:rn unnrturallv ttlrninf! it asiclcro tlrings of rhc sctrscs, to rlllul wAS bccomeever nroreholv ilnd spiritual' ever morc in the likencssof(lod, rver more transfbrmedby the graceof (lotl. Flarlierwc (luotedtlre wordsof St.John Danrascene that man was"to colrlplcrcthc on ry nryste by lreing deificd." Fixpanding th is theme, St. Max inrttsstltes rhirt man, by freely following God's cotnnrandmcnt in F.den,wotlld a h:rve bcconre deified"son of (lotl"-a god not bv nilturcbtlt bv gracc: of in nlrn wascrcilted thc inragc (iod for rhc trnln thc trcginning rntl choicc, of,rcof pttrpost bcingboln of thc Spiritby f-r'ec tloLrbtcd rlre of(lotl throughkccping [)rvruc quiringwhatw:rsin rhc likcness tlrc wlriclrhadbccnlaicltrponhirn. ltl thisrv:ry slnte conrmirrrdmcnt
Morcovcr, bv slryinglh;tr this stetc cxistccl 'ltlirrc thc tlllrsgrc\\ir'll .ls:ln rrctrtllli(\'. conclitionwls ch.tngcd"lrttcron (iatoooi), rvlrcn hc lrltl irllcrr"'Sr. ,rnd thlt Ad,rnt'.., stittc rvithin :t tcnrporel i\4rxinrLrs pllces his dcnilcd pc,rtrryrl of thc prclapsarien nr,rn's crclrion lnd his tirll llcrc it t.trr fi,rnrovork and indiclrcs a rinrc Ilpsc tre(rvccn tclching,docs in fact agrccwirh lhc conlmon ltltrtsrtc ttn' bc sccn thlt St. iVlaxinrus's ol dcrsrancling rhc (lcncsis eccount. lr is likelv th:rr St. Nlarinrrrssairl th;rt nrln nlirttscclhis spiritttirlc:rpecitv togcrhcr rvith conlirrq-in(o-bcing"in onlcr to rcbrrt ()r'igettisriclcrs of .tn cxrcnrlctl prcllpsuriln st,ttc ,trrrl of I ilottblc-crcltiori' oi nnn. (Accorcling to ()rigcn, (itrl irrtclligcnccs [,de;] rverccrc;ttcdalicr ctcrnrl l)ivinc lirrrns rtnd corrtcnrpl;rrd unril thcy trcc.tntc s:ttcd'rvith llinr.:rr which tirnc ther" coolctl dorvtt lo becontc souls, lncl (;o(l crc:rtcdthc nratcriitlbodies,rnclscnsiblcworlti into rvhich thcv lcll stirrenrcntin r}ris ligh(, Vierving St M:rxinrttsls {c1.()rigen, fint I\'inciplcs2.It..11.) hits .uordsto nrealt: I:allcnncss l)aul M. llkrrvcrshls intcrprctcd thc SlIint's trirnslutor Oa r/lr' hcen rhc rlilcnrnrl of hunrlnkin.l yitually fiont lu' lulinting" (St. M:rxinrrrs. ()x,ait lll),itrt'y.p. tl5, ntrc 10, crnph.tsis the origirlll) St. M:rxinrttssrvords \oin in gcrhcr rvith conring-inrr>tting, thco. trc t<, be trnclcrstorxl l rclrtivc scnsc' :ts scnsc. de' rts nrcrninq vcrvclosc to th,.'hcginnirrg. lir irrrcrprctrhcnl in ltrt rtbsolLltc st,ttc.nrek.', tlo scnscwithin thc contcrt of vcrl cxistence thc ptcl;rpsariett nvinq thc context. of St. M.rrirrrusstltou{ht, lct elonc thc rvidcr Scriptttral/l)atristic

b()rlr shclter and clorhing, havc lrccn contrivcd lrrolccrivcc()\,(ritrg, l i rr h r lr r r r ns .... lirl bcirretlisplssionare gracc,he wils nor by way of plcrsurc bv rrrovcrlbv rhc clcccirfulplssions of rhc inraginarion;:rnd exisrrng rvitlrout any wilnr, hc was fiec o[ rhc obligation rt) r.rse anclskills .rrrs bccrrusc ncccssitvl of lncl bcirrg wisc, he had bccn by wav of knowlcrigc scr :rbovcrhe stutlv ofnaturc. -[hus thc flrsr nrrn had norhing b*wcen him and God rl,hich rvusobsrrucring his knowlcdgc rrnd which wls sropping lris nrovenrcnt towlrd God, rnovcmcnrsclflchoscn out of lov.,, f'rom bccorning :r kinship. And hcrrusc of rhis, he was called by rhe rcachcr. "nakcclin his simplicirv," irs exisringlbovc lll rcscarchinro nlrure; a n d rv it h a " lif e wit h o L rrrrrs a n c ls k i l l s ,"a s b c i n g p urc ofal l l i f' ei n nc-ccl irrrs lnd skills: rrnd "ra,irhourarry covcring or grrorecrion," of sincc he wrs frcc'ofsuch impassioncd inrertwining ofthc scnses rvirlr scnsiblc rhings, to rvhich rhings hc wls jusrly subjccrctl larcr on, rvhcn he fell shorr rhrough clcf'ecr-rvhcn hc of his own choicc, prclerrcd to bccorncenrprv ofcvcrything rirrlrcrrhan ro bc full, rhLrs bcconring infcrior to rhosc rhings ro rvhich hc had naturrrllv ircen srrpcri<lr. " From rhis citation ir is clearly sccn rhirr, fbr Sr. Mlxirnus rs fbr ot h e r H o l y f r ar her s ,m a n l i v c d fo r a ti m c i n a n u n fal l en srarc, w i rhout bo d i l y co r r upt ion and w i rh o u r rh e p a s s i o n s ,c a re sxnd neccssi ri cs:l ssoc iatcd wi th hur nan lif c a s w c k n o w i r.' rr)

rhc (lonfessor,,4rrlrg t ttt 45: It(l 9 l : l _l5lD- l .l5(rA. tu rrrSonrc contcnrporer!,scholers, citing rhc rvords of Sr. JVl:rxinrus quorcd cirrlier-rher thc first rnen nrisusecl spiriruirlcrrpacirv'rogcthcl with conring-rnto-bchis (rLsccp. l7 eb<rvcl elso,4rrliguurt 4l; inr:. \dp,a ;Qt livtoSar Ad Ikltisirn scc I'(i 9l:l.j2ll])-h:rvc suggcstcdthat St. Muxinrus bclicved thcrc w:rs tlcvcr I rnc rvhcn nran wirs in ln unfallcn st:rtc.'l his intcrpretltion. howevcr.doc,sn()( c()ncrrr wirh nrhcr lnrtions ofrhc Sainr'.s rcirching.In rhe lcngrhv p:rssagc fronr ,,1nbi(uutl 45 thet rvc huvc jrrsr<;uotcrl. Nllxirnrrs speeks Adlnr'.sincorrtrpr, unfellcn srare Sr. of

r'' Sr. Mlxintus

'r'HIi ollr't.l()t)()x\foRI)
nrln would on rheone h:rndbe a crcrrurc'of(iod by narur.c, on rhc and o th c r r s on of ( iod u n d u q o rl rh ro u g l rrh e Sp i ri rb l ,gracc. rri trvas not Ii possiblc anv othcl rvuvlirl nr.rl :rficr. crclrrionro bc provctla son irr his ,rl'(iotl antl .r gotl rhrough dcificarion by gracc, unlessfirsr bl,frcc . lr,,it r' lr<lr.rdlx crrborn ol rhc Spirit th rough rhcsclf'nroving:.rncl sov_ (rcrgn f o\ \ ' c f s hic h rra ru rl l l yL rn i re h i m rv i th Go tl .rl s Sr. Synrcon rhe Ncw Thcologian provides us with an irnagc of

(:RLA'f t.]l) IN IN(I)RlluP f l(lN that the entire visible crearion, and not only Paradise,was in a state of incorruption before thc fall of rnan. He writes:

(lod did rrot, as sotrrepcoplc think, jLrsr to givc l)rtritclisc our ilnccsincorrtrpriblc. rors at thc bcginning, nor clid Hc n)irkconly Paradisc No! Insrcad,Hc did nrtrch norc. Bcforc ParrdiscHc madc thc wholc carth, rhc onc which wc inhabit , ancl cver lt hing in ir . Nor t hr r alonc, btrr He also in fivc davsbrotrght tlre lrcl'crrs atrcl,rll thcv conrain into hcing. On thc sixth drv I Ic nraclcAclant lnd csrablishc.l him rs lord and king ofall thc visiblc crcrttion.Neithcr llvc nor Prrrdisc rvcrcyet crclrccl,bttr thc rvholcs',rrltl had bccn brottqht into bcof i ne bv (l od. r s ot lc t hir r li,as: r kin<1 pr r adisc. lt ( ) nccit r cor r uPt iblc yct rnrtcrial rn<l pcrccptiblc.It rvls rhis ruorld,ils rvc s.li(l'rvhiclrrvrs Docs rhis firr given ro Adlnt lntl to his dcsccnclanrs their c'njovtnctrt. secnrstrilnqcto vou? lt sht,ttldrrcr."

rvhet lifi. would havcbcen likc if the flrsr pcoplehad firlflllcd rhcir "lmagine," writes, orisinrldesignrrion. lrc.
... rv hr r s or r of lif c a n d w :ry o [l i v i n q rv c n ri g l rrhavc had i f' rvc hl d Irccn prcscrvcdincorruprible and irnntorral in err incorru;rt world. going through lifi, manifcstlywirhour sin or sorroq fi.ccofcareslnrl tuntroublctl.And irnagine, roo, how bv progrcssin kccping (iocl'.s co n l ! landm c nt sand rh c p rrrti n gi n to p ra c ti c c fo u r g< l odi rrtcntrons o rve would havc bccn led trp in <lucrimc ro :l nlore pcrfccr glory ancl transfcrrnrarion, r{rawingnclrcr to God arrclro the rayswhich sprrng fiom His Divinirl,. 'fhc soul of cach would havc bccomc brighrcr, ancl rhc pcrccptiblcand rnarerill body of e,rrch .rltcrccl lntl changed inro irn imrnarcrialancl spirinral onc, inro sonrcrhingbcvond serrse p crcepr ion. ' l

H erc S t. Sym eon is cchoing t he Visdont of Solom on, in which ir is dcclared: "God did not nrtke dcath, ncither tlocs He take dclight in rhe dcstrtrcti on of living t hings. G ot l cr ear ecl all t hings t hat t hey nrighr hlve tlrcir bcing; and thc gctrerations of the worlcl wcre fbr prescrvation, and tlrerc is no poison of dcstructioll in them" (Vis.

III. THs OnrcrNel CoNorrrot

or rue Cosuos

httristic Atcounts oJ't/te C'osrrosbcfore tb t:all Ve havc alreadvquoted briefl1,fiorn .Sr.Syn:con's descriprionof . the cosmos rhat man originallyinhabiretl. Svnreon quire explicit St. is
'l St. i\'{axinrrrs rhc (lolfissor, Antbiguunt 4Jl in Ncllas, Dd/ic,ttiort in Oltitt, 1.t. I 19. rr Sr. Svnreonrhc Nov 'l heologian I:thicdl Diy.nrrrsoI . I I SC | 22: l7(r-713; Oa , cf. rlt Nlyttiul Lifi, vol. I , pp. 22 ).\: l:irst,(.)attcd Man. yt. 88.

l:13-14). According to St. Symcon, befbrc the originrrl creation wls "changedovcr to corruption" it clid rrot "belr pcrishrtrlcfrLrits and . ' . itr sprout thorns and thistles"(cf. Gcn.3:18)." Elsewherc thc sanlc "evcry kind work, St. Symeon affirrns that (lod gaverlatr in Paraclisc arld varieryof fruit, fiuir rvhich is treversPoiledor lacking lrut always with indescriband providing our anccstors frcsh, firll of sweetness, l-or it was fitting that their incorruptible and enioyment. ablc plcesure

Lif ' 1 l bi rl .ri n On r h L'l. yt t i*r l i, vol. I , p. 21. r ltrid. L4: in ( h thc rtl.ysriall.i/i, vol. I , p. j8. cl. Fint'(.lrutnd Man, p. ll).\ ' '

z5

t HIt oRf I toD()x !(()Rl) bodiesbe suppliedwith incorruptiblefbod."'' In othcr words, ir was appropriatc fbr incorrupt flrst-creltcd nrarr ro bc givcn both an envrronnlerrranclI fboclthut corrcsPondcd his contlirion. ro Accortling ro Sr. .lohn l)arnasccnc,bcfbrc Adarrr arrcl Evc's "thcrc rvls ncirhqr rain nor tcmpeston thc earth."lr' tr.rnsgressiorr l:rrrrhcrtlctailsa[rorrtrlrc sratcof rhe crearion-in parriculirr,I)ara<lisc bcfirrc rhc flll .rrc providcd by Sr. (lregory of Sinai. Eden, hc s:rvs,"has lrccn pllnred lry (iod with all sorrs of thc most fragrant plants....Ir is always burstingwirh fruir, both ripe and unripc, anclis continuouslyblossonring with flowers."Accortling to this Saint, Para"mlcle betwccncorruprion and incorruptiorr,"such rhirr tlise hls bcen nrilture trccsand fruit "rurn into fi-agrant soil, and do not givc off thc oc rr of corruptiorr ls do plants of rhis worlcl. 'l'his occurs lrecausc of the grcirt richncss anclholincssof thc graceeverabor-rnding there."'Anirutls balitre the l:all From St. I'heophil us Antiocli we learn rhar animalswcre nor of venonlollsbefbrcrhe fhll.'' Both hc anclother Holv Fathers raughrrhrr beasts did not evokc fcar in nran in thc prclapsarian world, but rarl.rcr subnrittcdto hirn. As Sr.John Chrysostonr obscrvcs, whcn the anirnals came bcfbre Adenr ir: ordcr to rcceivcnames,"rhcy came in cornplete subjectionto hinr irsro a nlasrcr.rntlaceeptc.l rhc rr:rnrcs, whilc Ad;rm
'' Ibid. l.l ; S(l f l2:lttl; ct. On rht illstirul Lry', vol. l, p. ]G l:irsr-(.).eaprl Matr

(ll{liAl lll) lN IN(lC)l{RLJPl l()N "Befbrethc fill'''writcs St. Jttlrrr had no fcar of thesewild beasrs.""' "all things wcrc sutriectto the control of man, bcctuse [)rnrascene. (lod had nradehirrrrLtler overall thc thingson the carthlnd in the waTC T.

Cod indiof As statedin (lcncsis l:-10,lr the lreginning crcariorl c:lted that rll the animals wcre to cat plirtrtsrathcr thln e:rchorher: 'Antl to evcrybcasroltthe earth, and to cvcrv bird of the.lir, and to cvon cry rhing thllt crcel)s thc cirrth,cvcrythingrhxr hasthc [rrcarhof life, I h:rvegiven cvcry grccn plrrnt fbr fbod." I'ollowing fionl theservords taught th.rt animirlswerc of Scripturc, thc Holy Fathcrscotrsistctrtly givcn plants to cat befbrc thc flrll.'l-hus,St.'l'heophilusof Atrtioch befirrcthc frrll,and that efier rhc wcrc not Prcdat()ry \\,rotcthltt aninrals "rcsrorccl thcir oliginll gentle(iencrll l{csurrectionthcl' rvill bc to Ircnltcus l-vonsttughr thc silnle:cotlll))cl)tingoll lsaiilh's of ncss."irSt. shall prophecyrhrt "tl.rcwolf shall feedwith thc larnb.anclthc lcoparcl and ox shallcit strawtolic clownwith thc vounggoat ... and tlrc lion gether"(ls.ll:(r-71 sceelso ls. ll:8-9, (r5:25),he rrfllrmcdrhrrrrhis clln be sccn ro rcfer to the stlte ttfirttintrls both lrcfirrerhe irll and aftcr the (ierrcral l{csurrcctiotr: shotrld all Ir is right that rvlrenthc crcrrionis rcstorcd, thc itninr:rls originrllv ro olreyert.lbc itt subjcction nrln, an.{tevcrtto thc t<xrd (fi>r in to subicctctl obediencc originrrllv thcvhadbccrr givenbr'(iocl of thrrtis,thc prodLtctionsrhcc,trth.'l Adanr),

P. 9 0 . 1('Sr. 2.10r NI,NI:, fnrl Scrics,vol. 9. p. 2tt. John I)lnrirsccne,I\,ttt l:lx2ositiort Sr. (irc'gorv of Sinui. Oz (,lonnttt nttutt ,nd Doctriars l0: in l>hilokalia (in '( i rc e k), vol. 4 (Arh cn s. l()7 6) , p. 12r c f . Pbik halia ( in English ) , v o l . 4 , p . . 2 1i . I n <luoting thcsc rvords o[ Sr. (ircgory, Iir. Scrlphirr Rose norcs: "-l his passugc cr, ir prcsscd in thc prescr.t tcnte-hrctt,tt' tlt l\ralic itt u,l,ih ldau u,ai pl,rttl I sril/ in rxirrcarc lTut is not visible rr otrr nornrel sensc()rg:lns'(fr ScraphinrRose. (r'r,rzrlr, (,lrdtiott,tul l)dy Mtrr [)l.rrine. (]llif.: Sr. Hcrnr.rn ol-Alrsku Rrothcrhood, 20{)01,

(lhrvxrstonr. HonilA ot (inois l/t.l'): l:(l' vol. 74' p. l()1. scr rrlso ")Sr. Johrr 1 6 . 4 .p . J 0 9 . i(' St. fohn I);tnusccnc, ll.v.rt l-.xfotitiott2.101 l:(1, vol -)7. p 2J'). Scc ilso st l:irst-(.lran'dMan, 1t.')). Svnrconthc Ncw'f hcrrlogien, i l S r . l l r c o p h i lr r so i An ti o ch , Ib tl u to l .yu t l .l 7 r AN l r vo l J, p l 0 l Scc r h c fr r l l tluotatiorron p. 52 bckrrv. il St. frcnlcur, ,4g,1nst lt()tc(lthit, St. Itot'tics 5..1.1.ANltvol. l.p 5(r.1. lrcnrtcus rcfi'r'ringto rhe originitl itrtd finel stetcsof rttrirnlls,this prophccv ol ls:rieh lrcsiclcs ll:6-10 c.ln:rlso rcfcr to thc h:rrnronv lrcnvccn lirrrrtcrlv licrcc pcoplcs.trrd thc
Z/-

P 4t4). 'l of 2.17; 'NSt. hcophilrrs Auioch,li Autolynrs Artc-Niwr lirlrt (ANli),vol.l,
p. l{) l. qtroteti on p. 52 bclorv.

z6

THE ORTHODOX\fORI) St. John Damascene likewisespokeof animalseating plants before the fall, sayingrhat rhen "the earth brought forth of itself fruits for the use of the animals that were subject ro man."tr St. Gregory of Nyssa observedthar plants were crearedbeforeanimalsbecause they were to serveas food for the animals.-''According to St. John Chrysostom, God rold Adam that He had given planrsfor rhe animalsro ear so rhar Adam, who had been placedas lord ofthe crearion, would not be concernedabour how to provide for animals.tt 'fhe Fathers nor speak do of any kind of carnivoryexistingbefore the fall. In the writings of St. Basil the Great, on rhe other hand, we find an explicit reachingthat animalsdid not eat eachother, and furthermorethar they neitherdied nor decayed the first-created in world: Doubtless indeed vultures not look aroundrheearthwhenliving did thingscamero be. For nothingyerdiedof rhese rhings givenmeaning or broughtinto beingby God, so rhatvultures mighrearir. Narurewasnot divided, ir wasin its primc;nor did hunters for kill, for that was nor yct rhe customof hurnanbeings; did wild beasts nor clawrheirprey, rheywerenor carnivores. it is cusromary for And for vulturcs feedon corpses, sinccthercwerenor yet corpses, to bur nor yet their stcnch, thcrewasnot yet suchfood for vulrures. all so But followed dicr of swans all grazed meadows.s(' the and rhe

( ll{[ All: l)

lN lN( ( ) l( Rt l'll( ) \

Tfu Unknowability of the World balbre thc l'hll Drewing frorn the Scriptu ral/Parristictesrirnonyon thc ittcorrtll)t world-its vcgetation,anintals,and clinrate-St. Ignatius flrst-created th-century Russia,Provides Brilnchaninov a Holy Fathcr of ninetcen At in us with a compositcdescriptionthat is rcrnarkable its derails. the out rhar knowledgeof the first-crearcd silmc time, howevcr,he points to world rcnrainslargelyineccessiblc tts who know thc creationonly in its corruptedstatc: 'I'hccrrrh, crciLretl, any dcfiby blcssed God, did nor have adorncd, "Cod saw,"after rhe with rcfincntcnr. cicncies. wasovcrflowinli Ir "everything Hc rhrr of conrplction rhc wholccreltionof rhc worlcl, it nraclc: ancl, lrehold, wasvcrygood" (Gen.l:-] I ). hrd diffcrent in to Now thc earthis prcscnrccl otrr evcs a cornplctclv hcr conditionin holv virginirvlwc knorvhcr look. Wc do not krrow ruc and lccursedncss, know her llin the conditionof corruptiotr -I-he Godwascrc,rtcd crernity. fbr shc scntenccd brrrningl to rcacly srys u,riter Gencsis rharthc carthin itsoriginalcondition of inspircd did nor h,rvenccd of tilling (Clen.2:5): ir broughrforth by itself arrclfruirs gririns irnd othcr nourishing grrsscs,ucgctablcs 'l-herewere no hlrmful ovcrabundlntlylnd of supcrb worth. to wcrcnot subicctcd citherro clecal'or discases; on growtlrs il platrts
contradict St. Ilesil. ftrr hc docs not sav that lninlals:rcrtrallv hc docs not ncccssitrily dicd :rnd dccevcdltcfirrc thc fall. ln thc contexr of thc contnron l)atristictclching on worlcl,,tncl dcetfr:rn.l corrttPtion cntcring thc on rhc incorruprion of thc lirst-crcatcd (of rvhich nrorc rvill bc s:ri<l [>clow),Sr. (ircgorlis stltcnlcnt cosnrosonlv at the fill th,tt:tnirrulshld bctbrc tlrc firll' btrr thlt rv;rs to cln bc rrndersrood rcfi'r to:t potcntiel Simillrlv, whcn St (ircgiorv.pc.rk',rI not exprcsscd acttralrcrms ttntil lficr rhe f-,rll. in witlr ,rttritrtttcs sttch :rs courlgc lnd fe,rr "Rtr 5qlf-Pmscrvaaninrlls lxing cndowccl rion" lOn tfu trl,rhing of Mtr ltl.2), this c,rn bc sccn to refer to tlualirics rlrirt (iotl :ts g:lvc(hcm irr llis firrckrrorvledgc, it provision fbr thc corrtrptc.lsrltc ofthe cosrnos by lfrer rhc fill. Ihis intcrprct.ttion ofthe stltcnrcnt is corrotroratccl rhc discussiott (ircgorv is relatirrghow (lod cnclorvcdnrln wirh thc rrtrilrprcccclingir. whcrc St. c'f utcs o[anirnuls "by thccxcrciscof His forcknorvlcdgc" thc fill (ibid. 17.4). zr)

rightcous rhcChurch(,4.(arrir in Hersitt 5,33).ln rhesanre vein,Sr.Cyril ofAlex:rndria saicl rharrhc prophecv Isaiah l7- l9 canrcf'er in 65: borh to rhestarc bclievers of in the Churchof(lhrist irndro rhesrarc ofrhe righreous beyond (ieneralResurrhc rectionlConncntary ou ltaith 5.(t). tl Sr. Exact Etposition 2.10;F(1,vol. 37, p. 229. John f)amasccnc, vol. 5, p. -393. ries, 'a Sr.Grcgoryof Nvssr,Or theMahingol/l/aa 7..j; NPN I-,2nd Se 15St. Homilio ott Gcnesh l0.ll: FC, vol.74, p. 135. JohnChrysostom, t('St. Basilthc (lrcat, On tb Origin of'Huna 2,6r SC 160:242 ry, Discourse (1970); Ot tlr Hrmot Conditiott, 53. Hereir mavbc noredrhar,whenSr. Bacf. p. sil'.s brorher, Grcgory Nvssa, rhatanimrlshad"thepotcnrial Sr. of says ofdying" (11, rpit; rit ,uexaoAoSar iJrap.n,), prcsrrmably their crearion(Cate&etia Omtiou 8), at 28

'I H t-:ORt H()tX)X WOt{t) both clecay discnscs, rherveeds and nnrl rhcmselvcs, appcarcd lficr rhc altcrarion thc clrth fbllowing firllofrlln, asonc oughrro conof thc cludefrorrrrhc rvords ol'(iod ro Aclamashc w:rsbcinqcxilcdfrorrr "'fhorns and thisrlcs I)rrrrdise: shallir Irhc urouncl]bring fbrtir ro I rhcc"((lcn. .1: tl). According irscrcariorr, ro rhere w.lson ir only rhc splcndid, only thc rvholcsomc, w:rs rlrcre only rlrrrrvhich wassuitablc' (lhanges rhe firr rhc inrnrorral rncl lrlessed of irs inhabiranrs. lilc in wc.rther rrorcxist:ir wascontinu:llly r1n1c-1hgnrostclcrrr did rhc rrtrdfivorable.I hcrcrvcrcno rrins. A springcarncfirrth fronr rhc 'l'hc bcasts errth and wrtcredits fircc((ien. 2:5-6, Scpturgint). rncl othcr arrimxls livcclin perfecr h,trnrony anrorrg rhenrsclvcs, nt>urislr, ins rhemsclvcs planrlifi' ((icn. l:-)0).(' orr Fr. SeraphimRose,who exrcnsivcly rcsarched l)arrisrictcrrchrhe ing on thc condition ol crc:rrionbefbre the fill, statcd along wirh St. Ignrtius that we do rrot know "precisely what rhis srare was and thaf ir is "very nrysterious us who Iivc enrirely in corruption." "lr is to cnough," hc wrotc, "fbr us to know that Paradise, and rhe srateof thc wlrole creation bcfbre thc fhll of Adam, was quire cliffcrenrfionr rvhlr wc know now."'" A similrr obscrvarion was nradecirrlierin rhc rwcntierhcentury by Sr. Barsanuphius C)ptina Monasreryin l{rrssia. of Oncc, whcn standing befbre a wintlow ar nilihr, St. llarsanuphiLrs pointed ro rhe rnoon rncl saiclto his disciplc (the futurc F)ldcrNikon): l-urk-whar ir picturel. I his is lcfr ro us as:l consollrion. rro .. lr'.s wondcrthrt thc l)rophcrDavid srid. "'l horrhrs gladclcncd () mc, (l's.9l:3). "'l'hou hrs ghddened l-ord,by 'l'hy rvorks" tuc." he says, alrhouglr is only rrhinr ofrhar rvonclrous this bclutv.irrconrprchcnsiblc ro hurrrlnrhoughr, which rvas originally Vc crcirtccl. doni knou,
i- Sr. Ignrrirrs (Moscorv: lJrilnchlninov, Honily ot rtrlrlr(in Russian) lll:tgovest. 2{)0 l ).p . 19. rx Fr.Ser:tlrhinr (,i'rrrlr.()tatiott ttd Drly tll,ot,pp.41i,.\29. fLose, Jo

(lll[AI lr.t) lN INCORIiLJP I()N I what kind of nroorr tlrerewrs therr,whar kind of sLrn,whar kind of l i ght.... A l l of r his chanqcdaf ier t hc lill. ''' A r anothcr t im c St . Br r r sanuphius old his spir ir uir l childr er r t hat we r "fiagrne nrs" of thc original, incorrupt cosnros-rl cosnros thtr seeonlv has been shattered bec:ruseof mirn'.s sin: -l-hc clrrh is r placcof lranishmerrt, ofcxilc. l]or criminal uctspcoplc rrc condenrncdro hrrld labor-onc fbr rrvclvclerrs. onc fbr fifrccn ye:tts,rnd lnothcr pcrrnancntl'',trnril dcath. llc roo arc guilrvl wc hrvc sinned lrcfbre thc Lord, ancl wc'rc condcmncclro banishnrcrrr. to hlrd labor'.Btrt thc [.ord is so cndlcsslvloving rhar c,,'cnin rhis placeof banishrrcnt l-lc hrs lcfi us nrrrchbcltrry, nranv delighrsrrnd rvhich lre cspcciallv consolrrtions, undcrsroodbv arristically sensrrrre tcmpcrr[lcnts. 'l hc beaurifll rhings of rhis world lrc onh, hinrs of thrtt bclrrry rvith whiclr thc lirst-crcatcdworld rvrrs fillcd, us Acl;rrn :rrrcl F-vc saw ir.'l'hrt beauty w:rsdcstrovcdbv rhc sin oirhe firsr PcoPlc lntagine a marvclous staruc by a grcat nrlstcr-and sudclcnlr', l i kc a rhundcr bolt , sonr concsnr r shcsir . Whar will r cm ain of ir ? Fragmenrs. cln pick thcm up; wc cirnsclrch our the ncck, l por\(c ri on of l n ar m , or t hc f acc.I ndicat ions r hc bclur y of r hc lincsar c of preservecl rhescsep:rrarc in fragnrcnts,bur thcv no longcr producc ftrr trs thc fbrmcr harnronl,.rhc fbrnrer wholcness and bclury. I'hus ;rlso tlicl thc f:rll into sirr of thc flrsr pcoplc <lesrrov rhc bcrrtrtl,of (lod'.sworld, arrclthcrc rcnnin to us orrlv fr:rgnrcnts ir by rvhich ot u'c nrlv jrrclgc conccrning thc prinror<lial bcaurv."" As lrr. Scraphim l{ose pointed out, thc nrlture of rhe flrsr-crearcd world cannot lrc invcstiglted without rhe aid of [)ivirre revclrrion, firr rr I:.//tr I),trvnupl,iut ol O2ritu ll'fu,int, (l:rlil.: St. []crnrun ol' '') Victrrr r\firrrrsicr'. Alasku lJrorhclhrxrcl. 2(X)0), 180. p. l bi d..p. 461 1. ""

l Hu ()Kfl lolx)x s(/()RI) ofSt. Synreon New Theolorhc diffcrent"law ofnature" (in rhc worcls gian) existcdbeforcthc fhll, and it is vcry likcly that evetrthe tratttrcof worlcl," m.rrre was difhrenr.t'' "I'hc incorruprion of the f.irst-crcntcd r he wroIc, T oflnaturrl] scicncc invcstiglrc.... lrrrl ro is beyond cornpctencc the Clod bcc.ttrsc hrs tn_ytltitrg I tbort iri ObvioLrslv, at l,ou, ur hnou' do Scri;tturc. wc Iltrr of rhe revcalcd somcthing it ro us throtrgh Srcretl (locl hasrcvealcd rvhatis irt sonrcthing bcsidcs know,also,... that ofrhc St.(ircgory ofSinri ud orhcrHoly Frthcrs rheScriprurcs.... worldin rhc*rre ol Dithe highcst spirittral behclcl first-crcated lifc which is beyond n:rrurrll<norvlcclgc."l all uisiort t,ittc lAeopia), world whcther we call it Howevcrwe may reSlard flrst-crcated thc "incorrupt" (as do rrrlny Fathers)or "nrade betwccn corruptiolr lnd ofSt. (iregory of Sinai) wc can siryfor incorruption"(in the phrase cerrain rhat thc condition of rhe "very goocl"((icn. I :.31 prelapsarian ) patrun is and in the rcusennrs world as rcvealecl rlic Holy Scriptures in which study in thc fbssilrccorcl, 11,,/ sanlcaswhrt natural scientists rhc is a recordofsuflcring, violence,anclblootlshcdlof animalstlevouritts ofthe dearhsofall kinclsof livr-ach othen ofplant and aninraltliscrse; ing rhings,including nr,rn;and, finally,of thc clccey(corruprion)of te:rching Accorcling the Scriptural/Patristic to borh plantsand animals. incorruption, thcn, thc fossil record rnust be placcd, on prelapsariirn of historically, ay'rr the f.rrll men. Man\ (.)nlliry to Daifi tfu Cosmos worltl wls nracle incorrupt in rhc treginAlrhough tlre flrst-crearecl ning as w:rsman, ir was-agein like rrran not crcatcdin its final and

(]REATIII)IN INCoRRLJP-I'IoN pcrfectedstate.Sincethe visiblecrearionwas made for man, according to Cod'.secorromyit was throughman that the creation was to reach this final condirion.lbssessing both boclyand soul, man was the link bcrween thc originally incorrupr nrarerialvvorltl ancl rhe noeric, spiritual world of thc angcls.As hc bccrrnc spirirualizrcl :rncldivinized (lod, man was to leadall of crearioninto such ,r by drawing closerto contlition as well. St. Maxirnus rhe (lonfessorwrites conccrning rhis orieinalcallingof man: 'fhrough rrlilc idcnrical cvcrvw:ryrhrough in virtuc' rl,ithrhatof rhe ,tngcls, fir ls thrrtis possiblc humunbcings, so ro nrarr rrrrirc's hc:rven andcrrth.nr:rking rvholc rhc ofsensiblc crcerion rvirhirsclf.rn.l onc tunclivirlcd, sepirilrcd nor locllly tiorl hirn :rrlll irr lnv of irsclirncnsions, sinccnranlrecorncs subtlcls sPiritlrrd is no longcrticclto ls earth anybodilywcight.'" by Hlving thus united the whole ofcreation, nran was callcd "ro unirc, tlrrough lovc, crcarcdnrrurc wirh UncrelreclNarurc ... showing thcnr to bc onc ancl the same rhrough the posscssion grace,rhe wholc of of creation beingwholly pcnerreted the whole of(lod.""' by Summlrizing rhis te:rchingof St. Mlxinrus, Vleclimir l-ossky writes: It rvls thc [)ivinclv rppoirrtcdfirnctionof rhc firsr nran,rccording ro Sr.Maxinrus, unircirr hinrself rvholc to rhe of'crcatcd bcing; and
thc Ar " !S t. l \{ rri ntLrs ( ir r r f cr sor . t bis uD 4l: I '( l 9l: l. l{) 51) l. l{) llArcf . l. out h, L'l,txinnt tlv Oofiusor,1t.l5ll; Ncllus,I)ufiurion ir Olrit pt.212. lr is clcer lionr thc con(cxt rharS t. M axinr t r is spcuking cof r hc or igir r r r . r lling nun, sr ncc s hcr l ol rhis prtssitgc rvirhiu un exposirion nnn'.s fills on crcurion, inrrinsicpurposc. fillcn srltc, rnd srlvltion by Ohrist.SLrch tlrc intcrprcrlrion rhis plssegc givcn bv is ol Vlrcfinrir Losskvh I/n: M.yttitt/ llrulogy ol rlt lixtcnt Cbucb (l.ondon: .lrnrcs (llarkc& (ir., 1957rrcprinr,(lresru,rxxl, Ncn Vrrk: Sr. Vl.rdinrirls Scnrinulv l\.css, 1997), pp. 109-10 , quor cdin p. r r t[ >cl<r w ()f:1 . ] 08llr Nclles, r 'llir iar a ( . |f it , p. 2l\ cl. 1) n it . " ' l bi tl .;I' (i
l -]

(i'rtr'.ri, (.lruttiott,url l')rly Mrn, p p . 4 l 5, .j 29.S t. S vnrcon "l lrr. Scrrlrhinrllosc, Iirir-()attul tllrr, pp ttl ti.1. rlrcNcu f-hcoltrgirrn. (.)n'atiort,twl Drtl.t'il'lan, p p .4l l t.4l 5-16. llrrrc, (,i'rrrTlr, "r [:f. Scr:rl)lrifn

I I l l : ()l { l l l ()l )()X \(()R t) ilt thc \xnlc tinrc to rclch lris pcrfcct ttniorr with (lo<l antl rhus l l rx|l r r llc s t . r t c , r f c lc i fl c l ti o n to tl ]c w h o l c c rc a ti ou.... l \4l n had o n l v ro giv e hinr s c llt o H i n r l G o d l i tr :t c o n rp l e tclbandotrnrcntof Iovc. ,rnrl (hus return to Him thc rvholc crclred ttnivcrscgltlrcrcrl r()gcthcr irr his orvn being. (lod Hinisclf rvould rhcn in l-lis turn havc givcn Hirrrsclf ro nr.ln, who would rhctr. in virtue of rhis gift, 'l bv all thar is ro sly bv gritcc,posscss that Ood posscsscs natttrc lrc wotrld rhtrs bc dcific:rtionof men rncl of the rvholc crcatctlttniverse rcco nrplishcd."'

(ll{ll-AI IN IN(l()Rl{tlP',l l()N tlD of Wirh thc entrartce sin rhrough thc fiee decision of Ad:rm rnd l-vc, hrrnrln n:rtlrrebecrlmccorrtlPted.St. (lvril ofAlexandril rvritssof rhis es fbllows: 'l'hc fbrcirrhcr rhc givcnlrinr, try IAd.rm], rreglcctitrg conrIrlindnrcut of hinrsclf thc cflccrs Dito srruckout lg:rinst(iocl ltrd subnrirrccl 'l'hctrw:rs :rlso sin .lown int,rcottrtption. vincwmth:" fbr hc slippecl
drivcn into thc nilture ,lf nr.tn: thus 'ittrtnv rvcte ntatlc sinncrs (l Lonr. 5:1 9) , t lr . r t is, t hosc t hr oughor t r, r ll t hc car t h. . . . lhclt cct,f firrrv;rrcl plclsurcsancl filrhincssinv,rdcdthc tt,rrrtrc thc flcsh.ancl ()ur naturc thus llcllq'in our lllclllbers. rhcrelrosc tlrcn the s:tvrtgc ofonc, rhrt is' of bv c,rrrr.'cliscased sin rhrotrgh the disotreclicncc Adrrnr. HcnCc all rvcrc nradc sinncrs. n,rt J\ i(Ftr.ln\8[('\ror\ \\,ith rhcv wcre of his Adanr (fol rhcy did not vct cxist thcn), [.rutbecirttsc naturc,w l rich hat l f ir llcn ut r clert hc llw of sin, . . . lt r At llnr ht t nr ir n n:rrurc bccrnl( sick rvith corrtrPtiorr througlr clisotrcdicncc'lnd entcrcd in."n thcrcforcthc passiotrs A r the fhl l, Adanr and F. vc: t ct luir ed a t endct t cy or inclinlt ion t ow ard si n, antl all r heir t lescendant sinhcr it et l t lr at inclinat iot r . ln r hc

IV. Tne Errecrs oF rHE FALL oN MAN 'l-he()trraption of Hurnan Mrntrc lofry original calling. Bur aswc all know and t:xpcSuch wrs man'.s ricnceevcry da1', the first nran fell fronr this statcand brought hirlsclf of into a statcofcorrupriotrand dearh.ln partaking and all of creirtion w:tv conthc fruit that God h,rd lorbidden him to cat, In:rn actcd in I rrary to his own natrlrc,which had bccn crcated"very'gootl" by Gocl. As Sr. Muimus writcs: God-as his lround rlrc Unntovctl-l nrcan [Jutmrn di<lnot nrovc to.lo; but o[ n,ttttrlll;'crcarcd in the rvly tlnt hc rv,rs orvn principlc to rrnd hisorvn frccwill, scnsclcssly in :t nrlnncr corltrrlt\/ nltttrc, he bclow hint, ovcr which he ha.l bccn apnrovcdaroundthc rhings pointcdbv (locl to rulc.""
t'\ Lossk,r', I lttologv, pyt. 109-10. Scc rrlso Ncllts. l)rification in (lttisr' p1t. 'll.ystic,tl Aubisunt 41, in l-otrth, lli-rirrrr.' l-1. 2l9r St. Mrtirnus thc ( lonlcssor, i4,57, )l) r/u, (.infiixtt: p. | 58. r"'St. N'lexinrrrs thc (lonfcssor,Anbiguunt 4lr in Nclhs, I)tifitdtiott iu (llnist. yt. 2 l 3.

"u r l tl t o f( l <tl ' s " l ) u c t o c o n tn r o n n r i sco n ce p ti o n cttttttr n i tr g th c l l i b l i c,r l tcl n r ( j o h r r . l ; 3 6 . l l o r n . l :l l l . |p h . 5 :( ', tr c.) ,.t cl l r i fvi n g n o tc n ti tv b c i n o r tl cr h cr e . Acto colding to thc tcrchirtg of thc lirrthcls,r'ctcrcnccs (irrtls rvrlth rhotrld rr,rrbc rrn' in :tn itnthroponrorphiescnsc.Sl..John (lhrvsostonr cxpleirts: \Vherr votr tlcrstrxrd heer'*rrrdssrrches anqcr',tn.l rvretli u"cd itt rclltion to (locl, Llo ll(tl sltPP(x( tllcrc not ilttribtrtirlg is:rnvthing httnrrn nrcent itr thcnt.... Scripttrrcsitls (iocl Ectsrtngr\r. lctiorr' ,rn.l nt,tkirr{ Ity Hinr. btrt erPrcssing, this Lrrrgrng. Hir Ptrnisltirtll p.rssiorr to trn.lcnsc nt,tn (St. lohrt (ihrvsostorr, Ilonilv ott l'itln ('. Honil.l'on en irnprcssion rwttt,rryott tltt l\tlut vol l Il]rrxrklinc' t\aln 1,1;l'('' 55:7ll], l90l| cl..ile n, ( )orn ( l r o ss ( ) r th o d o x l ) r css,l 9 9 l tl , p p .9 5 ,2 6 6 ) . lVass.: oly H t't Sr. (lvril ol Alcxendril, (.itrrt tttottur.yott l?on,rui 5:lll 1n I'(i 74:7ltlt(l 7ll')llr cf. fohn S. l{onr:rnitlcs, Ilr Annstntl .\lrr (llidgcwood, N.l.: Zcphvr.2(X)l) pP ([]nsl.rnd: St. Miclrrtcls I'rcss. .33 .14: Vlrrdirnir lvloss, /l,r ltlytury ol lifunptir, I l.l 14. 2 ( X ) 4 ) .p p . l5

t Hu oRl H()Dox \(/oRt) "Vhcn Adam lell by rurningaside wordsof St.(iregoryPalamas, from gootlto evil, no onc rernained amonghis descendants] was who li.e., "t"' not inclinecl cvil. to TbeLos oJ'Grnct: Spirimal Deatlt Because rhe corruptionof his natureat rhe fall, man losr thc of graccin which lre had beencrc.irted. became He separared from God. (lracewas now fbreignto his narure, and so it dicl not dwell rvithin hin.r ir had befbrc. VlaciimirLossky rs As expleins:
'l'hcrc is no longcr l placefbr uncrcatcdgracc in a pervertcdnirrurc rvhcrc, according ro Sr. Crcgorv of Nyssn,the nrind like r nrrrror (iod, receivcs turncd rbour, insrcadof rcflccringi inro itsclf rhc inralie of fbrmlessmlrrcr, whcrc rhc passions overrhror.r,thc original hicrar'['hc chy of rhe lrunran bcing. deprivlrion ofgracc is nor rhc ciluse, but r:rtherrhc conscquencc ofthc decadcnce ofour narurc. Man hls obsrructcd the ficulty in hinrsclf krr communion with God, has closcd up rhc way bv *hich grrce should hrvc pourcd oLrt rhrough H i m inr o r he whole c rc a ti o n . St. John Danrascenc. who as wc have seen said rhat nran was "wrrrpped abour" with (iod'.s grrrceat his crcation, sayslarer in the samc work that man wils "srripped of grace" at the firll: And so, man succumbcdro thc assaulr ol'rhe dcnron, thc aurhor of cvil; hc failcd ro kcep rhc Crc:rror'.s conrnr:rndrncnr lnd rvls srrippcd of gncc and deprivcdof rhat finriliariry which hc had cnjoyed wirh ( locl.-l

(llLt'-Atr-t)lN IN(pRltUP l l()N l callsfbrth thc sameimirfle: St. Gregory l)alanras ,tnrl in r\d:tnt Ilcfirlcthc t ransgrcssion, shlrccl th is[ )ivincillLrminirtiotr *':rs trrked' w.rs in thc truerobcof iilorvrtn,'l t'tot clothcd brilliucc. Hc bttr he nor rvns uglv in his Irlkedncss, rvls trult'ttnspcaklblr'trctcr rvith goltl enrbellishc.l mLrch rvhorvqrrclildctrrs th,urrhosc ad,rrrre.l ol strippcd rhis[)ivinc ttltttrcrv:rs .. stotrcs.. ( )ttr hunratr ancl prccious iotr r,rtrslircss''l ofthc ttglyr as,t lrr.l illLrnrinrttion racliltrce rcsttlt a This 'stripping of gracc"cotrstitutcd kirrtl of spiritualclcathirl man. In thc lrrxrk of Ccrrcsis,(]od told Acl:rnr:"()f thc flrst-crcltecl rrceofthc kno\\'lcdgcofgoocl antl evil thott shllt tlot car:fbr in rhc dxv th:rr rlrou catcstthcrcof thou slialt surclv dic" ((len. 2:17). ln fact' on Adanrdid nor phvsictll)'dic thc dav he ltc frorl rhc trcc.Accorditrg httwcvcr,(iod'.swords wcrc trtle: Adanr /lzlrlic on teaching, ro [)arristic rp rhc dav he atc thc fiuir. Hc expcricnccd iritunldealh thc dcath of his (iregory l'alamaswrrtes: soul. As St. throughhis tritnsstttrl It wasindccdAdrrn'.s thardietl bv bcconring to frotn (iotl; firr botlily hc cotrtinttctl livc :rficr scparltctl grcssiott yclrs. ' :tnd cvcnlirr Irinchttnclrccl thirty rlrarrirne. St. Lllscwhcrc (iregory l)allmls cxpoulrdsfirrthcr on what is tncant of the soul: by thc dcath 'l'hc dcathof thc soLrl rvhcn(jocl lclvcsrhe soul itrrdis seP:lrltcd is inrnrortll.Orrcc w.ry', sottlrenraitrs thc fionr it, althoughin atrorher
' ' :S r. (i rcsor y Halt r ly 16. . \ 9, h Honilit s vol l, p 207. SccSt . John I 'r l. t nr r s, (btais 16.14(lr(1,vol. 74. P. 216)' rvhcrc is,rlsoseid (lhlysosronr, it llotnilit on 'srrippcd gncc" at rhc frll of thlt nrrn rvus I Sr. (ircgtrrv l).rlrnrls, 7,,rltt lvlot l?nu'rtnl Nuu Xain 9. io I'hilulalia, vol 4' p. l.ighr I'ili (lVlirrrrcepolis: .rnd l.ifc. 1995).p 21Xr; idcnr. l'rtttir on tfu Spiritual cf. 40.

(llrnaan, l)irlirm:rs, Horii[, l6.llr in idcnr,l]ouiliu, vol. I (Sorrrh l)a.:Sr.-likhon\ Scnrinrrv Prcss. 2t)02), l8(r. p. -I' Losskv. Myttital llrologv 1t.l-12. (lf. Sr. (ircgorl of Nyssn,Ou rbe lValtirtgof' t r lan l ).1 0 ; Nl' NF . 2nd S c ri c s ,o l .5 , p . -)9 9 . v -l St.Jolrrr l)rnr:rsccnc. I:)xtct lirposition I;O,vol. -17, -267. p. .\.1;

("'St. (ircgory

)(,

t7

-fHIr. ot{

t()tx)x woRr)

(llLl|Al Et) IN IN(]OI{RUP f ION inrnrcdiarclr,, [Adam] rvrs strippcd of his incorrupri[.rlrvcsturc he and glon', lnd clothed u,ith thc n:rkcdnc-ss rrrort.rlity. of On sceing hirlsclf nakcd, hc hid hirnsclf and served togethertig lcavcsro wr:rp around hi s waist in or del t o hidc his sham c( ( icn. . ) : 7) . - ' St. Maxinrus explic:rtcs this teaching as firllows: In nor rvi shingt o bc nour ishedbv Hinr I G odl, t he f ir sr nr an r ighr lv fcll away fronr thc [)ivine lifi',:rnd took dcarh as rnorhcr parcrrr.Accordinglv hc pur on hinrsclf thc irrlrional firrnr, rrnd trl:rckcncd rhe inconceivable beauryof the [)ivinc, and dclivcrcd ovcr rhc wholc of narurcas fbod fbr dcath. Dearh is living on this throueh the rvholeof this tcmporal pcriod, nraking us his fixrd. * As indicated in the passageof St. (iregory Plllnras quotcd above,

scparltcd frorrr (lotl ir bccomcsnrorc uglv and uselcss than a dcird boclr,,bLrr unlikc srrch r trody ir tlocs nor disintcgrarclficr dc:rrh si n ccit is nor c onr p o s i te .' ' l rc dc r r t h of r hc so u l rh a r n rl n s u fl c re d a r th c fal l di d nor, how o'cr, dcsrroy,thc inrirgc of'(]od in hinr. St. (iregory Palamaswrites tlr:rt t lrc hunr:rn sorrl posscsscs irnlge of(lod inrlienlblv, cvcrrifir cloes rhc rrorr.ccognizc irs orvn digniry,or rh ink lnd livc in u nranncrrvorrhyol rhc (lrcaror'.s inragc wirhin ir. Aficr orrr firrcfathcrls transgrcssiorr I)lradiscthrotrglr in tltc rrcc,rvcsufJcrccl dcarh of orrr soLrl-which is rhe sc'prrr:rrion thc of thc soul fronr (iorl-prior ro our boclilvdc:rrh;ycr alrhough wc casr :rwiryour divirrc likcncss, clid nor losc our divinc imagc. i wc Pllysiu Sufcring, Dcath, nnd [,trut1 is the seprrarion of the 'l

At the f;rll, n:r..n's s?iritudl death-which

physical pain and fhriguc wcrc inrroducccl inro hurnan cxperience rogether with bodily dcath. Vc find rhis cxprcsscclin thc Gcncsis rrccount, in the senterrce rhat (lod pronounccs on Adnm and Flvc aficr

souf fiom God-nraclc lrinr, in rr:rn, su\lcct rc physical death-which is rhe scpararion the soul fronr thc body. St. (;regory Palanras of wrires of th is as fbllows: 'l hc dcarh,lrorvevcr, rhurbcfc'll soull)ccruse rhe ofrhc rransgrcssi,.rn not only cripplccl souland nrrclc the nranaccurscd; alsorendereq it thc botlvitsclfsubjcct firtiguc, to suflcring, corrupribiliry,.ud rrrd finallvhlndeclit overro dcarh.-" Sr. Synrconrhe New -l-hcologian likewiscclraws connccrionbcrhe twcen thc "srrippin1" ofgrlcc rhat occurretlar thc Fallend rnan'.s bcing nraclc subjectro botlily death. At thc fall, he says,
-' Sr.(ircgorvI'llanras, ly'orrlly 16.7;it Llottilia, vol. l. p. 184. i Sr. (iregrrrvl':,rlant.ts, lb2icsof Natuntl atd l ltological Scit,ttcc in trhilokalia, 39: vo l .4 . p ..1( r 3. r'5t. (ircgorvl>dtntts,li tht tl|oit l?to.enl NunXcuit l0;i t)bihka! ,vol.4,1t. 196. Irt

their fill. Addressing Eve,(lod sxvs:"l will grearlynrulriplyrhv pain and thy groaningi in pain thou sh:rlt bring fbrth children";.rnd ro "Cursed is the earth in thy labors;in toil shalt rhou eat Adam He says: of it all thc daysofrhy life.... ln the sweatof thy faccshirltthou eer brcad,till thou return unto thc cerrh our ofwhich rhou rvlsr rirkcn:fi)r ((lcn.3:l(r-17, l9). eirrththou art, itnd unro carthshaltthorrrctLrrn" It will be remembered that, befbrethe irll, nrrrnwasgivcn ro cxPslicncc pleasurcin God, cverr rhrough scnsorvrhings, brrr his cxistcncc kncw no pain. Accordingrc rhe tcachin!! St. Maxinrrrs, of when nrln nrisusecl capacitvfbr pleasurc nrakingscnsiblc lris bv rhingsrhc objccrof his desirc, Gocl providcntiallyaffixcdphysicalpain to sensitrlc plcrsLrrc:
-- St. Svmcon rht- Nov l hcologirnt,I:rl,i.nl l)inolttrt! l.2r in itlcnr. (h tfu t\l.1,ttiul Lili, vol. l. p. 27. 'r St. ,Vlaxinrrrstlrc ()onfcssor, Anbiryunr l0; in l-outh. I/rrw aus t/,t (.,ttt/is'or, 1t1t. 126 )7.

r9

l-llE oKf ll()t)ox

\fl()Rf)

(]REATF,DIN INCORRUP'fION rrcnt ofGod; and wascondemnccl dcarh :rnd nradcsubjccrro corro rupti on.sj In such r condition ofbearing "grosser" or "denser" flesh, nr:rn [rcc:rnre subject not only to pain, death and corruption, but irlso to thc bodily needs we know today. St. John Chrysostom wrires: -fhe loving Goc{, whcn thcy IAd:rm antl L-vc] rendcrcclrhcmsclves tunrvorthyof that gleaming and rcsplendcnrvcsrurc in which rhey wcrc irdorncd and which ensured rlrcm aglinst bodilv ncctls, stripped them of all that glorv and cnjovment rhcy werc parrakcrs of bcfbrc rhat rcrriblc fall. Hc showeclthem great pitv and had mcrcv on their flrll: sccingthem covcrcdin confirsiorr ancl ignoranrofwhar to do ro avoiclbcing n:rkcdlnd lccling ashanrecl, nrakcsgarmcnts He ofski n for thcm anclclot hest hcm in r hem . n' A nd agai n: Vhcn He [Gocl] renderecl thenr liable to bodily rrcccssirics rhc for futurc, stripping thcnr ofrhc angclicrvayoflilc'.rntl irs fit'cdonrfronr suffcring, Hc llrcr lrrlngcd firr clorhcs lor hLrnranbcings otrt of shcep'.s fleecc.'l In anorher place St. Chrysostom goes so far as ro sry rhat God "rcf'ashioned" mxn'.,ibody at the fill to accord with its new condition and needs:
interprctarions cert,rioclcnrentsin the (lcncsis itccount without secingthc rrvo ,rs of nrurullly cxclrrsivc. rinrcs thc sirnrcF:rrfrcr At will oflcr both kinds of- intcrprcr.rrron whcrr disctrssing the slmc elcnrcnt in rhc narrative.ls Sr. (ircgorl of Nvssr tlocs whcn speakingof rhe girmcnrs of skin (seehis Or Virginity I 2 lor thc literel intcrpreretion,;rn<1 hisOreat ()td snI fbr thc figurltivc). 3r Sr. llxaLt Expositiort : F(], vol. .17.p. 2(r7. J.l .lohn [)irnrascenc, 3r Sr..fohn (lhrysosrom, I lomilicson Ocnsis 18.3. 1:(1. vol. 8J. p. 5. 3 r l b i d . l l l . 5 r p. 6 .

Bec:rusc irrational ple:rsure entcred hrrnr,rnnrturc. pr,rin cnt.'red our . trltturcoPposirctlris Plclsrrrcirr accordlncewith rcas()n... lior eYcry sufli'r'ing,eflcctivcly h:rving plclsurc as its primlry causc,is c;urte rr.rtrrr:rllr', view ol its c:rusc, pcn:rltyexactcdfionr all who shlrc in in :r -' h rtrrr, t n lt t r tr c . r I-lscwhcrc, Sr. M;rxinrLrsobscrvcs thrrt, in hcing givcn ovcr to phvsical pain and dcath, fallcn man has also bccn given ovcr to physical cornrptiorl or decay aFterdcath: God, at the very rnoment humarrity fcll . .. gavc the boclvthe capacin ro suflir, undetgo corrrrpriorr,and be wholly dissolvcd as rvas ol'skin.s" cvinccd when (iod covcrcdthe body with girrmerrts

'l'he Chnnge Mani Physiutl Condition in 'Whe manfell from hisoriginal n stare iucorruption, bodybeof his mrterial.In the wordsof Sr.John Drmascenc, :rftcr camemoregrossly the primordialtransiression
of liti'-fbr thlt lmanl rvasclorhcclwith thc roughncss rhis rvretched is what the fig leaves signi!-an<J put on dearh, rhar is ro sry, rhc' of morraliry and rhc grossncss rhc flcsh-fbr rhis is rvhirtrhc llarnrcnr ofskins significslsr was cxcludcd fion.r Plrrdisc bv rhc lusr judehc

St. Mrximus thc Confcssor,,4zl Thahstiun 6l; in i<icrrr, Oa tb (irnic Myro1,, l"itc p. l32; cf. i'Jcn, Vuious li'xtt tn I bcohgy, tlr Divi* hotottt.y, dtrl l'ituc,tnl 4.33 35, Philohaltu, vol. -2,p. 244. r0 St. Maxinrrrsthc (ionlcssor,,4lrlrgxnn 8; it Ou tfu ()tnit Ll1,trry,p.76. 3l Vhilc St..lohn l)entrtsccnc hcrc givesr ligurtrivc intcrprctltion ofthe llc lcavcs ;rnd g;rrncnts ofskin nrcntioncd in Ilolv Scriprrrrc((len, 3:7. 2l). othcr Holv [::rthcrs givc l litcral inrcrprclrtion of thcm (asin rhc abovccpotation ofSt. Svrrrcon on rhc fig lclvcs, and irr rhc firllowing rprorrrion ofSr. lohrr (lhrvsostonr on thc ger'rncrrts ofskin). Fr. Seraphinr l{osc, in his book Gcxuu. Crettion anl l rly l\lan (p;t. ll4 llu), dcnronsrmtcs thet tht Holv lrlthers ofJcrcrl trorh litcrel errrl synrtrolic

-')

4o

4r

'f H f. olLl Hot)()x \(()Rl) to Fronrthc lhurnlnl bodv it is casy sccmuch ofthe l)ivine provtdcnce, only bcc,ruse nraclc lt flrst bcttcrrhln it is ar presnot l'lc it (p,e"rcarceiaatv\ ft f<tr cnt, nor bccausc cvcnnow Hc lus rcfashioncd He ,r usc'filpurpose, but also beclusc' will rlisc ir irgrin to muctr grcater gloryt' In rhe same honrily, rvhcn tliscussing thc workings of thc human cyc, finction.n" Frorl Sr. Ohrysostornwritcs that tcars:lre a postlapsarian whlt has becn said errlier, rhis nriry bc seenro havc parlllels in other orgxns as wcll, fbr acconling ro the Holy Fathcrsothcr bodily firnctions rhat arc now considered"natural" tlrc ernissionof secd, the voiding of wastc-wcrc not cxcrcisccl nran bcfirrerhe frrll. by Sexutl Procrcatiott vi In thc prcvailing ew ofthc Holy Fathers, rmons thc bodily nceds tlrlt nr:rnlcquircd at rhc f.ill wls thc necclto procrciltcsexually.'-'l'hLrs, of Sr. Athanasius thc (ircat writcs in his interpretetion [)salnr50:5 ("For,hehold,I wasconccived inicluities, in sinsdid my mothcr in ancl rnc"): desire 'l hc originll inrcntion fbr of(iod rvas usto gcncrltenot br,rrrarri.rlic lntl corruption.Rrrtthc transgrcssion o1-thc conrnrlnrln.'ntinrro, " ' S t..Joh n(lh rvsoston r.O n lt r ' . \ m r r c s I l. . i; P( i 49: l25r c l . N l ) N | , t s t S e r i c s r r r l . 9. p. 4l(r. Scc Ncll.rs,/)r'l/r'r',rtlaa (.lhritr.1'.74. ir r" I bicl. Il:3; I'(l 4 9:ll2 rc t . Nl) NI r ls r Sc r ic s . v ol. ' ) . p. 4l4. S e c N c l l u s . p . 7 4 s- Accor<lingro Sts.Athlnusius thc ( irelt ((.irlrlrrrrrary on lt l\aln: ll)selnr50:51, (Ol tlt' ill,rl iug ol Llar l7), John ( ihrvsostoml( )u \/irsrc lrcfou). ( ircgorl of Nvssrr qi iq l4-15J,ltl:rxinrrrs rhc ( irnfi'ssLtr \ilnltignun 4l) rnrl John [)itmasccnc(l.rzrr lit:positior4.24), if nrirrrh.rd not fillcn, (locl rvoul<lhirvt cnrplovetl :r nreenso1 inthc htrnranraccothcr than scxrtalrcpro.luction. lir oLtr kn,rwlcdgc,rhc onlv crc:rsing Atrgrrstinc llip;ro. Blcssed of AuHolv Flthcr rvho hcld e contrery vieu' wes Blcsscd gusrinc did rfllrm rvirh all the orhcr l:arhcrsrhlt Aclanrlncl F-r'c <liclnot hlvc.exuel bcfirrc tlrc 1:rll;hou'clcr, rccordinq to hirn rhis rvls cithcr lrccatncthcr did rcl,rrions nor hrvc rinrc or bccuuscrhcv rvcrewuiting lirr u spccificconrnrrnd lionr (iorl (7/z' (.:it.tol (ixl 14.26). Lirnl l,|utiru ol (i'ntiii\\

cRliAl lit ) I N lNCoRRt . Jl'l'loN ,tcr marri:rge lccottnt of rhc lawless of Ad,trt. rhar is, the reot't cltrccd 'I'hcrcfirrerll of rhoscborn of jecrion of thc larvgivcn hinr bv Clod. thc conclcnrhaving fullcn utrcler Adlnr arc "conccivedin iniqLrirics," narion oI rhc forcfirthcr."n l.ikewisc, St. John (ihrysostonr writes concerlling (lcncsis 4:l: Af'"Now Adirnr kne*'I;.vc his wife." Considcr ruhcn this hrppc'nccl. (iarden, rhc'nit was that afier thcir lossin thc tc'r the disobcdicncc, thc prlcticc of intcrcottrschld its bcginning. Yort see,bcfirrc tlrcir .r disobctlicnccthev firllorvccl lilc likc thar of the rtngcls'rttcl tltcrc How cotllclthcrc bc' u'hctr thcy wcrc of itttcrcottrsc. w:rsno nrcntion nor strbjcctt,r thc nccdsof rhc bodvl"'' on Fllscwlrerethe slnrc Saitrt clittror:trc-s tltis tcaching: not:tppcar bcfirrc thc disobcdicnccl Why rvas \Vhy did trrarri:rgc \Whv not the prirrs of childbirth bcin rhcrc no inrcrcoursc l)itnttlisc? firrc rhc curse?Bccauscat thar timc thcsc rhings rvcrc supcrfluous. 'l hc ttt'ccssiry as :troscllttct ltc,tttsc of our wcakncss, cliclcitics, lrts antl skills (ai 4yv<t rl. rhc rvcarinliol-clorhcs,rncl rll our othcr ntrntcrousnecds.""

T'lr ConditiottoJ'ManiSoulaJierDcath condirion;rtrd and phvsical his ln irdtlition changing spirirurl to ntln\ flll into corruplnd clecal" clcath handinghim overro physicrll ntakingit trneblc soulaficrcleath, of thc riorralsodetcrrninctl starc his
sf St. Athan;rsius thc (lrc:rt. (.rtrttutnhtry t)D tl'( l) lms (l'salnr 50:5)l l'(i )7:24IJC'D Ihis tcrrching ol st i\therrasittsrves letcr rcltcltctl vcrb'rtinr bv St M r x i n r r r st l r c ( l o n l csso l i tr h i s ( ]r n tr o r r n n l I) o u b tsl S ( ( l ( i S( i l 0 :l - 1 8 l 9 l l 9 8 l l ) . 8')Sr.J<rlrn (lhrvsostt>nr, llouilio on Gaurt l8 l) FO vol lt2. p. lt). '"' Sr. folrn (lhrvs<rstonr. Ou l'iryint1' 15.2: l'(l 4lt:5441)-545A: cl. On VirginitT p. 73. Atuiusr lltnrrri4e,

4.i

'I'H1.. ()RTH()[X)X V/()llt) ro p:rrnke oferenralunion wirh (;od. Adam haclbecnbarredfronr paratlisc during his crrrhly lifL, ancl hc remainedbarrctlfiorn both l)aradisc anclhcavcrr;rfrcr dcath.Afier physical dcarh,the soulsofAdam, Evc, rrnriull rhcir posrcrirywcrrr down inro hldes, whcre rhey continuecltcr c xisrin :r sr:rtc spirirtrlldetth. In thc.wordsofSt. Grcgoryl)alanr:ts: of l'.vcn eficrdc:rrh our souls, lraving bccndcscrtcd (iod, fi'll ro his by lot thcnrdorvnro hades, shurthcnr lrhc dcvil'.sl and he draggcd ancl up in sccminelv incscapablc prisons."' lrc Change in Humttn Nature 'With rnan'.s changc from incorrupribilitv ro corrupribiliry ar rhc firll, ir may be said thar n "mutlrion" occurred in his nature. As Sc. Maxirlus thr Confessor writes: ln Adlnr, with hisown actof fieelychoosing cvil,rhcconrnron glorv (ioc1 of hunrannarurc, incorruprion, robbcd-sirrcc judgcdthar was ir wirsnor righr fbr humaniry, havingabused choicc, havcan ficc to irrrnrortal nilrure.... I'lre dcvianceof frec choice inrroduccd plssibilirv,"r cornrgrtibility, nrorralirv Adanr'.s and in ruture....F{ence
"r St. (ircgory I)rlunr:rs, Horrily 16.25: it Houilits, vol. l. p. l9(r. "j In rhis con(cxr, Sr. lr4rximus is spcakingof "passibiliry'(169o9) in thc rcnsc of sullcring pein or rrndcrgoing changc-parriculurlv. dcgencrltivc clr.rngc. --rucn passibiliry, bcing ticd ro corruprion, canrc into lrcing onll,at rhc firll. (Sccalso p. 40 etrov<, rvhcrcSt. Mirxinrussuysrlrar,et rhc flll, rhc humrn bodv acquircd 'rlrc caprcity to srrflc'r lrit rinTerv), undcrgo corruprion, lnd bc whollv clissolvcrl.") othcr In pleccs,St. Mlxinrus spcrks of 'plssibilirv" in a dillcrenr scrrsc, thc sr:rtcofbcing ls ectcd upon and bcing sutrjccrro nrovcrrcnr. I)essibiliry this senscis u,ithour corin tu1'rtionancl cxisrcd in crcltion cvcn befbrc rhc firll. Spaking ofsuch p:rssibilirv, rvlrich bclongs to "wharcvercomcs in(o lrcing end is crc:rtctl, St. Maxinrus wrrrcs: '''l hc plssibilirv spokcn of in this connccrion docs not refcr ro changcor corruprion of onc.r porvcr;prssibiliryhcrc indicetrs thut which exisrs n:rttrrcin bcings.lirr cv, br. crvthing that contcsin(r cxisrcnccis srrtrjecr rnoventcnt,sit]cc ir is not sclf-nroved to or sclf'-Pou,crctl. rhen r':rriorr.rl lt treings conrc inro bcing, surcly rhcy are ulso

( lRt-A ut) lN lN(l()RRLIP'f IoN l corruption,ind n:lturcovcr to plssibilirl', crf rhe nrut;rrion hunrlrrr sin. ofAdanis.lcliberrtrc " is clcirrh the condcnrnatiorl we trrtturc, shotrld ln quoting St. Maximus on the changein Ilran'.r in the word "trature"rakeson diflercnt meaninqs his point out that on depencling the corlwrirings (as in tlrc writingsofothcr Farhcrs), St. Maxin.tus,when speakingof m:rn, usesthe tcxt. In sonre placcs word "ll.rture" in the srricr scnse-that is (to quote St. John [)arnaprinciPleand ciuse lnd lnd scenc),as "thlr r:nchatrgeable inrtnLttirblc for virtLrcwhich has been implanted by thc Crcator in crch spccies its 'l'hus, in ollc plicc St. Muimus silys that Ilttt'tt:ttt ttlturc acrivity.""' the does nor changcas a result of sin (including, Prcsunlably, sin thirt occurrcd at thc [rll), sincc by clcfinitit)nit cannot chengc;rathcr' thc n or rrrocle cotrdirio (TQiTo) of rt:lturechangcs: ()trr Inlture] is nranil'estly'nrcrelv hrtmatr lrrd in trotuayintpcccable, 'l'hisis trot ro sayth:rtrlrc to of bccausc itsdc'viltriotr tlrissidcor thlt. or. (drjo'rv) ,tlrcrccl tlrat the tnovcntctrr clcviatcd; to hls is bLrt natLrrc chlngcdits nlotle.''' rrrorc truthfulll, rh.rtthc nlrttrch,rs slrcirk ln othcr places,however,St. Maximus speaksof hurn,rn natttrc in ,t quotecl In rs [rroaclesensc, including its mode or conditiot.l. rhe ;rirss;rge r of carlicr,fi)r exrnrple, he spelks of"thc nrtttirtion Qt'eranoi'qatg) ltv in the slme work, hc slys thirr "throrrgh nriln naturc at rhc firll. F.arlicr who turtrcclvoluntarily fiollt the gclod,httnrlttr nlttlre wits or]c l.D!l|r, fronr ittcorrttption to corruPtiotr," ancl that, bccausc(llrrist chang,cd

'l

movcrl.... lirr (iod is thc bcginning urrd the entl. I;ronr Hint conrc both ottr ntoving altd ottr nloving in it ccn.tin rvlv rorvrtrdllirn es rvlv fronr ir [re*irrningl in rvhirtcvcr pp. 5{) 5 l ) .rn cnd' (.4nltigrr r u i ; in ( )t tt ( )otnit r\11trar7, ')rSt. lVlax us, ,4rl Tlnlosiun 42; in On tfu (.)osnit trl.rn.,t'.PP I20-ll inr 55 "' St. John l)rnr.tsccne,I'hiloso2/tialOl'apttrr.10:I;O, vol. 37 p. ( hristitn lVtirttt ttrt )l 2o; I'(; 9l:2.161)i Anint "3 St. N{,txinrLr'.opttuh (Ncw \irrk: Ncrvrnen l)rcss.1955), pp. 5(r-57.

45

'I'll[ ()KI tl()t)()X \(/()RI) "did rrot sLrbvert ficc choicc"given ro rran, "Gocl judgcd rhar rt was thc right fbr man ... oncc lgain to rccovcran inrnrorral naturc" (nd,l.rr a1avarov a,rolaBeiv riv $dotv).""" It is only in rhc broed scnseof "human naturc,"asincluding its nrodcor condirion, rhirrone can spcak of hunran nature "changing"or "mutaring" ro corruption ar rhe fall. 'fhe Comrnondlity of'Human N ure as lt Rahtes to tbc li l

(]RtlAI'tiD IN(]ORI{[JI'I'ION IN clislster."''" 'i/hcn nran fell, rhc rcst of the visilrlccrcation fell into cornrption along lvith him: tleathlnd dccly wcre introducedirrto thc crcof not only did m;rn fail to firlfill his originaldesignation ation.'l-lrus, (lod, but he lowcrccl from incorruptionro.t it rrising rhc crcationto stateof corruPtion. It will bc remcmbcrcd that, whcn God sentencedmankind to suffcrin!i and death afier thc fill, among His decrceswas thc "(lurseil is thc carth" (Gcn. 3:17).""' l'his accor.rr.tt the in sr:lrcnrent: backlroundfirr thc book of (lencsis fbrmed the historical-narrative in rrbove-ne ntionetl reachinls the Visdom of Solomon and thc Pauline Epistles. Following from thesc words of Scripturc, entl espcciallyflom Sr. I)aul'stcaching in llonrlrrs fl:l!)-23 on crcrtiotr's "bondage to corruption,' the Patristic corpus holds that, while Adanr'.s continuccl incorruprion was dcpcntlcnt on himself-rhat is, continuccl on Iris kecping thc comnrrttrdurcnt of (lotl-thc incornrprion of tltc rest of creation w,rs not depcndcnt orr itself, btlr orr Adanr'sincorruprion.'lb ptrt it another wax Acllm wrrsdepenclenr on on (;od, but thc irrationalcrcarionwas depettderrt Iuiln (or orl God through man) Iror irs abiding in itrcorruption. It wes fbr this relson thxt, when man becarnecorruptible, rhe rcst of the costtros fbllowed hirn. ln Ronr:rnstJ:20,rhc Holy Apostle l):rul rvrites:"For thc crcariott of was nrldc subjectro futiliq,, nor willingly, lrut bv reasotr Hirr Vho it in hope." St. -lohn Chrl'sostorl,itr his cotrlntcrrtirv hath subjected on this verse, cxplains: rvls nt,tde strltjccr firrilirri: ro Whar is thc nrelninqof "rht ctcution 'l hrr ir bccanre Ilor rrncl colrtrptiblc. rvharclttrsc, on whltt itccottttr? r<xrk botlv Irrtlrtll ltnd a On irccount rou, () nran.lilr sitrcc of 1'ott

Althouglr rhe Orrhodox (lhurch clocsnot ircceprthe idc'athat wc are all born into this world sharing rhc guilt ofthc sin ofAdanr and Eve,"-accordingto thc conrmon l)atrisricteachingwe arc all born subof icct to rhe tonscquenL'csthltt sin. As wc haveseen,theseincludc a corruption of human nitLrre, which inclincsnran towartlsin; an irbscncc of the indwellinggraceof God (i.e., spiritualdeerh);tlre suflering, clcath,and c<lrruprion ofthe body; the boclilv neccssities we know rh:rr todav;and :r conrinualrcc ofspirirualdcerhaficr physicel dcath. l'hese consequences were passed dowrr fiom the flrst man to his dcscenoanrs bccaLrsc hunran nature is one: wc are all of the tlmily of Adam. As St. (ircgory Pallmascxplains, 'l'lrc same anccstral crrrsc contlcnrnltion rrnd potred out on all of us fronr our singlcfbrcfirthcr, if ir haclspmngfiom thc r.oot rhe as ol humirnracc and wasrhcconlnlonlot of our nlturc.')N V. Tsr Errecrs oF THE Fell ox rHE CosMos

'l'he Dependenceol the Cosmoson Mtn Man'sfell had profbund rcpercussions rhc cntirc cosmosaswell, on bringing about what PrtristicscholarFr. Andrew l.outh calls"a cosnrrc
"" St. Mrximtrs, ,4ul l /nltssinn 42..in On dte Oosni. llfisury, pp. 120-21 . ')- Scc, fbr cxenrple,thc rcrching ol Sr. (lvril ofAlcxandril on p. .15alxrvc,wlrcrc ir is srid thrt, rrt thc f:rll,"ull wrrc ntadcsinncrs.n()r :rsco-rrxnsgrcsrors wirh Acllnr (firr thcy did not ycr cxist then), but bcclusc thcv rvercof his nlurc.' //azrlf 5.l;in Houiliu, vol. t, p. 52. "n St. (ircgorv l).rlanr:rs,

rlr "' l-orrrh.,&,l,rrirarrr ( )ouftssor, :t.64. r"" ln thc Scptrragint rvith thc rvolds 'in rhv hbctrr"lin tlrc tcxt, this is firllorvccl rvith lirr tlrv s,rkc. l\lesorctic. is firllorvccl ir 47

46

]'t IE ()t{n I()t)ox \(/oltt)

subicct to suffering,so also thc eilrrh rcccivcda crrrsc,lnd l)rouglrr forth thorns and thistlcs."" St. Gregory of Sinai says the same: It is said thlr whcn the world wirs flrsr crcarcdir vvasnor subject ro flux and corruption. According to Scriprurc it w:rs only larcr corruprcd ancl "madc subjecrro flrility"-rhar is, ro man-nor by its own choicebur hv rhc will of Him ro whorn it is subject,thc expcctation being rhat Adam, who had fillen into corruption, rvoultl bc rcstorcdro his original stare.rr'' As St. Synreon the Nerv T'heologian tcachcs, (lod did nor cursc

CRF,AED IN INCC)RI{LIPTION f Hc' lthe Apostlcl)aullcliscourses concerrrirrg creation'.s bondagc lt<r fbr sr.rch rhing corruprion-cf. Rorn.8:2I l, andshows whosc sake a lrls occurrcd-:rndhe places blamcon us.Whlr thcnl In suffcrthc ing rhesc ofanorhcr, creation has bccnmaltrcared? thinlison accounr Bv no means, ir hascomeinto bcingfor my sake. rhen,how for So couldtharwhich has comeinto beingfbr my sakc urrjustly be trcrtccl in suffering for my corrcction?r{)r thoscthings Let us recallSt. Symeon! teaching, quoted abovc,thirt it was fitting tlrat the crearion supply incorruptman with incorruptible Foodin rhe bcginning. Elsewhere Symeonaffirms that, after the fall, it was fitSt. ting rhat creirtionbc n.rade cornrptible along wirh man, so rhar ir could furnish rlan, for whosesakeit had been made,with corruptiblc fbod: so crcation him lrranl, rnclput it undcr:rcursc to I(lodl subjcctcd that, havingbccn crcrtcdfbr thc sakcof nranwlro had fallcnrnto corruption, shouldirsclfbccome ir corruptlncl providchinr lrrrruallvrvirhcorrrrpred firotl.r"' At rhc same time, however,it is prcciselybr:causc visiblc crcthe arion wirs rnade fbr thc sakeof man that it will aglin bccorlc inc.rrruptible-for when the body oF man is restored to a stilte of incorruption rr the (lenerrl Rcsurrection, thc rest of the visible crearion will be restored that stateaswcll. St. Symcon writes: to nranfbr rvhomit rvrsrnadc. likc scrvc and [(iod] willcdrlrarcreirrion rvhen hirn become cornrptible, thrrr so :rgain nranis rcnervcrl bernd and imrnortal,ther crcirtion, roo, comcsspirirrrll, incorrupriblc,

Paraclisc, only the restof rhe incornrpte:rrth: trut

[Cod] wills to holtl it fitaradisc]out lo us as r tvpc of the inclissolublc lifi ro come, an icon o[the erernal King<lonrofHcavcn. If rhis wcrc nor thc casc, then rhc (iarclcn, roo, woulcl have hld ro be curscd, sincc it was the sccneof rhe transgression. Hou,cvcr,(lod does not do this, but insteacl curses wholc restofthc carrh rvhich, the rs rvc hlvc srrid,rv:rsirrcorruptiblc jusr Iikc Plrlclisc, ancl procluccd r(r'r fruit of irs own accord. St. John Chrl,sostom explains that this was a fitting and just conscque nce of nr:rn'.s sir.l.sirlce the visitrlc crcirtion had lrcen mirdc fbr tl.re sakc 0f nrin:

l"l St. cf. John (lhrvsostonr.Hontilieson I?onari l4; I'(i 60:5-30Ar NI)Nlr lsr Scri cs.vol. I l, p . 4 44 . lrlr St. (ilcgorv of Sinti, On Cinn'tu/ttrtttts l)ortrirtts I l: in Philotaln. vol. 4, 'trd p . I 14. r"' St. Symcott thc Ncrv l hcoloqirn , lltbial Distnrsts 1.2: it On t/'t Al.ytinl Li.fi. vcrl. L p. 2ll, ct. l:irst'Cn'an'd Alan. p. t)l .

r''' S(. lohn Olrrlsosronr. Ilonilicson llott,ttx l4r l'(i 60:5.]0ll(l;ct. NI'Nlr lsr Scvol ri es. . I l . p. 444. r(l- St. Svnreon Ncw I'hcokrgiant, Ilthical I)iwursts | .i: h Or tlr l\lysthtl Lili, tlrc vol. l, p. .illr cl. lht l:int-(.rr,ttrd ivlan,pp. 102-j. 49

:+d

' l I IL O l { l l l Ol )()X V ()l tt) ancl nradc his sl:rvc, now subjcctcd() rhc rcbcl br'('ocl'.scorrrnrand will bc nr:rdencw, rrndtrccorrc irrcorruptitrlc lncl rvhollv spiritLrrrl ""' To summarize this Patristic teaching: Sincc creation was nrirde fbr thc sake ofman, it wls ncccsslry thlt it bc createclincorruptitrlc along w it h ma n , t hat it f lll int o c o rru p ri o n a l o n p iw i th rttA rt,nnd rhl t i n thc furure it bc restorcd to incorruptiorr along witlr nran. lt is by reason of its future restoration that St. l'aul, in sayinq that "thc crcation was subject to firtility," aclded the worcls "in hope" (l{om. Il:20). St. John Chrysosronr, in his conrmentary on these words of tlrc APostle, explains tirrther why there was no injustice in thc fact that crcation wrts subjccrcd ro colruptiolr on accor.lJ'lt man. Addrcssing rnankind, hc of silvs: corruptBcclusc ofvou, it Irhc crcation] suffcrctlcvils rrrd bcc:rntc of ible, but no injusricc has bccn donc, firr bccausc vou ir will [rccomc incorrupribleagrrin.'l his is whlt "in hope" rneans."' Thcre is hopc lor the crearior.r, Paul goes oll ro s:ly in his lipisrle Sr. "because the crcation itself llso slrall be delivered fronr to the Romans. t hc b o n d a ge of c or r upt io n i n to th e g l o ri o u s l i b c rty o f the chi l cl rcn of (lod" (Ronr. 8:21). St. (ihrysostom interprc'ts this versc as fbllows: 'Whar tlocs "rhe creation itsclf rlso" rneln? Not onlv 1,ou,lrut llso that which is infi-rior to voLr, evcn thar rvhich partrkcsofncithcr rcason nor scnsepcrception-cvcn this u,ill shrrc all good thingr irr conrmon wirh vou. For "it shall be delivcrcd," hc [St. I)aul] says. "fronr the bondrge ofcorruption," rvhich is to sar',ir will no longcr bc corrupriblc,bur will corrcspondto rhc trcluty givcn to vour bodv, Iror just ls whcn rhc bodv bccanrc corrupriblc, thc clcrrion itselfllso Lifi, vol. l. p. 29rcl. I:irsr-()atrut Xlar, p.94. "'(' Ibid. f.-lr Ot t/u trl.yttital r(l-St. Ilonilio or l?owu l4: I'(i ( :510(l; cf. NI)Nl: lst ScJohn (lhrvsostonr, vo rics, l . l l , p. , i41r .

( ll{t : Al t it ) I N I N( l( ) l{Rl. r P l( ) N lItccanrccorruprible, so likcu'iscrvhen thc lrodv rvill bccomc itrcorruptiblc, rhe crcation itselfwill agrin corrcspondrnd firllorvsLrit."n A gai n cmph: r siz- ing r hat r he r cst of cr ext ion f bllows m an, Sr . Ohrysostonr e xplains why Chr ist ians shoult l f ind consolat ion in St . l'arrl\ teaching that rhe creation was ntadc corruprible firr thc sakc of ml n, " i n hopc" of f ut ur e incor r upt iot r : [)o you sechorv nurrrlclds rhr rvay in lll things, lnd how cvcrything l)o h,rscorrc lbour fbr his s:rke? vou pcrccivchorv hc ISt. I'aul] cnunspclklblc lovc fbr couragcsrhosc strtrggling,itnd llvs tr,trcGod'-s hc rn.rrrkindlWhy do r'<lttgr-icvc, silvs,ovcr rrillsJ VlLr arc sufficritrg ofl'our'5g1t s1g1111111 is sttf[eringon lccount of t'ou. Nor on ,rccorrnt whilt hc savsro bc wotonly, lrut he dcntortstmtcs docs he cnc<lur:rgc rhv of firirh. For ifcrc:rrion, rvhich clnrc into lting cnrirclv fi>rv,-rLt, lraslrope, ntuch ntorc ought vou to hirvch()pc, rhrottgh rvhonr crcirtion rvill conrc to eniov lll thosegooclrhings.r"" St. John Chrysostorns con.rmentrry on this plssagc in ll.ontlns has scrvccl ls a basis firr subscqrrent Parrisric commentarics, such :rs thosc oIS t.,l ol .rn l )a nr ascenc in t hc cight h ccnt ur y, Blessecll hcophr 'llct of Ohri tl i n thc clcvcr t t h cet r t ur v, ancl Sr . 'l'heophen t hc llccluse in r hc nincreenth ccntllry.rr" St. Ohrysostont was not, howcvcr, itt rrtltl ttcitrg it new inrerprctation of this plssagc, bur onlv cxprcssing whar lracl bcen rr| rIt)i (l .i (,0: 5l0l) ;cl. Nl, Nlj. p. 445. Ir(; rrf'l l )i d. I)(' 60: 5. 101) 5llAr ci. Nl'NL p. 445.
llo St. (.otltttrtttrr.l,ott l?ottt,ttri: idcn, (.ontp/ttt \ll,rk (io it John l)irrnrrsccnc, ( i r c c k ) . v o l . ') ( . l h cssr r l o n i kil,( ) 9 1 ) , fp . l l ( ,- 1 .i . Bl csscdIh co p h vl ,r cto l ( ) h r i tl .r n d llrrlg.rri.r, (.irralrlzr,rry on tlr [1,isrfu to rltt llonuns: l'('' l]'1:445(l 4494. St. 'l hcophrrn rlrc Rcelrrsc.(.)tnutut'tr.y,ott ln' llpiitlt ol tln'A2oth lhtl to th( ttunnls (in llussiln) (i\4oscrxv,tll'){)), pp. 50.3 15, St. lohn [)lnritsccnc's.tncl Blcsstd rvctc condcnscd vclsions of St. -John on Ihcophvllct.s conrnrcrrtrrrics this pass:tgc (lhrysostonr'.s corrlnlcnr.lr\'. St. llrcoPh,rrrtrscd St. (lhrvsostom as ltis ntltin sorttcc, lionr the rvritin{rsof othcr |;trlrclr. brrt qLrorcd.rlso

5r

't HH ()t{f H()t)ox \x/oRI) the comrnon teirclringoi rhe Church. 'Iwo centuries befbrc Sr. Chrysostorn,fbr ex:rnrple, Ircnaeus l.yonsset forth the sanrernSt. of rcrprrctatior.r. Commcnting on l{onrans8:19-2.1,Sr. Irenaeuswrotc rhar wherr "the commencementof incorruprion" occursar the (lcneral "the creariorr Rcsurrection, irself" will be "restorcdto its prin:evalcondition"-thus indicatingboth rhe original irnd the future incorruprion of tlre cosnros. "' St. lrerr:rcus's contcnrporary, I'hcophilus of Antioch, elaborarccl Sr. on this theme. ln rhe passage his teechingnrcntionedcarlicr,he exof plained why ir was fitting that animals were changcclat the flll rowith nran,and how thcy will one day be restored a corrdition to ir:rher without hunringanclpredarion 'l hc aninralsarc nalned q,ilcl (1'rtpi,t),frolrnthcir bcing bcasrs hunted($t1pe{eo0o,r), as if rlrevhad bccnmadccvil or venomnot ous fiom thc firsr-fbr nothing w:rs rnadccvil bv God, bur all rhings g<xrd, vcrygood((len. l:Jl )-bur rhcsin in which man vc;r, was concerncd brought cvil upon rhcnr. For rvhen nliln rnlnsgrcssed, alsotrlnsgrcssed him. For as,if thc mlsrcrof the thcv wirh househinrself acrsrighrh,, dorncstics of nccessiry thc llso conducr themselvcs wcll, bur if rhc m{srcr sins,rhe servarrts sin wirh also hirrr,so in like nranner canrc pass, ir ro rhrr in rhecasc man's of srn, hc bcing nrasrcr, rhrr wrs subjccrro him sinncd wirh hinr. lll Vhen, rhcrcfbrc, nran rgain shall havc nr.rde w:ry back to his his trirturll condition,arrclrro longerdocscvil, rhoscalsoshallbc' rcstorctlro rhciroriqirrlllic'ntlcncss.rrl Again, a cenrury befbre St. John Chrysosrorn,Sr. Mcthodius of ()lvnrpus nncl Patar:r conrnrcntedon Ror:rlns 8:l8-21 , sayingthar rhc
rLl Sr. lrcnirctrs l.v<tns. of AgtitrsrHottit's 5..11.1,5.1(r..1; ANtr vrl. I, pp. 5(rl. 5(r7. Scellso p. 27 aLrovc, whcre Sr. lrcnlrerrs:rgrrin th:rt, in rhc l{csurrcction.rrcerron sevs rv i l l bc rcrr,rrccl r,, ir.orig il.r l r on( lir ir ' r 1. rrrSt. l hc,rlrhilrrs l Nttioch. 'lit Auolytrr l.l7: AN I.. vol. J, p. l{)L o

ct t A

it ) I N I NC( ) RRLJPt ( ) N I

crcxtion fell irrto corruptior.r ltrr the sakc of marr, and thlt it will be rcstoreclto i ncorr Lr pr ionalong wit h him : For rhc crclrion was nrtdc subjccr ro firrilirv, lSt. Paull says,and hc cx1'rccts that it will bc sct frcc from sLrch scrvirudc,as lrc intcrrdsto cal l rhi s w o r ld by t hc nar t r cof cr car ior r .For ir is nor whlt is Lr nscen Irhe ,rngclicrvorld] but u,hrt is sccn rhlt is srrbjcctto corruption. -l-hccrcltiorr. thcn. :rficr bcirrgi rcsrorcdto a bcttcr and nrorc sccnrly stntc,renrains,cjoicingand exulr ingovcr t hc chilclr cn ( iod lt t hc r of rcsrrllcction;filr whosc slkc it now grolns and tr:rvlils.rvrritingitsc-lf rlso firr otrr rctlcmption frrrm thc corruprion of thc [tod1,, thlt, rvlrcn u' c hl vc ri scr r anclshakcr r t lr c r r r or t alit y t hc llcsh . . . , and havc olf o[ becn sct frcc lionr sin. it also shlll trc frced fronr corruption rrnd bc (cl. subjcctno longcr ro firtilitl, but to riglrrcousncss 2 l)ct.3: l -l). rr ' In our own rirncs, rhis cornnron Pittlistic rcaching hits lrccn expounded by a nr ot ler n- day Holy Fat her , Ar chir llnclr it c Jusr in Popovich of Chclijc, Scrbia. All of crcrtion fcll into corruption irlong

w i th man, Fr. Just in says, not sinr ply bccausc t hc clcst iny of all cr caturcs is linked to nrirn'.s,but trecirLrse theil desriny is dcputdutt on man.s: 'l-he larc of visiblc naturc has, fi'onr rhc l.rcginningof irs existctrcc, l rccn undcr t hc power of r hc ir r f lucr r ce nr an. . . . ( ) r ganicr llv and of n,ith nrrrnrrsrvith rr (lod-likc crcrrturc (ird, nrysriclllv conrrecrctl of narure in thc csscrrcc irs lifi'dcpcnds upon mln antl alwlvs nroves of \Whcn nrrn chosctlrc plth ofsin rvith stricrly c<>nrrrrcnsurltcly rrrarr. and tlcath rrshis path throLrgh histor1,, ofnatrrtc,.ts rhc resultof its rrll irrcsistiblcinncr dcPcnclcncy rnun, fbllorvcdlficr hinr (cf. Ilonr. on 8:l') 2.1). I'he flll of rn,rn rv:rsrt thc sanrctinlc rhc firll of naturc, ( antl thc crrr scol nr an bccanr ct hc cur scof nir r Lr r c( icn. . l: 17- 18) .
l l r S t . N l c r h o t l ir r s f ( ) l vn r p u s :r n clP:lt;rrt, I)isttttrtt ott t/n l?tsuntttion: ANI:. tol. o

6, p. 16rr.
5l

()ll1'H()fx)x t'H F_

!(oRt)

( ]III]Af t'I) IN IN(]ORRUP'I'ION Adam was pl:rccdas lord tnd king of all rhe crcturcs.... Ancl so, when hc was trtkcn captivc-, rhe creltion which rnirrisrercd irncl r<l servcdhirn was taken captivc rogcrhcrwirh hinr. For throLrghhinr dcath came ro rcign over evcrv sotrl.''t' St. John Danrasccne aflirms thc samc: 'l'hc crcltion of ,rll things is duc ro (lotl, bur corruprion clnrr: in ul'rcruards dtre to our wickedncsslntl ls l grtrnishnrcnr antl u hclp. "[i>r (]od cliclnot nrakc tlerth, ncithcr tlocs Hc rrkc dclighr in rtrc rirther ofnran, thar is, irs origin is in Aclanr'.s rransgression, likc in mi l nncr i l slll or hcr pt r nishnr cnt s. ll-

And fiom rhar tinrc nrln lnd nlture, like two inseparable nvins. blindcd bv onc rnd thc sarnc darkncss,dcadenedby onc ancl rhe samc death, burdencd by onc ancl thc slrnc curse,go h,rnclin hlntl throrrgh hisrory,through thc rbvsnrrl wildcrncssofsin and cvil.'lirgerher rhcv srrrnrblq,rogerhcr rhcv flll, and rogerher rhcv arise, ccasclcsslv striving tou,ard thc clistantconclusion of thcir sorrowfirl h i sto ry . '' '

VI. "Bv MnN Cnrue Denrs" Dcdtlt Is Notf'om As our srudy rhus far hasshown, the Orthodox Ohurch, through rhe Holy Scripturcs and rhcir intcrprctarion the Holy Fathcrs, by con(lod m:rdc thern irl fi'sses rhat dearh and corruptioll exist not because tlre bcginning, but becrusclrlan brought thenr into thc world through his sin. Besitles vcrscs the eighrhchaprerof Rornansthat wc havc the in alrcady cxanrined,other passages rhe Pruline Epistlescxpressthis in C)rthodoxtloctrinc. ln I Corinthians, rhe Holy Aposrlewrircs that "by nrlr) camedcath" (l Cor. 15:21).Again, in I{omans,chaprcrfivc, he rvrites that "by one rlan sin enteredinto the world, and deathby sin" (Ronr. 5: l2), antl firthcr that "by one man'soFfense dearh reignedbv onc" ([{onr.5:17). (iomnrenring on rhe latter versc., John Chrysostonrwrircs: St. Whlt lrnrcd tlcrrrh llirrinst cosnr<ls? flct rhlr one nrln rasred rhe l'he l' of rhe trcconlr,.l St. M:rclrius the (lrc:rr likewiscteachcs thlt
r r'' r\rchinrerrclritc.lusrin I)opovich.l fu Ortlnlox I'hilosq,hy I tr/t: I lt I)o,!utt' ol (.lrrn* (in Scrbirn). vol. .l (llelgr:rdc, ir ol tfu Ortl,ofux l97ll). p. 79.1. lri St. ltonilits or Ronntns l0.l'(l 60:.{7(rl)r Nl)Nlr lsr Sccf. fohrr(lhrysostont. r ic r,vo l . l l . p. 4( ) . 1. 54

dcsrructi onof living r hings" ( \ f lis. l: l. l) . [ ] ur de: r t h is r lr c r vor k

()od

Providing further insighrs inro the c:rusality ofdearh, St. Maxinrus "nailcd" or "irrraclted" rl)c ro()r of explainsthat, at the flll, sin wls ro hurnannature,thus bringing nor only rnan bur alsothc cnrirevisiblc crcationinto:r stateofdeath tnd cornlpriotr: \WhatI arn sayint is rh:rrirr rhc l>cginning seducc.l sin Adrrnr and pcrsuadcd ro rransgrcss him Cod'.s conrnrlndnrcnr. rvhcrcbl,sin gave riscro plcasurc and, by mcrnsof rhisplcasurc, nailecl irsclfin Adanr ro rhe verydeprhs our nature,thus conclcmning wholehuof orrr rn:rnnaturero dcathancl, hrrrn:rnirv, via prcssing nlttrrc of (:rll) thc crearcd bcings towardnrortll cxtinction.rrN Elsewhere Maximus sctsforth rhe samercachingon how dcarh rncl St. corruptioncntcredthe cosntos:
rr('St. lvlrrcarius thc (ircer ol L:,e,-pt, ltouilits ll.5l l,(i 34:54Ull; cf. idcm, /./i7 Spiritual l'tonilits o.f Sr.Llntriu tbr (inu (|.<tntl<tn: Sl)(lK, l92l; rcprint, Willits. (l:rlif.: [i-rstcrn ()rthorlox l]<xrks,1974), p. lll. rl: St. IlxactLtpositior 2.28 p.259. J,rhn l)enr:rsccnc, rl" St. N{rximus thc (ionfi.ssor,Al lluhuixttt (rl: in Ol th Cosnit Mysttry, ;t. |]7.

5t

'l H l'l ()R I tl()t)()x voRt) 'l'hc truc word rrysticallv cxplainsthat tllan-who n'ls allorrccl,bv rhe grlce of rhe (iod Vho ma<lchinr, ro bc nrastcrover thc wholc of visible world-by wa1'of misuseturncd thc mt>riorrs thc innatc rowartl rhar rvhich is ,rgainstnarurc; ficultics of his noctic esscttcc and ,rsa result,accordingto rhc iust itttlgnrcntoi (iod, rnln lrrought rupon hinrsclfand rhis rvhole univcrsc thc chitnge lntl corruPtron r p re se | lt ly uling ov c r b o rh h i n t a n c li r." '

(]I{I]AI'I.:I)IN IN(;ORRLJP'I'ION ls Death "Natuml"? -I-hcScriprural/l'atristic tcachingwc

hrvc recounredon rhc origin of tlelth and cornlprion in thc cosmos,ancl on thc clcvil! placr-' ir, in fbrnrs thc basisof e poeric p:rssaec another nrodcrn [loly Frrthcr try fiorn Scrbir, Sr. Nikolei Vclirrirovich of Zhicha. [n a work called "Dcarh Is Unnatural,"Sr. Nikolei wrircs: L)eath rrorn:rrulrrll is rarhcrit is rrrrrranrrll. And dcarhis lot frorn narurci rrtherir is lgainstnatur".'ll All of nature horrorcrics in out: "l do rrorknow dcarh! clonor I rvish dcarh! anrafilid ofdeathlI srrivc I ugainsr clcarh!" ,,rr.rngcr rrrrrtrrc. I)crrrh is.rnurrinvitcd in All ofnaturc blisrlcs rhisrrninvirccl at srrrnger:rnd afiaid is ofit. Forit is likea thicfin sonrebocly grrden, elsc'.s who docsnor jrrsr srcul and car rhe ll uir, bur u'ho llso rrrmPlcs, sPoils, blcirks lnd uprtxrts rvhlt w:rs plantcd. An<lthc nrore ravages nrorcit bccorncs it thc s.rtisficd. ['-ven whcrronc lrunclrcd philosophics dcclarc rlrar"dcathis nrrr'Nol I h;rvc urrl!' :rllof nlturetrcnrblcs indignarion shouts: in rncl no usefirr dclrh! Ir is ln uninvitcdsrrangcrl" Antl thc voiccof narrrrc nor so;rhistry. is Thc protestof narulc :rgainst dcarh outwcighs cxcuscs all jusrifydcrth. thoughtLrpro And ifr hcrc is sonrcrhing nltulc srrugglcs exprcss rts rhat to irr rrnrorrclrcd harnrony, doing so wirlrotrtcxccptionirr a rrnisorr ol' voiccs, thcnit is rt prorcsr a{:ainsr dcilrh. is irsun;rninrotrs, Ir llarrrir, arrcl hcavcn-shaking to dclth. clegv Ifin fict dearhis unnlnrrirl, ifit is nor nirnrral is lgrirrsrnulncl rrrrc, then.l quc'srion why is it soantlwlrencc rriscs: <locs dcathenrcr nlttrrcJ
lll As in the passagcs I-r. of lusrin l)opovich qrroredrlrovc, ir:rrrrrc' (rrprrpo](ir Scrbilrrr) hcrc rcfcrs ro thc crclteclorclcror nattrrarcnvrfonnrcnr.

'I'fu Dn,il's I?ole sin' rolc of also St.Maximus sperrks thcdevil"s in brinsing lncl thtts death,into thc crcrttion:
Through mrn, Isin] inrpelsrll crcrttcdthinss torvardclcrrh. All this o wa s co nt r iv edbv t hc d c v i l , tl rl t s p a rv tr f s i n .rn d fi thcr ofi ni .l Lrrty cxpellccl himsclf fronr Divinc glorv, rncl rhrough who through pridc irr cnr.y of us and of Cod cxpcllcdArlant lionr l'rrra<]isc' orclcrto dc(locl lncl dissolvewhrt h,rd bccn brought tnto stroy thc works of e xi stc nc c . llo It is in light of this cxplanation that we irrc to ttndcrstlnd the words of Scripture quoted earlier, "T'hrough thc enry of rhc cicvil tlcarh camc into the world" (\Uis. 2:24), as well xs thc fbllowing verse from thc Canon ofthe Feast of'l'hcophany, cotttPosed by St. John Danllscene, which speaks ofthe dcvil "inrplanring" death in the creatioll: thc Hc who oncc assunrccl appcartnceol'a malignlnt scrpcnr ,rtrcl bv inrpllntccl dcath itr thc crcation,is norv castinto darkncss (lhri.t ' corning in rhc f.lcsh.rlr

r |r St. Mrxinrrrs. l:l'ittk lt\l'(; ')l:449U;cl von llalthsrr' ('i:tttit !.iturgv' 185. 1t. on ofSt. N4:trinrus p. 9 abole. rls<r tluotarion thc Sr'c jr')St. Maxinrrrs (irnfi'ssor, lhalattinn 6l; l)(l 90:6.]3t}li(t \ttrious7i'ttt Ar/ thc vol. 2, p. 248; ci. On tfu (isuit- M.ytt4', p 1.17. 4.41, Pbilohalia, t:t fltc l:cstal (l-ontlon: l')6')),P. 169. l:ubcr lnrl liitbcr. lVtn,rioa 56

57

' l t l F . ()l { l tl o l )()x

\(/()l tt)

(iltllAl trl) |N IN(:()l{l{tJl'l l()N 'l oriotlr t<l ofdcath gocs Prove illrnlorrlll thcir morralitl'. hisshanre arvav Aninrlls hiclcthcnrsclvcs wltcn our intmortaldestinl'. gins,rn.l How of as rhtv:rtc clving, thoughrhcyfcclashlrrrccl thcir ntorralitt'. eclttcnrcd! partof rhespirirually 't' &rcir,rhcn,is thisshrmcon rhe \Whcn St. Nikolai saysthat death is "rtnnatural," is speaking hc of fiom thc perspectivc (lodk original plirn-His econontv-fbr His crcation. I)elrh was not Part of God's original, "very gootl" crcatiotr; whcn it cntercd thc world, it wrts"tttrnatttral."l'his is trot to thereforc, in s{y, howcvcr.that tbc creatiottwas Prescrved incorruption rtritly.rc' nirttlre' indcpendcnt of (lod's gracc. As we hxvc to cordir.rq its own (iocl, sccn,rhe orilinalincorruprion of rnrtnw;rsentirelytlcpcndenron on (iod u,hilc the incorrupriotr of thc rest of cre:rtiotlwirs clependcnt through man. With rcgardto whether nlan wts originally inrnlortll bv "natrtrc" tliflcrcntlr'' As thenrsclves or by "grace,"vrrious Holv liirrhcrscxpress Ad:lm'slrature"chrrngecl" wlrcthcr or trot we havesaidrvhendiscttssirtg cnrPloythc tcrm "tlaturc ilt .t rttict firll, rhe []lthers sonretirtlcs rrr rhe -flltls, just ls Aclanl'snature scnsc,and somctilllcs in I broad sellsc. tlnchangcd'accorclor rnrv be said to havc changecl to havc rctrrairlcd "naturc," so also matr'.s original inlto ing ro tlre sense livcr'r ttrc word mortirliry may be stid to have cxistctl by'hature" or by "grace," on clcpending how "nrttrtrc"is vicwccl. thc I-trr cx:ulplc, in On t/n' Iuatruttiott' St. Atlrrrritsitrs (llcat said irr thar Aclatnwas crerltcdntortxl bv naturc but Prcserved incorrtrptiolt (]rcgorv of Nvssa in On Viryittity' srid that tlln [.,vsracc,"" wlrilc Sr. '
lr5 Sr. Nikolli Vclinrirovich. lloniliu, v<tl J (llirrringhem. Ilnslen'.1:l.itz-arrce l'ress.l99tl). p. 20.1. ll(' (iocl hrn nredc nrln. end rvillctl thlt hc thoulcl abiclcin itlcorltrptionl bttt nrcn, arrtl conrrivctl of thc eontcnrpl:rtion (iod, alrd cleviscd having dcspiscditnd rcicctccl ofde.rrh rvith rvhich tho'hl'l bccn thc ... cvil lor thcnrsclvcs rcceivcci contlcnrnltion :ts lnd tnrnt thcncclitrth no longer rcnrltilrctl thcY rvctenradc " lltrr nr:rn thrcirtcncdr of otrt ol-rl'h;tris notl btrt bv rclrson his lts is bv rrittrtrcnrortal, irt,tsnrrtch hc is nllt<lc

Not u singlc kingdonr oflight tntl lifi'rcceprsclcrth as irs nativt' lv-crawling on rrs It must h:rvesncrkcd inro thc rvorldsof lifc sccrct qorrltl trot bc sPottcdrnd exbellv and srayingorrr ofsighr so thar it rvlrcrccvcn ir was too cold atrcl poscd-fronr sotnc botrontlcss,rlrvs. loncly. \When dcath rvaslrehind thc firngsofa strnkc,it rvrrs tlcld ttnt<r irsclf.'lt And no onc itl rhe lvorld thctl ktrcrv rtboltt goorl rrnd cvil-only rnd trotrotlvhcar.l of krro*lcclgcrnd igtrobliss cxiste<l; rlncc-rhcre wrts only u'istlomj :rtrcl ttobo,-ly ktrcrv of lifc 'rncl ' tlcath-rhcrc ,vls onlv rhc stltc of blissfulll'wisc cxistcnce thln tllc bc'clttscof ln occirsitln'lvhich is rnorc t{r'erldfirl But nlost hotriblc trightttrlrc. the Irroltrlr t,f tltc ',ttakeopctrcclatrd thc fangsfirll of vcnonr lppcarg{ ,rLttc,f it-ancl rleathcntcrcclflrst-crcrtredrrltttre.llr rc, F-lsewhe in his Homilirs, St. Nikolai Vclinrirovich of'fersanothcr profbund rcflection otl thc s:lme thcnrc' inclicaring rhrotrgh obscrveble examples that delth is indeed lrll intrudcr in this world: 'l herc is l ntvstcriotrs fceling thlr rlkes lrolclofall who stlnd rrorttrd rttti this is shrtnrc Not a cleadbody, a fi'cling th,rt is rrrc'lycxprcsscd, t,nly tlo rncn fi'lr dclth' thcv irrc ashanrctlof ir.'lhis shenrc ts a proof'-atr cvcn sttonller onc than fi'lrr-th,rt tlerrtlr is rhe cotrscto is sitt. of clucncc trrln'.s As a sick nlrtt't llslr:tmcd show thc doctor lris are hirldcn wouncl. so lll rvhtl h:tvc l cotrscicttcc lshitnlcd ro show

l l JA rcf . ' rertccto thcdclil,uhoinSt . J olr n( ihlt ' s os r onis r v or d s 's P o k c t h l o r r l l h r h c ( On scrpcf)t' in tenr;rtirrgl'ive(St. lolltl (lhrvsosror:n, t/t ltttion ol tlx' lN/orll6 ): it Ijr. Scraphinr l{osc, (,rarroi Orc,rtiotttud lhrl.v hldn' p l92: scc rlso St John (lhrvsrrstrrrn. llotnilitt on (hmis 16.4; Ii(1. vol. 7/r, P "l0())' r-r, lli.h(,[) Nikolai Velinriroviclr StlcctrdVrirings ln l{ursirn) (lvlinsk: Sr. tili|r' bcth Morrlstcrv l'rcss,.2(X)4)PP 4l0-12. Scrbian orisin'l vcrsion: llishop Nikolei Velinrirrrvich, lboxgbrs ,fiou (iootl antl l:)'il (Novi S:td: i\lexanclcr l)risolubov' I 9 99). 5tt

59

't Hti ()l{t H()t)ox \(/oRt) wrrsnot originally liable ro death accorcling his nature.'t- Here agrrir.r to we sec rwo Fathersviewing thc same realiry fronr different sides.St. Athanesius, sayingthat man in thc beginningwas mortal by naturc, in was looking ar "nature" in an absolutescnse, accordingto which Cod aloneis imnrortirl by naturebec:ruse aloneis uncreated, He withour benothing for His unending life (cf. I -l-im. ginning, lnd dependenton 6:16-17:'the [.ord of lords, Vho alonc hath immortality').r:*St. (ircgory, in sayingthet man was not origin:rlly mortal by nattrre,was
likcrrcss I Iinr Vho is (.rnd if hc still prescrvcdthis likencss kccping llinr in his to bv knorvle<1g,e) sould st:rv his n:rtural corruption, and rcnrain incorrupl ... being he i n c orrupt, hc rvo trlcl livclrcn c c lir r r has ( 1od. . . . I : or ( ioc l has no ( o n l v r n l r c l e r s o t r t o f r nothingl but llc qlvc Lrsflcclv, by thc grlcc'ofrhc V/<rrd,l lifi- irr corrcspondcncc rvith (lotl. But nrcn, hrrving rejccted rhings ctcrnrl, lnd, trv counscl of rhc tlcvil, t L r rncdt o thc thin gs ofcorn r pt i, r r r , bc c lnr e t hc c aus cof t hc i r o w n c o r r u p t i r ) n i n dc:rrh,bcing, as I slid bcfirrc,lrv nlttrrc corruptiblc, but clcsrincd, thc gracc blbl Iouing lrorn pertlkirrg ofrhc W<rrd.ro hevc cscepcdrhcir narural srete,hrd rhcy renrainctl good. l;or bcclusc of rh.- Word drvclling with rhcm, cvcrr thcir narural corrtrption di.l not comc nclr rhcnr, as Visdom llso slys: (iod nradc nrrn lirr r'ol. 4, p. incorrrrptirrn"'(St. Ath:rnesirrs, tlte lutdrnation 4 5; Nt'Nlt 2nd Serics, On A conrp.rralrlc tcrchine is lound in Sr. lrcnacusof l.vons Auint l-bcits j.10.l: J8). . A N I: . vol. l, p. 4 50 . ll- "'l his reasoning end intclligent crearure, rnan,:rt trncc thc rvork entl rhe likcncss ofrhe l)ivirrc and Inrpcrish,rblc Mind (firr so irr (icncsis ir is wrirtt'n ofhinr thrt (iod nte.lc rtt,trtin [1is inrugc'),this crc:rrLrrc, sly, tlicl not in thc courscof his firsr proI ,.lrrcti<rrr fravcthc lirrlrilirvt<rplssion und clclth (rd radtrrx6v rt xui cnix,r\cov) trcc<trLling to his nrturc or inhcrcnt in his csscncc"(St. (ircgorv of Nvsstt,Or Viryiuiq 1): v P ( l 46: 1698: cf. NPNIr 2 nd Sc r ic s , ol. 5, p. 357) . ljN St. Ath:rnasiustlrrght thet. sincc incorrupr flrst-crcetcrl nran was brought into b c i ns orrr of n oth int, h c rvo r r lt lDar r r r . r llv under go "c or r lr pr io n i r r r o n o r h i n g 'i f ( i o c l .l did nor prcsenc his lifi' (O, tht lnc,tntatiort4). his thcolog,v crcrrcd lrcing-of' of crel(urcs "nururllly" hlving en cnd becauscthcl havc a bcginnirrg-is takcn u1t lty orher |]urhcrsin othcr conrcxrs.Sr._lohn[)anrasccne, cxumple,writcs rhlt lngcls fbr ,rrcinrnrortll, not bv niture, brrt bv grace:fbr, naturell,v. c,rcryrhingthar lr:rse bcgirrninr has rn cn<l lEvtt lixposttiorr I;C. vol. .37,p. 20(r). According to this sense l..lr ol tfrc lvord iraturc," rhcn, cvcn angclsmav bc said to trc'inortel bv naturc ancl inrnrortll bl gracc.' As Sr. Muximr.rs u,rites:"(lrcerurcs rll cxirt through p:rrtiiip.lrion ( )nly thc [)ivine csscncc :rrd gfir.c... . hls no oppositc.sincc it is ercrnellntl infinirc

(llil:Alt':l) lN lN( l()lLRUP'l lON scnse, accordingrc which humanity was, viewing "nature" in :r relarive grantcd rhc gifi of inrnrortalirvbv (lod. nnditiondlly and depcndtntly, In thc wrirings of St. Mrximus, wc flnd this qucstion viewed fiont both sides.In some placcsSr. Mlxirnus writes that Adam "wls not deand that is by grace,"rr) thar ar rhc fall Ailam privedofthe irnrrrorrality losr "rhe incorruptibilirywhich hatl beengivcn bv grace."'"'As we havc scen, however.in anothcr placc St. Maxinrus wrote that Christ has In.lde it pos\il)lctor nrrtn 'i'rt.c rg,tin (o recovcriln imttr(trtitltrft that man hlcl an "imnrortalnature"in the beturc,"rrrthus specilying sinning. -lhken togcther,St. M:rximrrs's lend themselves rhe fbrto teachints b.y body was originally posscssed, gace, of an inmulxtion that nran'.s is morraf, incorrupt ndtut?. Such an urrderstandin! possiblewithin which scesno rigicldichoromy berwcengraceand Orthodox theokrgy, "C;racc implied in the act of is nature.As Vladinrir [.osskv pointsor.lt: crcxtion irscll... Nature rncl lirace do not exist siclebv siclc, rathcr ration ofonc:lnothcr, the one cxistsfor tltc thcre is a nrutual in tcrpenet other."lrl

'l lnd bcsrouscrcrnit't'orrother rhirrgs. l:c trcint ofcreltccl tlrings,on rltc othcr hltncl. h.rs non-bcing es it:, oppositc. Vhcther ol not it cxists ctcrn,rllv dcpcntls otr rhc scnsc"(l'irtrr llundn'd li'xtson lrorvcrof llinr Who:rlonc cxisrs in thc sLtbstantivc Lorc 3.27 l'l,ikkalit, vol. 2. p. 117).lhtts. itr ()rrhoclox theologl, no crcatcclthins inrnrorr:rlio,rvitlrotrtCorls grtcc. cotrld rdrt, lcr llonc posrcss lr'' Sr. Nllximus tlrc (irnfcssor. Anbigtun 45. Scc rhc lrrll plss.rgc on pp. 2 l-22 t\tt ltlcn, Or tlr Lonl\ I'rdycr, in l'hilokalia, vol. J. p. .l{)J. l J r S c c p . 4 6 1 1 t ,r t". -l I rr Losskr'. lll.tttical I hology, pp. l2l , I 26. hc intcrpcnctrrtiorr ol {rtct end nrrin rurc is.rlso cxltrcssc.l thc l)ltristic (crchine on thc httnrttr ral/, rvhich,,ts we hluc ofSt. (ircgorl'Pitlirnt.ts rluotcd elt,,vc(pp. -17-Jll), rcrnlinccl irrrscc'nin rhc pussugc ot nrorrll ocn eficr nrln'r lill- I hus. St. lohn l)rtnrlsccnc,irficr listing ertritrtrtcs tltc hrrnr,rns,rLrl .rnd inclLrdinginrmorr:rlitvlnro,rg thcnr. s'ritcs: "All thcsc rlrulitics,rccording ro natLtrcIrhc sottll hes rcccivcrlfronr thc gracc o1 rhc (]rc:rror.front which sr,recir has rcceivcdboth its ltine (-o cir,ar)enJ its bcing bl nlttrrc srrch ls it is

6o

6r

l H fl ()Rl'H()tx)x woRI) In sccingthc inner harmony of St. Maximus's thought on man's originll irlnrortalirv, we can lretter irppreciate r]re harrnonl, berwccn thc theololryof St. Athanasiusrnd rhar ofSr. (iregory of Nyssa.St. (iregorv,asrvc hnvccluotecl "in him carlicr,wrotc thrr rnan w.lscreirted l)ivine grace":r" ancl elsewherc dcscribcd rnan'scondirion bcfore he "pristinestareof grace. ' ' 'l'hus, while savingthar nrAnwils "' thc fill esa rr,rt crcatcclliablc to death according to his nanrre, he also afllrnred that this irrcornrpr condirion was a srarc of gracc. [-ikervise, St. Athlnasius, in savingthlrt nriln was creirtedmortirl bv nlturc, also af'flrrned thur ll'riln wrls prcscrvecl incorruprion bv gracc.Vhile emin ploving thc tcrnr "rlatrlrc in difflrenr ways with rcglrd ro rnan, borh F:rthers taught the sanreessential points: (l) rhat nran wirsprcservccl in (2) that tliis condirion was a srareof gr,rcc, incorruptior.r until tlrc f.ill, ancl(.)) that if rnan had not sinncdhc would not hlve died. W.y God A/\ou,e/ t/te l-)ttrann oJ'Dmth and Sulliring Although thc Holy liathcrsdcclarealong wirh St. Paulthat dceth is rln "cncnry which is to bc "destroyed"(l Cor. I 5:26), they alsoaffirrn that the introtluctior')of dcath w,,rs allowed providentially by (iot{. [)elth, ls rvc havcsaicl, wirsnot pilrr of God\ original econonryfbr His crcrtion; horvcvcr, afier the f'ullGocl uscd it fbr the bcnefir of nrln. As
tivar) lL^-rct ll^-2ttiiriou 2.l2: P(i 94:922rli-()25A;cf. NPNlr lnd sc, \6i*t r.tii:ot; ri c s, vol. (). p .31 ). llcrc St. lohr r r r llir nr st hnr inr nr or r alir vis u t l u : r l i r v r v i r h r v h i c h (lod h:tscnrlorvetlthc a,rlrrrz thc sorrl bv nrclns of llis gr'.rr'r,, as it is bv gr:rcc of iust rlrlt Hc h.rsgrlntcd tlrc soul its vcrv existcncc.It is in this lighr rhet rvc lrc ro undcrsrend. lirr cx:rnrple, thc strterrrcntof Sr. ( ircgorv l)lllnrls that 'Bv nlturc rhc soul is ( Iit rl'., llost lltrnttut Nun llrrlz 8r in l'/'ilob,lia, vol. ,1. p. 295). Il rhc inrttrortal srxrl c:rn be c:rllcrlinrrrlrrrirl lrl n,rttrrc,it is in rhc scnserhlr thc nlrurc of the sorrl posscsscs inrnronitlirvas u gifi liom (iotl. lrr thc conciscPhr.lrcof Sr. Cvril of lcrrrsrrfcnr. thc sotrl is inrnrortll bccausc (iod Who qives it imnrolrrlirv (()talnriul ol I a nro 4.18 NI)Nli 2n Llsc r ic s v ol. 7, p. 2. 1) . , rl rS ccp. IIrbo vc. I ri St. ( iregorvrrf Nys:,:t, )t tltt Sotl arl tlu' l sunutiott: Nl)N Ir 2nd series. ( vol. 5, p . 4 (, 1.
(jl

( ]IIF,A I:,f) IN IN(]ORRL]I'I'ION f St. John Chrvsostorn obscrves, in man! lallen state dc:rrh servcs firr thc ctrtti ng off of sin: l',venthough dclth enteredas a rcsulrofsin, ncvcrthcless suclr is rhe sLrpcrioritv (iocl, His loving-kindness of and rhc exccss His care of rhat H c emp lovsevcn r his t o r hc advant agc'of ourr lcc, . . . ls it not rhc final blow ro cvil? I nrcan,if someoncis wickccl,their pracriccof cvil is f'cllcdon rh.'ir dcath: 'For hc rhar is dcad is frccrl fionr sin" (llonr. (r:7), tlrat is, no longer corrrirrues sinninel if t Pcrsonrvhrr is good passes all rhcir works of virruc lie in safctvrlnd in :l sccurc on, trcasurv [)ocs ir nor, on t]re orhcr hand, rcll me, render rhc living more ten)pcrate:rnd circumspecr?... You scc, if despitc dclrh bcinq what it is there is so much mplcirv, so rnuch avarice,rhc srrongcr prcying on the wcakcr like flsh, whcn would lvaricc cvcr conlc ro ln cnd if thcre wcrc rro dcathl I nrcan, if rhcy ilrc lwrrc rhar rho, will not cnjoy whar thcv stcll. bur willv-nilly they rvill passit ovcr to orhcrs, and rhcv so gricvc and llnrent ar this, *'hcn wotrl<1 fhnrcs of' rhc cvil dcsire evcr bc cxringuishcd if rhcv kcpr thcir ill-gotrcn grrrns w i thorrr f' cl r ?r r 1 Likc St. John (lhrysostonr, Sr. (ircfiory rhc -l'heologian sccs (locl's love fbr mankind in the facr thar He allowcd dcltlr ro cnrer thc world: Yct hcrc too hc IAdaml nrakes glin, n.rn.rcl.r,tlcirth, rhe curting I and off of sin, irr ordcr thlt cvil nrrrvnor bc inrnrortal. l'hus his punishnrcnt is chlngetl into a rncrcv;firr it is in mcrc1,, unr pcrsuadcd, I rhrrt r '( ' ()od i nfl i cts l. r r r r r ishnr cnt . Just as Cod trscd clearh fbr thc bencflt of nrln in his flllcn st:rte,s<r al so di d H c usc r hc or lr er physical consct lucnccsof r hc f hll: suf ler ing, l F S t..fol rn(l l rrvr ost onr(,, it nn, t t r r . 1, t h l\ , lnn ( l) s: r lnr ot ll0 llt ll) . v, , 1. (B rxrkl i nt,Mrss. : llolv( ir oss( ) nhodox 'r css, ) 9t t ) pp. l7 . ill. I l( , lr" St. (ircgorvthc'l-hcolosiirr. Ourion l8; Nl'Nt:. lnd Scrics, vol.7, p. .34t|. 6l

'f HF-()l{t'H()lx)x \?()Rl) etc. Likc <leathirsclf, thescothcr colrsebodilv nceds,labor, discasc, qucnccsscrvcto hunrblc ntan ,rnd lrring hinr to lcpcntancc. At rhc fall, nrirn succumbedro thc tcnrptation of pritle, cxprcssccl in the serpenr's words, "Yc shall lre as gotls, knowing good and evil" (Cicn. 3:5). All the physicelconscqucnces rhe fall scrvc to rcmincl of rnan that hc is not Clod btrt r creatcdbcing who is dependcnton (l<lcl. irlposed ott Adanr at St. John Chrysostom,in rccountitrgthc scntencc rhis:rsfbllows; r he fall (Gcn. .l:17-19),exPlairrs -l of Bcholcl rcmindcrs rhe curse! hornsit will bring firrth, l-lc rhc lisc lnd so IGod] s.rys, thistlcs, rs ro plivc ro grclt |rbor and discornyou prssthc wholctitncwirh pain,so rhet fbrt, and I lvill !-nsrrrc rh.rt above your mav provca brakcon vour gcttingicleas this cxpcricnce trrakc-up stltion, :tntlyolt nravinsrcldhavca thoughtof vour owtr tn in mltters....My intcntiotr and ncvcraglin bc dcceived tlrcse youshould in a sratc ol' rhat livc bringing vou into rheworld... rvas of and not lrc subjccrro thc ncecls rhe enjoyrrrenr prospcritl', lnd fbrruncro cxpcribodybtrt bc f-rcc from all suchrrrclhaucthc goocl was lrcctlont. Sincc, hollevcr, sttchirrrlulgcncc of no cncccomplctc bcncfltto vou, lccordinglyI curscrhe groundso rhat ir rvill not irt inwirhout tilling:rnt1 ploughing; firrtrlcyicld its harvcst befirrc rs and stcad, invcst I you rvithgrcathbor, roil anddifliculrl,, with unrerh,ttclcrvrhingvou do rrirting painand clcsPlir. I rm cnsuring tnd from rhese tnly you only is achievecl by swcltt.orhatundcrprcssurc in to your havccontinualpluiclancc kecping linrirslncl rccognizing t own nrakc-u1'r.l Adam ancl flvc indcedsuccumbcdto pridc in partakingolthe fbrof biddcn fruit, but that was not the only source thcir fall. As will ltc recalled,in thc primordial transgrcssion they:rlso tLtrnedtheir tlcsire in pleilsure thcrrl as ,rwayfronr God and toward crc'ltedthings,seeking
I t St. lohn (lhrvsostonr,Hotttilitson (iorsis 17.40-41 l](i, vol. 74. pp. 24.1-/t/t. 64

(lRtrAflj-l) lN IN(I )l{RLJI'l'l()N

'l'his roo is expressed rhc Gcncsis 'And ... rn cnd in irself. in narrarivc: tbc woman saw that the tree was good for fixld, end plcasanrro thc ((len. 3:(r).''" eyes, and a trce beautifirlro conremplare" 'l'hus, the remprariollthar brought about nran's was rwotbld. In fill thc words of St. Mark the Ascetic,"All vice in thc worltl is causcdby self'-cstecnr plcrsure."'''' l]ecausc this, (lotl crnof Ipride] and sensual ploved the physicalconsequcnces rhc firll as a wofbld remcdy: not of only to quell man'.s pride, but also ro tlampcn his dcsirc fbr creared rhings and his pursuit of scr.rsual pleasurefbr its ou,n sakc. As St. Maximusexgrlains: (iod thcleIleing,in His providencc, conccrncd our s:rlvlriorr, lirr fbrcaflixcdpainalongsidc sensurl rhis pleusurc a kind ofpunitrvc as firculry, whcrcby lawofdelth wls wisely the inrplantccl our eorpoin rcalnarure curbthc fbolish ro mind in irsdcsire inclirrc to unnrrur:rllyroward scnsitrlc rhings. Hcnccfbrth, bccluscirreriorral plelsrrrc crrrerc<l hunrrrn nrrttrrc, pain entcrcdour naturcopposirc this plcasure rrccord:rrrcc in rvirh rcason, lnd, rhroughthc nranvsuflcrings which and frrrrnrvhich in <{cltrh occurs, pain uprootsrrnnrrtural plcasrrrc, .lt cs nor conrbut plctclvdcsrrov '''" it.

Physiceldcath, of course,puts :rn end ro physicalprrin and labors. Hcrc irgaitr seeCod's mcrcy,for in allowing the crrtrancc physical wc of so as to prevent sin (iom bcing irnrnorral,(locl also prevented dearh bodily pain and labor fronr neccssarilv lasting forevcr. As Blessec 'fheodorct of Cyrus wrires:

lrs fhi\ 'r thc Scptuegint rcndcrirrg. thc M:rsorctic In tcrt, rhc lasrphrasc rclds ''rtrrJ trecro lrcdc.irctlro nr.rkc rt orrcwirc. lr') St. M.rrk thc Ascetic,()u t SpiritualLan': liut, llunlru! Iixrs99t in lht I'ltiloQalir, I (london: l:abcr vol. and |:rbcr.lt)79),p. ll7. l"(rSr.M;rxinrus (irntr.ssor,,4r1 rhc TLalnsitu6l;ir (.'osnic Llytqy, pp. lll-.12.

' l t ll: ()R f t l ()l )()X W()l { l ) thc this living thing lnd on the ()ne lr:rndcc:lscs lcl)clrh dissolves nran fiorl firtlrcl rlrrott rion of rvickccltress; rhe <ltlrcrh,tnd' ir srtvcs grrish, libcr.rtcshinr fionr swcilt, drivcs au'av pain rnd sorrow, end nrixcd rhc punishbrings the bodyi sulli'ringsto an encl. 1'hc'Judgc " rn e n t w i rlr s uc lrphilanr h ro p v !' evetlttlll salvltiotr Furthernrore, in His foreknowlcdgc of nrarl'-s clic so that it cotrltl be throrrgh C)hrist, Gocl allowed rnan's [:,odv to (ircgorv of reflshioncd et rhc (lencral llcsLtrrecrion. In thc words ofSt. Nyssa: t i'r dcarlr h:rslrecn introducct] as I d ispt'nsrt rr llv l)ivine proviclcncc inro the n,rturc.,f rnln, so that, sin h:rvingflowcd awlv rtt rhc dittolurion of rhc union ofsoul and bodv, nrln' through rhc rcsurrccti()n' ind renl()vcd miehr bc reitshioncd, sortnt'l' plssionlcss,st,ritrlcss, fiom :rny rouch of cvil.' '' St. Ilasil thc (lreat also points to this iclca, drrwitrg iln :rnalogv betwccn a hr.rman bodv that has becn rctrdcre.l imntttnc to dcxth and il pot that lras bcen fl rcd in a kiln, i c., has acquirecl irs fltral stltc: by:r (iod did not crcatc dclth, but wc broupihrit upotr ottrsclves ' li be s u rc ... H c d i d n o t o wi ckcd i nt c nr ior r . P re v c n t ttr di ssol uttorr' welkncssmigiht not rcnllin inrnlortal. lt is like s<lnrconc so that our
(r; in lstvrin rfrBfcssccl 'f lrcodorct of (lvrtrr, (Jrr the lt/un,ttt,ttirtu rtl tl't ln Oyrus (l.ontlon.tnd Ncw Vrrk: l{otrtlcdgc' )(X)(r) p l':isztori-Krr1rin.llut oru ol t4 0 . r,i St. (ircsrrrv ol Ntsst. (,)ut'luriul ()rrrirrrr.15: NI)Nli 2ncl Scrics. vol. 5. p. 503' (lf. Sr. M;rxirltrs thc (irnfcssor, who writes that thet sotll lntl body arc nlrrtrrallv thc unitcd in nren "ttntil such tintc rtsplerrscs ()nc rvho lnuntl thcnr togcthcr to scpl' rarc tlrcnt li.e., in clclrh], itt vicrv of I greltcr lrnd nrorc nlvs(ic:rl:lfrilnlacnlctrl constlll)tnl(i()lrlic, (icntr'rl Rcsin loixo',t,p,ia;) rhc tinrc of tlrc cxpccrcrltrrtivcrsal ' \ il!1'trttgrtgt l'(i 9l:('ti5ll; in St. M:rxinrLts (lonfi'ssor''\clutcl V/tit' thc 1; trrrcctionl p. 11.)7). /rr.ElNov Vrrk: l'aulist l)rcss,l9li5l'

(-RtlAl'lll)IN IN(l()Rl{LJPl l()N trnin a not allou,ing lerk;-cl,rvpor to lrc pl,tccd firc [andhrrdcncd] throtrgh beencorlpletclvnrcnclctl ir) prcscrrr it hrts til rht wcukncss iorring.r rcfltslt '1 into a better Man'.s death,thcn, opcnetl tlre rvrv to his ref:rshioning 'l-lrc lctual rcfashioning of nran, however' woulcl occur not srare. tlrroulil.rthc tlcatlr of sinfirl mcn bttt through the clcarhand resurrcc(lhrist. Dcath' the trltinrare (iocl-mittr, physical rion of thc sinlcss .lcstrs firll, mrrn'.s would tllus becotnea mcirnsbv which (iod of corrsequence would redeemrnankind tiorr ell the effcctsof thc firll, spiritually rrnd "He iChristl is thc tnediaror of Holv Scripture: bodilv.As wc readi11 of of thc Ncw (lovcnanr, that [r1'rtrcatrs tlc,rth,firr thc reclcnlption the covenant,rhcy which irreclrllc(l that rrirnsgressiorls wcrc under tlrc flrst (Heb. 9: I 5). itrhcritancc" of rhc reccivc protnisc cterttal rrrighr

VIl. TsE Rsoer'rprton ANo DEIFICATIoN oF MAN AND THE Cost'tos "'l),rnpling Dou'n Dratlt b.1' I)utl.i' redctlPtiotr rhis nrvstery of rlat.t'.s Llow lrc \vc to r.lndcrst:lrrcl of bcgin our exilnlinirtion dcath and rcsrrrrection?-lb throtrgliOhrist'.s otr of to tl)c teaching St. (ircgory l)alrtlnas lct rhis rlucstion, us tctunr St. nlan'sflll. As rvill bc recallcd, (ircgory taught tlrat' rhrough Aden.ri ,rtr both sPirirutl .lnd phvsicll clcathwerc passc.l to onc spiriruxlclc,rrh, of rrll nrcn.'l'he slmc Saitrt, hou'cvcr,:rflirnrcd tliirt ir is lrv tne,rtrs is destroycd.H.- exclceth-(lhrisis cleath-that thc Powcr of death plains ther, as spiritual ,rntl physiceldearh cntcrctl the world throLrgh Arlanr'sonc spiritual tlctrlt, so borh kincls of dc'arh xrc ovcrconle nt through Ohrist'sot'tc ltLlsi l rlc.nhantl His stlbscqtle rcstlrrcctlon:
1'tSt. lfrrsilrl.,c llur (itd l: Nor tlt ()usc ol |:iil7tin()n Crctr, lhntil.y l:).t2laiDins (.loulitrott, '-i. tlu lluu,ttt 1t. 6i

THF_ ORTHOI)()X\(ORt) 'I dcath hroughthc evilone'.s envyirncl goodl.ord'.s conscnt, the iust cvil, inro rhc rvorld.Bccausc thc dcvills of ovcrwhclrning dcath canrc but bccanrc rwoft>ld, he broLrghr fbr rbour not iustphysicrl rlsocrernaldcarh.. .. spirituirl dcath,so Of necessiry bodilv dcrrh fbllowcdlAdam'sl -fhe bv our rhc cvil onc causccl doublcclcarh his singlt'dc,rth.... o[ good l-ord hcalcdthis rwofbl.l cle,rth ours through His singlc rhc of boclily delrh,:rncl throrrgh one resrrrrcction His bodv Hc gavc Bv us a rwotblclresurrcction. mcansof His bodily tlearhHc destrovedhirn Ithc cvil onc] who had thc powerovcr our soulsirncl bodics death, in lnd rescuccl frorn histyrannvoverboth.r'" us Out of His inflnitc krve Forrrs,(lhrist died on our behalf thar we could be given ctcrnal lifc, borh ofsoul and ofbody. In the words ofSt. Paul: "(lod denronstrlresHis own love toward us, in th:rt, while we were yet sinners,Christ diecl fbr us" (Rom. 5:8); and, "But rvc seeJefor sus, Wlro w:rsnrldc a littlc lower than the anicls the suffiring of cleath,crowned with glory and honor; that Hc by thc gracc of God should rastcdcarh fbr every man" (Hcb. 2:9). mysteryof His redemptionof the world, Spcakingof thc awesonrc "'l'he Son of Man camc . . . to givc His lilc as Christ rold His tlisciples: il rrnsonrft,r nrarry'(M:rrr.20:28). '''l'his imageof Clrrisr giving up His lifc es ir ransonr was larer takcn up by the Apostlc Paul (e.g., "Christ Jcsus,Vho g:rveHirnselFa ransom for all"-l Tim. 2:5-6) ln Sr. anclby the Orthodox Holy F-athers. thc following passagc, John
1", Sr. (iresorv l',illtns, lTonily l(r.1. l5; in Honilit, vol.l. pp. lti0, 191r. l'i (lhrisr's tli*ine fbrckno*lcclgc thet His .le,rth worrl,l servc fbr mitn'.s sitlvltion of on finclscxprcssion clsovhcrcin thc Gospcls.Spc:rking H is Llcath the (lross,(lhrist s;ritl, But I hlvc l blprisnr to bc b:rptizctlwitlr; ancllrorv I lnr strlircncd tili rt bc ecco r n plishct ll"(l.L rkcll:50 )r"A s M os c s lilt c dr r pr hc s c r pc nr int h c *i l d c r n c s s , c v c n s c r rnust thc Son of Jt{anlrc lificd up, thrt *4tosctcr bclicvcth in Hinr shouki not lxrish, l x r t helccternel lifc" (Joh n.l:l1r I 5) ; and, on t hc dav bc t br c H i s c r u c i f i x i o n . " N o r v is lvly soul trouLrlcd; end rvhat shall I sayi Flthcr. slvc Mc lionr this hotrr'? llut tirr rh i s c ausccanrc I rrnro this h or r i ( J ohn | 2: 27) .

cllllAl liD lN I N( )()Rll'ul'l'l( )N Danrasccne nrakes use of this image, adding to it thc inrage of Christ's body as bait arrachcd ro rhc hook of Diviniry: lhr S i nccorrr I-ol d JcsLr(s isr waswit hot t r sin ( "For He com r nir t cdno sin, Hc Who took lrv:ry thc'sin of thc rt'orld, n.rr lu,tstllcrc irlrv dccci t frrundi n His nr out h" [ cf . ls. 5- ] : 9,John l: 29] ) . Hc was not subjcct to clelrh, sinccclclrh clnrc inro the world rhrotrghsin (cf. I{onr. 5: I 2). tlc clics,thercf.rtc,bccltrscHc rtxrk on Ilinrsclf dcilth otl our behalf, and He mrl<es Himsclf rn oflering ro the Fathcr firr our sakes.For we had sirrned agrinst Hinr, atrcl ir w,ts nrcct th:rt He bc thLrs dclivercd slroul<l rcccivert ransom firr tts.rnd rhrr we shotrlcl fronr thc condcnrttlriotr. (iotl tbrtrid thlt rhc blood of rhc Lord .htxrld hrvc bccn oflcrcd to thc tyr:rnt Ii.c., rhc clcvil] Vhcrcfbre and swallowingLrprhc troclyas a bair is transflxcd tlcrrh approrches, ancllifc-givrng on rhc hook of l)ivinity, and aftcr trsting of r sinlcss botlr', pcrishcs,and brings tr;r again all whom of olcl he ha.l swrllowcd Lrp. For just its darkncssclislppcarsotr thc introdrtcrion olof bcfbre rhc assattlr lifi, and brings lifi ro light, so is dcarh rcptrlsed al l , btrr dc,rrht o t hc dcst ( ) yer r '( ' In the preciscly satne vein, St. (!regory Palanraswrites: 'l'hc l.ord patiently endurcd krr our srtkcr dcath l-lc wrs nor obligcd to undcrgo, to rcclecntus, who rvcreobligcd ro strffcr cleath,fi,rnr dcarlrborh of rhc scrvirudcto rhc dcvil ancldc,rth.by which l trrc,rtr [1is sorrl ,tnd of the lrodv, tcrnpor:ltv ,ttrtl crernirl.Sincc ]1c g.lvr.' ls Ulood, which wls sinlcssan<ltltcrcfirrcgtriltlcss, l ransom firr us of bcc.rr.rsc ottr sins, Hc rc.lccmc.ltts rvho rvcrcliablc to pLtnishrnctrt fiom or.rrguilt. Hc forglvc our sins, torc up tlre rccorclof thcm rrn thc (l ross rn d dclivcr ct l us f r ot l t hc dcvil's t yr anny ( cf . O ol. 2:14_15).-I'hcdcvil wascaughrbv thc b:tir. It wls:ts ifhc opcned his

() p. 71. l'u Sr. l:t,ttt li7otitiou ).27: Nl'NI; 2rrrl Scrics.vol. f,)hn l)anresccnc.

68

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'l H l.l()Rl IIOD()X \V()Rt) thc ransonl, Mlsto Inourhirn(llrlstcnctl pour out lttr hirnselfotrr btrr tcr'sRlood,rvhichwasrrot onlv gttilrless firll of [)ivinc powcr. 'I-hcn insrclclof bcing enlichcrlbv ir hc rvrs stronglvbound tnd r in of nrlclcln exrrrrl',lc rhe(]ross Ohrist. 'furthcr highlights this teachingwith atr irttSt. John Ohrysoston') rrgcof lr is owr.r: bc of Ir is as if, at r scssion ,r court ofiusricc,the clcvilshor.rlcl ltl"Granred all rhlt yott destroyed mcn lrcclttsc vort tlrcssecl follows: as Is why did vou dcstroy Chrisr? ir not lound thcm guilrvof sin;btrt Well thcn, throughHim thc vcry cvidcnrthar you did so trnjtrstll'? wholcworldrvillbc vindicrtcd."'''* rhc From theseand other Parristicexpositionsbasedin ScriptLrre, ()rrhodox doctrine of mirn'sredemption throrgh (lhrist's tleath and rcsurrccrionmight be briefly stated as follows: Dearh is the consequenceof sin. Vhen Christ died on the Cross, Hc took upon HimHowever,since He was wholly withour sin He self this conscclucnce, rv:.rs undcscrvingof tlcath, atrd since He rvas[)ivine He was utrableto bc hcld in rhe bonds of dcarh and hades.Thus, the spirittraland physical clcarh thet had cnrcrcd the world rhrough thc prirnorclial death ancl rcstlrrectton, wcrc abolishecl through Christ'.s rransllrcssion qiven thc grossibility bcing delivereclfiont was of ,rrrtl all rnernkincl tnctTt.

ct{ltA l l|l) IN tNc()t{RLtpt't( )N

I'hc Cornmonalitl of'Hunnn Naturc as lt Relatesto Rricnption 'l'hc conseqrrenccs ol'Chrisrls reclerrrptive work corrlclpxss ro rll t'ttcnbcc:lrsc-:rs we havc trotcd concerning thc conscqucnccs rlte of flrsr Adanr'.s sin-hurnan naturc is one. 1-heAposrlcPaLrl rvritcs:"lI bv one nran'.s offcnsc tlcath reigncd by onc Irhat is, Adanr], rluch morc thcy which rcccive;rbuncl:rnce ofgraceand of rhe gift ofrighrcousncss shall rcign in life by one, Jcsus (ihrist" (Ronr. 5:17). Sr. John (lhrysostonrcolrnrcnrs on rhis vcrseand orr rhosebefirrcantl irficr ir, cxplaining why St. Paul rcpcrlrs rhc word "onc" nrlny rinrcsin his cxpositionof redcmprion: How did dc.rthreignl'Alicr thc sinrilitudc Arhrn'.s of rransgrcssitrn, who is I rypc(;rjrog)of Hinr Who wrs ro cornc"(l{onr.5: l4). Now "How.r tvpc?" will besaitl. rhisis why Adanrisrrtypeo[(ihrisr.rr" it In rhlr, irstheforrncr bccancro thosc whowcrcsprung fronrlrinr1arrhorrgh theyhad not e:rrcn ofrhc rrec)rhccausc ofrhar dclrh rvhich lrr'lriseatingrvusirrrrotluccti, rhus:rlso (lhrisr bcconrc rhosc dicl ro spnrng (cvcnrhoLrgh hadrrorwrouglrr Ir.orrr Hirrr thev rightcousness)
| ''- l l t c f r c t r h r t S r . I) :r r r l ,.r r r d a l tcr h i n r Sr . Jo h n C h r vso sto n r sl w Ach r n u s i r 'i vy.r c' . (ligrrrc)ol (ihrisr does not ol courscinrpll'rh;rr rhcv did nor llso scc hinr es I rcitl pcrlhc ()lrhodox Cihurch has rlrv:r1's lic.rvccl ccrrail ()kl listrtnrcnr ligtrlcs rrntl 'on. cvcnts:ts'\vpcs" of rhc Nc*, li.stenrcnr disPcrrsurion rvhilc.rlsorrBllnrincthcir hisroric.rl rclliry. 'l hus. in lnothcr pl.rcc.Sr. l)lul rvrotc conccrnirg ccrtlrin evenrsin rhc ()Ll It'st.rnrr:nr:Norv:rll rhcsc things hlppcncd ro thcnr ls rvPcs,und rlrcv $,ere rvrittcn for our adnronirion" (l (ir. l0:ll). In sitvingtlur rhcsco,cnts ltapprnul t trlrcs.tnci thcn rvcre rvrirtcn dorvn (rarhcr then lrcing nrcrclv u,rirrcn cklvrr .rs trlts ), St. I)lrrl is :rflirnring th:rt tvPologv cxisrsllrsr of .rll in hisroricalcvcnrs.enci thcn also in thc rvrirrcn rvord. 'I hc Flolv l:arhcrs s:nv \ypcs" of()hrist not only in Adenr but :rlsoin Abcl, Iseac. loscplr,Nloscs, Joslrrn rhc son ofNun. [):rvid lntl othcrs,ur rhc s:rnrc tinrc rcglrclirrg thcrn us rcul pcoplc rnd rhc ()ld-li:srenrent accoun(sol-rhcnr us lrisroric,rl. his ln (,onmrutary on thc l\, ns, Sr. lohn Chrysosron)wrorc on rhc nccd to rrphoLl rhc hisroricelnrcirningol Scriprurc rvlrcrra rvpologicalnrcaning is elso givcn ((.azllor, ttrt, o tlt l\dlt,ti ll'sllnr 91, vol. l, p. t1t5).

y'/oltily 16..\ltn Honilis, vol. l,pp 200-201. St. (ircg,'ry l)'rlanr:rs. LN St. (lhr\'s()s(rnr, (.lntlnMr.1' ot rltt (iqel ol St. ./oltn (r7r li(l. vol 4 | folrn () ' 1 5 9 ), p. 132 .(lt. I I'ct. -l:1 8: I ior ( lhr is t , t ls o hat h onc c s r r f l i r c t l f i r r s i n s .t l r c l t r s t lbr rhc Lrnirrst. thirt IIc nright t,ring us to (iod. trcing pttt ro dcrth in rlre flesh. btrt bv .lLrickcncd rhc Spirir,' us u'ell :rsthc firlbrvitrg vcrscfiorr thc scrvicefirr the tcrlst lrv of contlentnltiorr is loosccl thc tlnof thc lixllritt iott ofrhc ( lross:"'l hc cLrrsc e iLrst jrrsrpunishnrcnt inflictcd on the.ltrstli.e., (lhrist] (sricheron on 'l.ortl I lrever:ric<|"' in Il,, [:tst,t/ tlluniorr, p. l-34).

l'

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-l Hh ()l{l H()tX)X \(iOltl) thich throLrghHis Cross l{c grarhe Providcrtlfrhat rilihtcotlsncss otr ciotrslybcstowccl rts:tll. Ilor this rclsotr,lt cvcly ttlrn hc kccpsto "As bringing it bcfirrc tts' whcn hc'says, thc "one," lnd is continr'rallv " l frhrough by o treman s it rc nt c r c din to th c w o rl c l "(l { o n r' 5 : | 2 )l a n d' rhc offcnscofonc nrlny lrc clcad"(5: l5); and, "Not ls it rvls bv onr so rhat sinnccl, is thc gifi" (5: l6); ancl'"'l'hc iuclgnrcntwasbv onc to ofcondcrlnation" (5: l8)l and lg:rin"'lf bv onc (or, thc onc) nran's fcnscclcrth rcigncrlby onc" (5r l7); rnd " l'hcrcfbrctrsby rhc olli'rrse Ilrtrv (or' ofonc" (5:18). And again,"As bv onc nrrn'sdisobcclicncc (5: thc rnany)werc n:tdc sitrtrcrs" l9). And so hc docsnot lct go ofthc "one," so that wlrcn the.lcrv savsto yott, "llow came it rhat by rhe well-doing of this onc I'crson. (lhrist, thc world wrs saved?"yot' of rnighr be rble to sayto hinr, "How carrc it that bv thc disobedicncc world was c,rndcmncd?"rt" rhis onc pcrsotr,Adlm, rhe

CRE.ATED INCORRUPTION IN in which man first experienced rhem. Sr. Symeon rhe New Theologian just as Adam experienced teaches rhar, first spiritual death and later physicaldearh,so likewiseChrist first overcame spiritual death in His own Person when He "resurrecred broughr ro life. and deified" the up, human soul ar His incarnation,and then He later overcameohvsical tt death in His Personat His resurrection.' St. Sy-.on go., on r"y rhat the sameorder of redern - rhe ption-firsr of the soul and then of body-was observed rhosewho had died beforeChrist; for, immediin ately afrer Christ'sdearh and while His body lay in the tomb, His soul "descended into hades, freedthe soulsofthe saintsheld captiverherein cverlasting bonds, raisedthem up, and esrablished rhem in a placeof restancl of light without evcning-bur nor yet rheir bodies,for those Hc allowed ro remain in the graveuntil the GeneralResurrecrion."r5r Finally, St. Symeon teaches, rhis order of redemption is also obscrvedin the life of eachChristian. Man is firsr spiriiuallv resurrecred in thc (lhurch through rhe Holy Mysteries rhar ha,rebeen made possrblc throLrghChrist's redemptivework, and only later does he expericncc the physicalresurrecrion that Christ hasalso made possible. "The beginningof our renewal."wriresSr. Gregory Palamas, rhe is Mysrery of Holy Baptism, wherein we are cleansedof sin rhrough (lhrisis sacrifice rhe Cross.St. Gregorywrites: on Christ roreup the handwriting ofour rransgressions rhe Cross nn and madeguilrless rhosewho wereburied wirh Him through all Baptism.rt'

on specificelly how the consequcnccs St. Cyril of Alexandriaspcaks of of Chrisi's death on the (lross, likc the conse<luences Adarris firll' wereable to passto all nren duc to thc uniw oFhtllnan naturc: 'Wewerccruciflcdwirh Christ at rhc nlonlcntwhcrl His flcshwas human naturctn includeduriversal it bccausc sontehow crucificd, of thc just asuniversal naturccontracred sickncss the hunratr itself, lsl thc timc thar he incLrrred cttrsc in curse Adlnr at thc same 'l'ha Ordar of Redetnptio (l): Spiritual Resutrettion ln Chrisis itrcarnltion, death and resurrection'a// the conse'fhcse consc<lttcnces, are however, not of quences the fall arc overcome. to nu"r.unt. all at once,but in a ccrtain ordcr, correspondingi rhc ordcr
rt(' Sr. ront,Honilies on l?onor lll l'() 60:475t|(l; cf NPNl-' lst ScJolrrrOlrrysos vo l . l l , p . 402. r ics, Isr Sr.Cyril of Afcxrn,Jria, ott )otrtrrtcttt,tt7 Ronutu; l'O 74:796 6 Auiet Cltristiot (irovc' lll : lntcrVtrsitv vctl.6 ([)orvncrs ott Sctipnrt, Ncu,'lestrrunt' Oottntcntaty l9 I)rcss, 9 tl ),p. 159

r'r St.Symcon New TheologianEtbicql rhe Dirourses .ll SC l2l:100; cf, Oz r/,,a I , tr(ystitalLife, vol. l, p. .1-); FinrCreatedMan, p.98. ltr lbid.; SC 122:200;c(. On thc Mysucal Lfe. vol. t. p. 33:, FirsrCreated Man, p. 99. fhi s teachi ng fou ndin r hecpisr les Sr s.Per er and ul ( l Pet . . l: 18- 19, 4: 6; is of Pr Ephcsians 4:8-10). St. John Damascene afllrmsrhar rhe SaviorbeeanHis descerrr inro hell "assoonasIHe] said,'lr is finished' (Johnl9:.10). .rnddarkrrc.. covered had rhe carrlr"(St.John Danascene, Hotnil on Hol Santrday pG 96:625D-(t28A). 26; rraSt.GrcgorvPal:rmas, Honily l(t.35:in Honilies, vol. L p. 204.

'l lIll olll tl()D()X WOlll) (lhrisr' thtrspartakingof thc In Blprisrl, we clicand rre btrriedwitlt 'l'hus' tlle Apostlc ,"ui,.rgpot"", of His dearh which freestts frotn sin' into l'aul *iitcs: "Know ye nor' that as mltlv of us as were baptiz-cd 'l'hcrefbre we rrc buried with (lhrist were baptire.l into His tlc'ath? with Hinr' . H inr by beptism into death.. . OLrr old man is crucifled (r:'1-4'6)' As St' John (llom tl,rt rh" body ofsin nright bc clesrroyecl" (lhrysostornexplains: \Whattlrc(lrossrtntlburialis to ('hrist' [3irpis Brtptistrr thc (lross.rtt dicd For tisnrh". t ccn lo tls, cvcrtif not in thc sitnlcrcsPccts Hc ro sin ''" doncboth in was Hinrselfantl br'rriecl the tlcsh'but we htrvc with The Mystery of Baptisnr,howevcr, does not only nteln dying 'l nc'w lifc hc Christ; it ,1r., nt""'ts rising with Him arrd being givcn by l]aptisnr Apostle Patrl afflrms: "-l'hercfbrcwE:rrc lruried with him thc glory into.lcath, that like asChrist was raisedup fionr the dcad by life" ' ' Norv ii of witlk irr newtrcss of the Father,evenso we alsoshoulc{ that wc shall also livc wirh Hini' we be deatl with Christ, we bclicve (Ronr. (r:4, 8). And egain:"Buricd with Him in baptism' " ye ltrc (lod' Who hetlr ,iren *ith Hirn through faith in rhc oPcration of silts rnd thc raisedHim fiont tlre dead.An<t you, being dead in yotrr with Him' of tuncircttnrcisiotr your flesh,hatlr lle nlrrdealive topicthcr of heving tbrgiveny.ru tr"rp*.r.s, havingwipcd out thc handwriting "ll and rook it ."quii,rt"i,, that ..a,,againstus, which wascollrrary to Lrs' otri of the way, nailing it to His Cross"(Col' 2: I 2 I 4)' sottl -l-his soirituel rcsurrectiollin Christ is rhc urliting of tlrrrn's is clcalrsctl matt oncc again *ith thc grlcc of the Holy Spirit' BccaLrse
li5 l',lscwhcre John Ohryscrsrortt obscrvcsthat irot onlv is l]rrPtismcrllccl drc St. (lross is callcclllrrptisnl 'With rhc lraptisntrh:rt I ern lxprizecl wirlr (lross, trut thc ttr (M.rrk l0:l')), sricl(lhlistr rrrrditgrin: llrrt I lrrtvc'r lrirptrsnt be shellvc bc brgrrizc.l' (Lttlc | ):ilJ)" (Connato'.y'ou tfu Ootlr'l ol St' t'rrprirc.l *itl,'rvlrich yc knorv not vol. l4 p tl9)' l,titt 25.2;cf. NI'NI lst Scries' r i , ' S r. John (lh rysr* ron , Ilont iliet on llt t lr , lir l0; Nl' NI j. ls lS c r i c s r r r l l I 'p 4 {) 5 '

(lllhAl-lrt)IN lN(l()lLRljPl l()N of sin in Holy Baptisrnrhrough Christs rcdcmprivesacrificc,gr.rccis no Ionger fbrcign ro his nltLrre,lrrd hc beconrcs fit receptaclc thc a of Holy Spirit. l'htrs,in rhc Mystcryof Baprisnr, with rhe M1'stogcrher tcry of Chrisnratiorrrhat follows upon it, man receives graccofrhc thc Holy Spirit as he had ir bcfbre rhe prinrorclialf'all.In rhe words of Sr. ,fohn Chrysostom: 'l hisis rhcmclningof"rhcSpirir lifir'(2 Clor. givcth In .1:(r).... Baptism the sirrs buricd,rhc fbrmcrrhings blorred urc arc out, and nran is nradc rlivc. thecntircgracc wrirterr upon his heartls ir wcrca rab, ' lcr.( irrrsitlcr rhcnhovv highis rhcrlignirv rlrcSpirir.ri of St. Syrlcon rhe Ncw'l'hcologiancxpllins how lhprisnr, togethcr rvirh (lhrisrrration,is both a dearh antl a rcsrrrrection nrln, borh fbr olrsinsrrnd irnparting ro hirl thc gmcc ofthe tlr.rnringnrrrnlorgivcness lkrlv Spirir rhrr hc hed losrat the fall: lhc SonrrndVord of(lod, havingbeconrc incarnate, offcrccl Himrclf in rhc flcshasa srcrifice rhc l)iviniry ofthc F:rrhcr, of rhc to and \on l"{inrsclf, of thc tJol1, ancl Spirir,in ordcrrhrr rlrc' fir.st rrirnsgrcssion of Adrnr nrighr be bcncvolcntly fbrgivcnfbr rhc s:rkc this of anclti':rrful grc:rr work,thrrris, firr thc sake of-this sacriflcc of(lhrisr, anclin order rhar by irs pou,crrlrcrcnrighrbc perforrrrccl another ncw birrh lncl rc-crc:rrion nranin Holv Ilaprisnr, rvhichrvcalso of in rrc clcirnsccl wlrer nringlcd bv wirh rhc Ilolv Spirir.Fronrthur rirrre pcoplcrle baprizcd warer, imrrrcrsccl ir and rlkcn our f'rorrr in :lrc in it rhrcc tinres. rhc inragc in ofrhc'thrcc-day burirrl ofrhc l.ortl,anrl rficr thcytlie in ir to thiswholecvil rvor.lc1, rhc rhird bringingout in fronr it rhcyurclllerdv rrlivc, if rcsurrccrcd ls fiom rhc,.lcad, rs. rhrrr rhcirsouls brouglrt lifi' .rndrrgain lrc ro rcccive grtccol-thcfrory rhc Spirit as Adam hati ir bcfbrc thc trlnsgrcssion. hcn rhcy arc I
i5- St.J,,hn (lhrvsostonr,Houilir'sot Saorul (.oriultiaus6): NI)Nli, Isrscrrcs,vol.

12.p. .107.
75

71

l'Hu ()RI tl()l)()x \7()l{t) with icwith Holy Mvrrh' andby rlcansof ir areanointcd anointcd .n in sus(lhrist,atrdarcfragrant a w,rvllrovenittlre St. Symcon then writes of how those who are baptized and chrismatedinto Christ'sChr.rrchare united to God through the Holy H,ucharist: of in Havingbcconrc rhisrvavworthvof bcingassociarcs (iod' rhcv of and drink His Blood.and bv nreans rhesanctiflccl His Iilesh t:rstc rnd Bloodwith (lod rVho w:rs of rvinebecomc ttnc Bodv brcad,tncl ,rs,r sacrifice.r-" Hinrsclf inclrnlte anclofferccl of sPeaks how we partakeo[ In a similar vein, St. Nicholas (labasilas ()n the Clross when reccivingHoly OomChrist's redemptivesacrifice munion; thc Since,thcrcfore, ()nlv BcgottcnSotr hrs lefi nothing trnclonc gkrry,Hc:rlonc"hasbrokendown the ro which pertains thc Father's (Eph 2:14)anclclcars man from his indictmiddlcwallof division" sin against and H is Bodvrhcn is rheonlv medicine rrcnt... . (lhrist'.s 'l-hisis thc Bodyrhat was fronr oflcnscs... Blood the only rans,rnr l)ilate"it beforcPontitrs ln slain upon thc Clross..., its "wittress 'I'im. (r:l-)): ir paid thc pcnaltvof (cf. '!r,rde a good confessiort" I and dcarhfor this conf'cssion, rhat upon the (lross. l'he Blood thc darkcned sun and shookthe carth; out springing of thc wouuds world clcanof rhs filth of thc ir hallowcd air rncl wrshcdthe rvhole sin. ""' 'l l.rerefore, concludcsSt. Nicholas,
lssSt.Svmcon Ncw -l-he Man, pp.4647' oloqiin. Firsr-(lrurat thc '5" Ib i d ..p . 47. l('(' NicholrsCrrbrrsitrs, t'ili in ()hriit: I'(i I 50:5lt9(l-59lAr in idcrrt //''r' 7/z' St. 1974) p 120' l)rcss. N.Y.:Sr. VlltlinrirsScntinrrrv I.ili in Christ \C,rcsrvttxrd, 76

(ll{liAlhl) lN IN(:()l{RtJP.l l()N 'l'hc hbors anclrelrsof rhosc who repenr ofsins afrcrrhe blprisnral rvrrshing plcadfor grace rncl standin nccdof rhc lllood of rhe Ncw (lovcnrrnt and of the Body rvhichrvasslain,sinccrhcv lrhc labors and tcrrslareof no availwirhourrhcnrIthc t]odt,:rndl]loodj.r,'r

Elsewhere Nicholasaffirnrsr[]at, in thc Holy F.ucharist, alsoparSt. wc take of Christ'.s resurrcction, since "we rcceiverhc Riscn Onc Himsclf ... the very BencfactorHirnsell',thc vcrv Ienrple whcrcorr is fbrrnclec rhc wholc conrpass gr,rccs.""" of Spirirualrcstrrrcctiorr (lhrisr-thc trniting of rlan'.s in soul rvirh [)ivinc grlcc-rcopcns rhc wr;'ro dcificarion wlrich had bccn closcd t() rniln ilt rhc fill.'l'hrorrgh(,ur rltcir livcs,()rrhot|rx (lhrisrians r<> arc grow toward l nrorc firll tlciflcirrion,a nrolc pcrfccr parriciprrion in (irxlls lifi'.'l'his grarriciparion (lod is ncvcr ro cnd, bur passcs in irrro cvcrl;rsting spiritual life in the Kingclonrof Heaven. As rvill be remembered,mankind had beencur ofFfronr both parldisc urrrl lrcavcn at the flll. Now, through Christ, both havc becn opcncd again to man. Vhen parrcd lrorn thc body rrr dcirth, rhc souls ol thosc rcclccnred Chrisr rrot only p:rss l)aradise, by ro which St. John l).rrrrirsccnc dcscribcs "luxrrrilnt wirh evcr-blooming as plants,fillcd rvirh fr:rgrance, flooclecl wirh lighi';'''' bur thcy alsoprrss hcaven,thc ro pl.rcc which rhe angclicpowcrs in dwell,r"'andwhich is irlso clcscribcd .rsa place fllled wirh light. -fhLrs,as Sr. Orcgory of Nyssaproclaims, through (ihrist's rcclenrptive work l)lr:rclisc, evenheavcn itsclf,is:rccessiblc nran;lnd rhc crcarron, ro both of thc world and lbove rhc r.r,orlcl, rvhichlon{lirgolvls scr :rr vlrirncc wirh itsclf,is flr roge'rhcr fiienclship; in and rvc nrcn arc

r"r lbid.; I,C 150:5ttlA;in lfu Lifi in (:l,i\t |1)74), p. ll.1; ct. Nell:rs. I)rrft.,lta,r iu Chritt, p. | 26. l (" S t. [)rrnrrr sccnc, t t l: ir posit ior 2. 1l; lr ( ] , vol. . ] 7. p. 2. ] 0. I : *t Jrrfrrr r'" lbid. 2..1: 2{)ti. p.

'l tll: OlLfHOI)()X \(/()RL) song, offiring thc $orshiPof thcir Prarse madero ioin in rhc rngels' (iod. "'' to dcath realmswerc opcttetlto mirn riihtefter Christ'.s heseblcssed bodily rcsurrccrion;fbr, ls we havc scctr' it wits lntl cven belore His thern to thc rightcousfroni hltlcs:rtrd rirised rhen rhat Christ delivered "a placcof restand of light."""' As Sr. NicholasCrrbasilas explains,Hc licccl thenr from spirittraldeath by mc:rnsof His bodily dcath: \Whcnit rv:tsnccessary thc clltrivcsof haclcs sct frcc' ]lc lre thllt bttr or [(ihrisr] did n()t cntrustthis rvork ro angcls :trchangels' He tlratrhccapSince rvrsfirtirrg it inro dcsccndcd thrt prison. ll inrself grrruitotlslv' hut bv bcing rantivcs shoulclnor rcccivcfrccdonr [{is I sonrcd, Ic sctthcnrfrcelry slrcddirlg blootl.r""By nothing elseexccptthe clcclarcs: l-hus, as St. John Danr:rscenc (lhrist has . . . hadcsbcen plLrndered . . landl (iross of our l.orclJesus . 'I'he slmc teachingis proclainretlin opcned.""'t tlrc gatesof Paradise of rhc Divine serviccs the ()rthodox Church, ,rs for example in the 'l-hird Strntlayof Cireat Kontakion for the Srrntlayof thc Cross (the the by Lent), conrposccl Sr. -l'lreoclore Srudite: of (cf. thc No longcrdocsrhe flarringsworcl (len .]:24)gtrard gare by <lttcnchc.l thc wood of thc Fldcn,lor it hrrsbecnnrirlculotrsly (lross. lhc sringi ofdcarh rnd thc vicrorvofhadeshavebcenabolcryirtgro thoscitr hadcs, ishcd,fbr'l'hou didst cornc,nlv Savior' r"" "L)nrcr againinto ['arrclisc." 'I

cr{ltA ._DIN INCORTIUp f l()N ()nc of rhc first ro bc r:riscdro I)aradisc was a persor)who war clc:rrlv rrnworrhy, but who ncvcrrhclcss believcclin (lhrist and was thcrcby redecnrcd rhrough His death.'l-hiswasrhe repcnrantrhicfcrucificclalong with Christ, ro whom (lhrisr s.rid,"'lbday shalt thoLrbe with Me in l)aradisc"(l.uke 23:43). Also rrnong rhosc who rvcrc brought ro Paradisc and hcavenwere Adam and Eve,who, in thc ()rthodox icon of the "harrowingof hell," lrc dcpictcdbeing pullcd out of rhe dark regionsby Ohrisr. 'l'hc

Order oJ'Redtnption (l/): P/rysiatl Resurrtttiott

Vhat we have describcd is only rhc flrsr kind of resurrcction-spirirual resurrccrion-rhar has becn nrrde possibleby Ohrisr. Thc scconclkind-physical resurrecrion-will occur ar thc Scconcl Coming rhrough the savingpowcr of Christs resurrecrion. l'his rccords with the order of rcdcmptiorr ourlincd by Sr. Syrneonabove.As St. Symconpoinrsour, while Christians rpiriarr tu:rlly reborn and unitecl with (iod in rhe (lhurch, thcv still cxpcricnce phvsical death and corruprion. In rlre clsc of sorne sirrlrrs, Irowevcr, God grantsa certain rclirtiveincorrul.rtion thcir bodicsaf'to rcr tleath: l-ike iron burning in the firc parrakcs rhc hrter'sbrillilncc anrt of loses dark coloring, irs rhcn,whcn t:rkcrr rwly fronr rhc fbrgc,rurns cold and dark irgain, in f:rc do rhe bodicsof rhc sainrs, rhc so by graccunitedro rheirsouls. parrakc thc Divinc flrc, rnd arcslncof rificcl, ud burn irrclnclcsccnr, becolnc ln.l thernsclves rranslLrccrrr, artdarc rcstorccl nrorccxccllcnr, rrs nrorcprccious fhr,rhln orhcr by boclic's. Whcn, though,thc soul dc;rrrrs rntl is scpararcd fionr rhe body of thc sainr,Ihis bocly]is inrnrc<li:rtely givenovcr ro corrul)rion and bcginsshorrlvro dissolvc. srill, sLrch IJur botliesnrav rem:rin for nrany ycars,ncirher wholly incorrurpr rror lgain <;uirc corruprccl, kccpingyer rhr' indicarions but crrch corruprionlntl of
79

r('i St. (ircs<rrvol Nvss.r. S,'n,ru litr rlu' l trrstol t/'t Liglu l'(l 4(r:(r00Allrcf. ;l v N PN l.2 n d Sc r ic s ,ol. 5, p. 52 4 rr'(' p. 73 abovc. Scc r('-Sr. Nichohs( leb:tsi|rs. Lili in (.llrisr11974), l42-43. pp l/,t r{'sSr. olrrr[):rn.rsecnc, 4 I')xrtrlitTasitiou l lr I(] 94rl ll8l) I l29Al ct. Nl)N[: .f vo lnd Scri cs, l. 9, p. 80. tt"t('.1.I lr ltntcn lj.iodion Il)ilt), pp. 342 4-i. errcl li:rfrcr. \L',;ntlo::liirbcr
7it

'l'H[ ()l{l t]()lX)X \f()Rl) rvhcnrhcy fbr bcing prescrvccl rhc flnel rcsllrrcctiotl irrcorrutption, ' bc shrrll nrrdc;,erfictlvnc*'and incorruptilrlc " rhcn askswhv this is: thlt is, whv, when thc saintshave St. Svrrrcon b1'()od, nrust thev wair rtr spiritual rcstlrrection alrcrtly bccn gr:rntccl ln bc grnnrcclfhvrical rcsurrcction? artsweringthis qucstion' Sr' Svmcon harkcnsblck to thc originll creation'wlrcn the itrcorruptcos,,ru:;*,,r; nraclcfirr incorrLtptman to c vell in Having alreadyesrablished that trtan'sconditiotl tlltlst corrcsPonclwith rhat of his be tbar tll:lll crll.lllot rcstoredto pcrSt. crrvirontt'rct'tt, Synteonot,scrues fcct physical incorrugrtiontlntil the rcst of crcltion is raised to that st:rteaswcll: and bc shotrld rcstorcd nladcinboclics lr wusttot litting rhirrnrcn'.s as lnstcad' ol-alltlrccrcatiorr' iLtst the tlrc bctirrc renewirl corruptible anclrhen ls incorrrtpr' into cxisrcncc cleltcdworl,lwirsflrstbrortglrt it is crcationwhich nrttsrfirst lrc rranstbrnted latcr,nran,so ag:tin I into incorntpltiotr.r frotl corrrtption that all thc fiuits ofClhrist'sinelr'It is in thc (lencral Rcsurrcction lre nirtion,tlcltlr attclrcsurrcctiotr to lrc firlly revcllccl'At that tinre' bc"firstfruits of thosc clrrsc (lhrist :troscfrom rlrc deacl,becoming thc of ( wh<lh:rvefhllenasleep" I Cor. l5:20)' thc ttnnatttrll scprlration tlre soul fiom the body at delth, which bcpiln at the Rrll,will be overcomc physicallifc in everlastitrg and man will expericnce fbr all mankin<1, "-l-he dc;rd bodics that havc beetr nratle once aeaitr incorruptible''-t
1-rl Svnrcon Ncw l hcolosielt, llthiotl l)irotrrttt l ll S(l l12:2{)2 4: cl oa rhc St. tl,,.lvlytintl Lili'. vol. l. p. 34r l:irsr'OrcttcdMtt, pp' 99 lt)0 t-r 1i1r14 tfu MyttiLr l,ifi, vol. l. p. j5r cl l:irst'(.nuel lvfun' 1t' \llll' ; 7)11 r-rVhilc elt pcopiervill bc rrisccl incorruPtiblc rncl inrrntrrtrlbodies not 'rll in 'l lrrrsc (ihrists gili t'I sirlvltiorr bc will who rcccive blesscdncss. will cnjoycucrlasring rvhilcthoscrvho rcicctir will be restrrlilc. as(ihrist savs; unto ctsrnit ,".,,r.".,.'r.1 (lebesiLls this clttcicletts as (ct r!'ctcdunt() tl,rnrn.trion John 5:29). St Nichohs
150

()N crtF.A Lt) tN INC()RRUp. f shall be raisedincorruptible,"writes rhe Apostle Prrul,"lnd wc shall be changed" (l (lor. l5:52). Moreovcr,as we havediscLrsscd errrlier, the entire visible crearion will be re-crcared:rnd bccomc incorruptible along with nran,sincc it existsfbr rlan'.s slke. 'l lr Rutoratiott of'Incoruption

Adam, it will bc rcmenrbered, was supposedro rlise thc first-crcatcd world closer ro (iod rhrough his own spiritual lscerrr to (locl. Adam failcd in rhis purpose.Not onlv did he flil to raiseup rhc crcation to (lod, lrut through his sin hc llso broughrthe incornrprcrcation down into corruption. l'hercfbrc, the Second Adarn-Jcsus (--hrisr-canrc to rcsrorcwhar rhc flrsr Aclanrhacl losr: LIc canrcro rcstore m:ln to rhc communion with (lod and ro thc incorruprionirr which he lived befbre rhe firll, and ro resrorerhe enrire cosrnosro irs fbrmer stateof incorruption. ln the passage fiom Rornnnsrhat we hirvccliscusscd carlier,Sr. Paul writes of the future :rgeof rhe rencwed,incorrupr crcation which will "l conreinto being after rhe Cicncrll Resurrection: rcckon rhat thc suf'fcrings of the presenttime are nor worthy ro be compared with the glory which shall be rcvealecl us. For thc carnesr in cxpccrarionof rhe cre:rtioncagerlywaiterh for thc manilestarion rhc sonsof God li.c., of thoseredeemed Christl. For rhe creationwas nradesubjccrro firtilby ity, not willingly, but becausc Hirn [God] Vho subjecred lto futilof it ity] in hope Ii.c., in hope of rhe (iener:rlRcsurrccrion]. Bccausc rlrc
lblkrws: " lhc lLcsurrcctionis thc rcsromtionof lhunr.rrrl nrrrrrc. SLtchthin{s (lod givcs frccly, fbr jusr as llc fbrnrs us wirhcxrt Lrsrvilling ir. so llc lirlnrs us uncrv though rvc hirvc conrribLrrcdnorhing to ir. On rhc othcr h,rnd, the Kirrtldonr ilcl t h c v i s i o n o f ( i r x l u n d L r n i o n r vi th ( l h r i sr .r r c j o vs r vh i ch d cp cn d o n r vi l l i n g n css. '[-hcy erc thus possiblcorrlv |<rr rlrosc who hlvc been willing ro rcccivc therr trll hevc krvcd thcnr ancl longccl lirr rhcnr. For such it is lining rh:rt rhcy should cnjov thc plcscncc of thc thinss fbr rvhich rhcv longcd; lirr rhc unrvilling it is rrrrpossr, blc.... Ooc nccd not thcrclirlc nrllvcl rhlr w,lrile,rllwill livc in inrnrorr;rlirv. rs nor rt ( St. i r l l w h o w i l l l i v c i n b l csse cl tr css" N i .h ,,l .r ' ( .r h .r r i l :r s.//,, 1 tl t i tt r l n i st 2 : l '{,) | 5 {) : 5 4 I ( l l ) , 5 4 4 4 cl . l /u l .i /i 'i n ( ) /ti st l l ,) ,-4 ]1 p p . l tI l l l ) . .
dI

ol{f l l()lx)x \col{l) l-Hl-crcarion itsclfelso shall bc tlclivcred fronr the bondagcof corrLtprion libcrty ofthc childrcnof(locl. For wc know rhlt thc inro thc gloriotrs antl trav:rilcthin paitl togcrherutltil now And wholc crcrtiott grorrrreth also' which havc rhc tirsrfitritsof tlre not on11, crcltiotr, bttt ottrsclves groatl wirhitr oursclvcs'waiting fbr rhc the Spirit, cvetr wc ottrsclves of that is, rhc redetrptiotr our body" (Ronr.8: l8-23). acloption, scrtinllfbrrh thc cotnmonPatristic l)opovich, Archinranclrite Justin lsscrtsrhat the libcrofthcsc wordsofrhc ApostlcPaLtl' inrcrprerarion ation of crcatiotrfiont corrttptiott will nrark thc lrcginningof rhe ncw hcavcnlnd new crrth spokcn of lry tlrc AposrlesI'cter anclJohn (cf' 2 I l'et. .J: .ll Apoc. 2l: I ): rllottg aficr hinr' :rnd sin, Bv his prinrorrlial Illltr clrricrl all of ttrtttttc to it surrcn.lcrcd to sl,tverv sin atrdtlclrh' rttldrhc rvholcDivincly ovcrthis'awliring sig,hs rllotlrns and urrcclsitrglv crcrriotr fashioned rvill rvhiclrrhc l,orcl fiont sittrrrd clcath, its libcration Jestrs gratrton ofsalvaccottonty ir day,tr:rtrsfornringby I-lisI)ivine-humln thc l,rst lttcl I ttcu' clrth' "wlrcrcindwcllethrightiotr irrto :r trcw heavctr tlrc scer (l rcousncss" I'er..l:I.l). l'hc (lhrist-vearnitrg of tnYstcrics, end Apostlcof thc rtpocelvptic of thc u'orld rntl of the rrlnsfigtrr:tof trradc rvorthy it spcu'rts St. rion ofcrerrrion, Johnrhe-l hcologilrr' (iocl ro sce fitrr'rre hcavctt newcilrth atrd new rhe of cialrcvclation "And I slu" he savs,,r ncw helvenand ,l ncw c,rrth:fbr the flttt lrvay" (Apoc.2l:ll cf ls' hcl"cn rtrd thc flrst certh *crc lr,rsscd (r5: (r(r:2f).r-1 17, of I;r. Jusrin firrthcr bearsrvitnesstlrat rhe clclivcrance the visiblc arlcl be;rurythar to crcxtion will n\..rk irs rcstollttiol, tl)c incorrttption to it before thc fall, ancl that this will occur by reasonof belongcd of God's restorirtion tnan ro his primordial statc:

cll. liAl t it ) t N t N( r ) RRul, l l( ) N S i nccon rhc [.a sr[ ) a1'sinand t lcar hwill bc abolishcd t hc com ing bv of(,hrist thc Lord, ull of nutulc will ;rlsobc ficed from slavcryto srn and derthr ir will be transfirrnrcd antl rvill lreqin ro shinc with its prirnorclial Ior origin,rl], plcesing,sirrlcss. rrn.l irlnrortrl bcauty,.l'hc resurrcction ofthc dcad will be thc cnd ofdcuth not only firr peoplc, lrur firl lll visiblc nrttrre, which had bccn srrbjcctcd dcarh anclcorro (luc rc thc sin-loving will of irs haughtv lortl. rrrrrn (cf. llom. ruption ti :20). S i n, cvi l, sickncss, deat h- all t hcscar c r hc f ir id, alien scclirrcnts of nran,witlr u h ich hc soilcd and clisfigurcd sinlcss thc flcc ol' nirnrrc. llrt thc l,ortl .lcsus,by thc light of His conring, will wlsh arvay rll rhis fionr rhe bcaurifirl fircc of (locl-crcltcrl anrl [)ivinclv wovcn naturc, rrnclir will atlin bcgin ro shinc in irs sinlcss gooclncss (icn. l:.ll). Lly His resror:rrion arrd ineflirblebcrLrry(cf. ofnran ro thc plirnordirl stltc, thc Lor(l rvill rlso rcstorcnlturc'to its prinror.l di al , si nl css star c ( llonr . U: 21) . hcn not only r vill O hr isr - vcar nr ng of lreo;rle bc "restorcd to rhcir rrrcicrrt betuty" (l:lt,/ogitatia the l huni hhi dt), [ r ut r r lso all of nar ur c- by r hc acr ion of ( io. l's gracc-will throw arvly and cast ofl fronr itsclf all sins, :rll cvil, lll consequences sin and cvil. r r r r rwit h t hcm t lelr h it self . r '' of l 'I lrc Pcnnanent Ddficatiott oJ Mtn and tltr (hsnos

[Jut it was not or)lv to rcstore wlrat the first Atlanr hrtl rrrincd thlr thc Sccond Adarn, our Lorcl Jesus(lhrisr, canre upon rhis eirth. (lhrisr also carne to acconplish what thc firsr Adanr had firiletl to acconrplish. Man, it will lre rcnrcnrbcrccl, hltl tlccn crcrrrcd fi)r dciflcarion. As St. S yrncon the N ew I heologian r vr ir es, if Adanr ancl l: vc had not f ) llcr r , "thc sotrl of'cach woulcl h:rvc bcconrc brightcr," lnd rnln "rvoLrld havc bccn lctl up itr duc timc t() rl nrorc perfi'ct glory ancl transfbrnrirtiorr, draw i ng ncarer ro ( ] od ancl t o t hc r ays which spr ing f r onr His [ ) ivini ry" ' -' A . w e hrvc sccn, t hr oush His r cdenr pt ivc r vor k ( lhr ist has alrcadv grantcd to mun thc possibility to expcricncc such e clciflcarion of

l-r Archirrrrr.llitc.ltrstin

Popovich. Ort/tolor lltilosqth.y of lruh: I)ogn'ttitt, vol' )'

pp.7()5-96.
tr2

r- Ibitl.,pp. 7{)2-9.}. ' [i Srcp. 24 ellrvc.

d1

'| llti ()l{Iltof)()x

\(()ltt)

( ll{LA l lil) lN lN( l( ) lt RLlPll( ) N incornrpr. Ihlt rvhich cornprisesrhc csscnce rhc boc|' rvill risc of incorlupt-that which rlakcs nrv lxrcly nrinc, vorrr bodl yours. lris boclv his, clch onc'.s lrodv Iris own. AIthou{rh rhescrvill bc "spirirLrirl boclics,"thcv will ncvcrrhclcss rhc srrrrcborlics rh:rr diccl lncl irrc bc norv rcsurrccrccl. l'hc slrrre thing rvill occtrl wirh thosc rvhorrr thc (iv^ncral l{csrrrrcctiorr rvill find living on crrrh-thcv will rerrain rhc sunrclTodics, brrr rhcv u,ill rurn from trcinq phvsicalro bcinr: sf iritLralA l l rhi srvill lr . r ppcn r sr r ch r t av r hlt I 'cr eru ill r cnr ainl) cr crir r . ir a his bodv, I)rrul-l'rrrl in his bocL,, and Mrlk l\'lrrk, likovisc in his '" botlr'.| I l ow l re w c to undcr sr and t he ir r collupt ant l spir ir ual bodv of m an bevond thc (l cncr al Rcsr r r r cct ion, plr t icullr lv ir r lighr of our discus-

soul in and through His (lhurch-a tlcification that is ro grow antl bcin con'rcnlore perf-ect thc lifi' ro contc. Itt the (iencrll Rcsttrrcetiotr' soul with his Hc will do more than this: ln reuniting matr's however, clciflcationro nrln's body together trody, Hc will granr an evcrlasting rvith man He will grant unendingdeification u,ith his soul,and llong to the entire cosmos, and thcir interprctatiottby the Farhers, ln thc words of .scripttrre 'l'he u,e can flncl indicirtionsof how this will cornc to pass: Pernlancnt will occtlr tosctherwith tlleir body anclthe cosnros deificationof nran's not onlv incornrpr bLttalsosPirihnl. beccrming 'l'hc of Apostlc Parrlrvrites:"So also is the rcsttrrcctiotr rhe dead. lt lr is sown irr corruptioniit is raiscdin incorrupti<1tr.... is sown a natLta ral bodyl ir is raisccl spiriturrllrodv.'l'hereis a natural body, irnd therc Now rhis I say,lrrethrcn, that flesh and bloocl [rocl1'.... is a spiritLral cilnnot inherit thc kingdom of (iotl; neirhercloth corruption inhcrit incorruption. llchold, I sltow you a lrvstcry; Ve shall nor all sleep,bLrr ln rveshallall be changed. ir moment,in rhc rwinklingof an cye,:rr thc lasttrLtmP;for the trumper shallsouncl,and the deedshall be raisedincorrupriblc,and we shall bc clranged.For rhis corrupriblentust pttt otr (l lncl ir .rcorruprion, this mortll mllst ptrt on imnrort:tlity" Cor. l5:42'

44,50-53\.
reaching,Fr. Justin Popovich notes tlut F.xplicatingthis Par-rline boclicsof all pcople-borh rhoscthlt havedied and those that are rhe still alive at the Sccond (loming of Christ-rvill be changed in the s:rys, srnle way. "'l'hus," l.re lrodics' sirtcc all lll pcoplcwill be nrrdec<1url, rvill rcquirespirittral into ones.Atrtl this n,rtLrral bodieswill be trattsfbrnrccl spiriturrl in rvill occur"in I nromenr, thc ofbocly, this transfornrltion, changc of []v of ru'inkling an cyc,,tt thc llst trurnp." Hora'? thc prorver thc (lhrist, lor He b1'His rlmighrv [)ivinc powcrrvill l.ord rcsrrrrcctcd ":rndthc dcrclsh:lllbc of lcecl otrr ot tleathrll thc botlics thc tlerrtl, will cliccl, rhrt is,rhc [tocl1', rise thlr uhich lras rrrisctl incolluptiblc":
tr4

sion of nran'.s incorrupt bor'lv bcfirrc rhc Rrll?t:;rrlicr wc tluored Sr. Sytnconin sayingthat "Aclanr was cre:rtc<l rvith un incornrptiblc bocl1,, rhouglrone whic h was nratcrial antl on thc wlrolc not yct spirirual," and thrt, if Aclam had not firllen, his "pcrcepriblcancl matcrirl bodv" woukl hrvc bccome"alteredrncl changedinro an inrrnrreriallntl spiri'Ve tu:rlone, into somcthingbeyondsense perception."r alsotluotcd St. MlxinrLrsas sayingrhat first-crerrcdlnan wils, rhrough living I lifi' ofvirtrrc likc that ofthe angels, "bccomels subtlcas spirir"antl "no to longcr ticd to earth by any botlily weiqht."''" Herc Srs..svnrcon rrnd Mrximus arespeaking rclrrtivc of dcgrccs corporcllitv for ls we hlvc of scenthe bodiesofAdam and live in their originll, inct.lrnrpr srnrc,cvcrr rvhilc not havingyet becn altcrcd ro bccomespiritual,tlirl nor htvc rhc qrossernratcrillity or "crxrrscrflcsh" thlt otrr bodics now havc. Sr. Grcgorv of Sinai observes that otrr spirirLral bodies afier rhc (icncr:rl [{csr.rrrcction will in fact corrcsprond wirh tl.rc incorrrrl:rrbocliesof Aclitnrand Evc befirrcrhc fall:
r-r'Archinrerrclritc ()thotloxI'hiloso2lt_y rh: l)osDtlrtiti,vol..l, l'opovich. ol lt frrstin pp. 797 9tl. r-- Sccpp. 10,2.'1 :rbovc. t r Scc .lJ itbovc. P.

lls

l'H Fl()RI'H()l)()X \(/()Rl) 'l hc bodyin its incorrupriblc statc will bc carthv. ir will lrewithbur trlnsmutcdfiom an dcnsitr'. indcscribably out hunrors rrndnrlrcrial bodv (cl I Cor. l5:44), so th:rt rt body inro:t spirirr.rll unspirituirl and subtlcncss lroth carthy ano will bc in its gotllikereflncnrcnt will bc sirrrilar thlr in to whcn ir rvillbc rcsLtrrccrccl lts hcavenlv. state (cl which it wasorigin:rlly crcrrccl llorrr.8:29; Phil. 3:21) rhrotrgh in firllparriciprtion His Divinity.r''' said to be "similrr" to Man's body in rhe bcginning, then, nright Lrc in h is body in the (leneralllesurrcction, that trorhsharethe qualityof rtrat Neverthcless, is only in thc (ieneralResurrection it incorrrrption. antl h uman bodics will be pcrfcctlv and inrrnurablvsgririttraliz-ed -l'hc prorlise of this future contlirion is scen itr the resurdiviniz-ed. rectcdbody of Chrisr. Vhen Chrisr rosefrom the dead,His body was likc thc spiritual to rc body that Adam was supposed attain bv asccnditrg (lod in Paraspiritual body in dise. As we know from Scrigrtrrrc, His resurrcctcd, (lhrist left the ronrb wlrile :r stone still scaled thc door (cf. Matt. while the doors remained 28:2),'*" He entcredrhe room of the :rpostles rnd vanishedat will (cf. l-trkc shur (cf. John 20: I 9), and Hc appearecl r that Hc was not nrerely 24:3 I ). Evcn so, in orcle ro show His disciples a spirit bur lratl risen in the samc body that hatl becn crucified, He 'fhomas to touch his wttutrclsand ate in the prermittedthe Apostle 'l-heophylacrof of presence His disciples(cL l-uke 24:4.1).Illessed Ohrid writcs of this mvstcryas fbllorvs: 'l'his is horvwe ntustuttdcrstltrcl bodyof rhc l,ord afierthc resrhc lt rcflnccl, strarrger all coarscness.nccds a to urrcction: is spiritual, ir nothing,rrorcvcn tirod,alrhoughthc [,ord did clr to cotrflrnrthc
r-') Sr. (ircgorv ol Sirt,ti.()tt (.'otnna wlnent! lt / I)odrird 4(ii cf. I'/tilokal ,vol.4,

(:RttAI't_t) INcOI{Rt.lp. ( )N IN clisciples' belicf.FIcrrc, rrorbecausc rcsurrcctcd His body by irs na, ture necded fbod,but by econom\,, shorv to rhat His riscnbocly w:rs thc samcwhich suflc'rcd the (-ross. on for this is rhe nrrurc of the l,ord'sbodv now: ro cnrcrwhcrcd<xrrs shut and ro pass :rrc cflirrrlcssly fiom onc krcation anorlrer ro Bccausc clisciplcs clidnot rhc srill belicve hlcl not ycr bccnconvincecl bv rouching hlnds and even His and [i'ct, l-lc of'hrsyer lnorhcr proof, rhlt of c:rring. But what Hc c.rts consumcd is bl,sonte [)ivinc powcr, all rhirtis crrren I nlrfbr in ural nranner;r:rsscs rhe morrrh rhcdrain.llur rvharthc [_ord frorn to earshcrc is not lccordingto narurc,irswc havcsaitl,but by ccort omy.'n' Since Christ arosc in a spirirual body, Hc will raisc nrarrkind in such a body ar rhe lasrday: a bodv both incorrupr lnd spirirual. ltLrrthernrore,sincethe restof crcarioncxisrsfbr nran, He will nor onry rcstore it ro incorruprion bur will :rlso makc it spiriruai rogcrhcr with
l l l :l l t.

St. Syrnconwrites of this with illuminaring precisior.r. Having affi nred rhat all creationwill bc rraclc incorrupr along wirh nrln in rhc (lcncrrrl Resurrection jusr as ir was nrldc incorrupt wirlr hirn in rlrc bcgitrning,rtr St. Symeon goeson ro say rhar borh nran and rhe resr of crearionwill alsobe ntadespirirual: 'Ibgethcrwirh Irhc crcation]and ar thc samcrilllc, rhc corruptc<l bodics nrcnrvill be rcncwcd, of suchthar,hinrsclf having lreconrc ar onccspiritual lrrd irrrrrrorral, ntayhave incorrupt, ntan irn and spirirual,and evcrlasring placein which ro clwcll.l-isren rhe Aposrtc ro Pctcr rhcrruth ofthis: "'l'hc dayofrhc l.ordwill conre a rhicf for likc in rhc nighr,,rncl rhcn rhe hcavcns shallburn rnd bc dissolved, trnd rhc clcnrcnrs shrll nrelrirwry wirh firc" (2 I'er..l: I0). l his docsnot
lBl Blcsscd.l hcoplryl.rcr of ()hrid and L\ulttrit, l ltt |l:/,rturtiou of rht l loly (itsptl aoorlitg to St. 1-rfi'(HoLrst'Springs. Mo.: Chrysosronrtrrcss, 1997), p. -i24. rsl Scc pp.49-50. lJOatrove. 67

p. 221.
13"As St. M.rtther" rccor.ls,.tlicr' (lhrist rcsLrrrcctccl lcfi rhc tonrb, :rn rtngcl irnd ''rollcd lreck rhc storrclronr thc.lo,rr.,tn.l sltt Ltponit.''

86

' l H l .:()l { l l l ()tx )x

!(/()R t)

(lRhdlltl) IN IN(t()RRLIP I l()N intntatcrial,sinceaccordingro Sr. Synrconarrcl orher Holy Fathcrs onry (lod in Himsclf is wholly inrmlrerialrncl Lr ncircu rlscribccl: rct:rrron in to Hinr, evcn angelsand human souls a degrecof marerialitv l)ossess rtrrd circunrscritrcd rinreantl sprce.'n'As lrlve scen,rhe rcsurare by rve rected,spirirualbody of Chrisr, ro rvhich St. Synrconlikcns rlan's lrody and the whole cosmosafter rhe (lencr:rl Resurrccrion, was nor cnrircly withour coloc,re;rliw. "

mciln thirt thcv slull be rlcsrroyed,bttr rrrher rc-fitrqedatr.l transc n ru tcd i nt o l gr c lt er : r ndc v c rl a s ti trgo n c l i ti o tr.... Bur rrorvit is time fbr us to cxinrinc horv crcatiottshall be reto ncwcd arrd rcsrorccl its original belury.... rtlthouqlt thcv dissolvc fbr l rintc, tlo trot Jtrst rrs our bo<lies, so' firrcvcr,but u'ill bc rcnervcdagain at thc rcsurrcction, p:lss.lwrry rv i th i n th c nt thl t i s, al l ro o . ru i l l hc , r v c n and c , rth a n d a l l th a r i s of crcrrrion-lrc ntatlc ,rtcrv lnd libcratcd liorn the bondlgc of cor. l' hc s ru p ri o n . c lc m c nt st h c n rs c l v c u ' i l l s h a l cw i rh trs i n that i ncl tru'ay thrtr wc shall lre tricd bv from ,rbovc,and in tlrc s,rnrc dcscerrcc firc, so. nccordittg to thc Apostlc. shrrll rll crcation bc rcncrvccl rlrrorrghfire... . I lolvcvel rcncu'ccl, crcation will rlot lcttr!rl to rvhat it rvascleRathcr,iust irsit is sorvnl'harbcginning. By no nrc:rns. ltccl in rhc to ural body," accorcling thc saving (l Cor. l5:44), so it is rlisc(l I bocly,nor likc rhc flrsr mani befbr.'rhc rrrtnsgrcssion-i.c.,ntaterial, fbod-btrt inpcrccpriblc,lncl nturrblc, nccding nr.,rcovcrph1'sical src:rcl body rvhollv spiritual and intnrtttrblc; strchI body as that of r our Masrer :rnd (iod aftcr His rcsurrcction,tlrc body of thc Second Aclanr,Vho is our "firstborn liorrr the dcad" ((]ol. l: I u). As His so n body rvrts f,rrdiffcrcnt thing than thc old Achn.rls, shall tltc wirotc crcirtion,in the slnrc rvltyand rtt Cod\ conrnrltrd, not bccomc wh:rt ir rvas befirrc, nratcrill :rncl pcrccptiblc, bttr bc transfbrmcclin rhc any rc-birth into an imnrarerial,spiritual tlwclling phcc, be1<,ncl Perccprionof thc scnscs.'"' Vlren St. Symcon says rhar ottr trodies and the rcst of crcation will bc "irnnratcrial (d,Orov)"in the (ieneral Rcsurrectiotr, he is lgain spcaking of irnrnateriality in a relative sensc. I-hc rettewed crcation will indccd bc "imnratcrill" in conrparison rvith its prescnt statc and cvcn wirh its conclition bcfore thc fall. [-lorvcvcr, ir will trot bc cntilely
r$r St. Svnrcon thc Nov 'l hcologi:tn. [ihitrl l)ivourst )l ). cl'. Ou tlu ill.ystitdl Lili. vol. | , pp. l5-.1('. .llJ .19.

r"' In rliscussing renewcd rhc crcation,St. Svmcon rlkcs p:rinsro sev rh;rt it u,ijl ror lrc cntirclv irlnr;rrcrill rnd uncircunrscribctl: Norv, then, trv ro inlrqinc rvirh nrc l worltl rvhich is sPirirLrirl :rrrdriscsbcvontl orrr scnscPcrecption.llrrr. rvhlr is bo,r,rrtl s c n s i b l c c r c e p r i o n r nd sp i r i tu r l i s r l u i te i n r o r n p r ch cn si b l ci r r r r s,e n d i n vi r i b l c.... l r p i l is in this scnsc.thcrcfirre-, rh:rt wc c:rn cliscoursc.rlrotrr rhc.rngcls. i.c., rh.rr rhcv erc elso. in efltcr, sonrr:horr cnrbodicd lnd circunrscritxblc,irt lcust rvhcn contlirrc(t lo thc atrsoltrrclv imnrarcrial :rnd trodilessnarure of [)iviniry.... lhc s:rnrcrc.rsonir,g lr.lcls fbr thc soul as *cll. (irmparcd ro (ioJ \X'h,, i, b1 ,r.rtur. lr.rlilc1.. .q1111 11," 1., l r g c l s , t h c : o u l i s r r s i r w cr c b o d i l y r n d ci r cu n r scr i l td .... l i r r r n o r r :r lp cr .r cp r i .n , h.rvc'cr, ir is.rfrogcrhcr['rlilcss untl irrc.rrprchcrsitrlc \lltl,it,l I)ixttu^r,: Li: Ott tlt,llystital /.ifi. vol. I, pp.39-40). St. ST,nrcoo\ nrcnrion (secbclorv)ol florvcrs un<lhcevcrrly troclics rhc rcnovcd in creerion proviclcs lirrtlrcr clariliclrrionrhlr hc r. n,,r .lcr,:rrh1ng.1 rc.rlnrrvirhrrrrr env rlcgrccofnrltcriality. 'l-hc Origcnist iclcl rher rhe crc;rriorr lficr thc (icrrcr.rll{crurrc.rion *ill lre wholly inrnrrtcrialrvasin llct condenrncdar rhe I:ifih t:_currrcnic.rl (irun, eil: l1 uny.ne shall srrl rhar rhc L:rsr.lutlgnrerrr siqnilicsrhc c.nrllcrc desr.ucrion.f thc l'xrcly u'd rhat thc cncl of :rll rhings rvill bc a rr.n nr:rrcri.rl nurur.. ,rn.l rher in rhc futurc agc thcrc rvill bc norhing nrltcri;rl,llrr onlv nrrkctlspirit: lcr hinr bc enarhcnra. (Elevenrhrrriclc of rhc anlrhcnraslglinst ()rigcn). ()rr thc rchtivc rnarcrirlirv of-angcls rnd hunran souls. scc llso Sr. lJusil thc \'rcar. Or tlr Holy Sprrir 2.1,and St. John l)anrascenc I-.xact l.^tposition , l.l3, 2..1. rst Sincc Sr. Svnrcon slvs rhc rcncwcd crc.rrionrvill bc lrcyorrtlilnv pcrc(ption of' thc scnses,'ir fblbu's rhlr (lhrist.s rcsur.rectcd bocl,-rvasund is..n,rturellv ireyond sensc-perccprion elso. Ir wus bv [)ivinc dispcnsirrion rhrrr(]hrist nradc llis lroclvpcr_ ccptiblc ro rhc scnses rhc apostlcsalicr Flis rcsurrecriorr. l.]lcssccj of As lhcophr;lact poinrs orrt in cliscrrssing Ohrist'.s irppcurirncc Srs.t.ukc rntl Clcr4xs on rhc r.<r:rd ro ro lirrrmeus(l-ukc 14:lJ J2): " l-hcv rvcrc rror rllorvcd ro rccognizt Hint lrv thc tcr, rLrrcs thc bodv in rvhich tlre Savior rhcn appclrcd ro rhcnr. lirr,:rs,\,1lrk rlvs, He of ruppcrlcdrrnto rsrr of rhcnr 'in anorhcr fbrni fl\{lrk l(r:ll).:rnd wirh diflcrcnr

liti

n9

'l t l[ ()lLl H()tx)x \(()l{t) bcSt. l.ater in the samccliscottrsc, Svmeon,hlving urrtlotrbtetllv :rge of hcld sonrething thc firtLrrc in prophctic[)ivinc vision.sPcrkslll clwcllingplaccof' more dcrail abottt thc renewedcreatiottas a spiritLral
nt l l n:

(llt[Al llt) lN lN( ]OltR.tlP'l-l( )N rvorlcl,rhc inviolablcinhcririrnce thc sorrsof (,od (cf. Ronr. of fi:2| ).'"" including Vhcn St. Synreonslvs that all things in thc cosnros, "spiritual nran,will become and divinc," he is rcferring nothing less to than their deiflcation. Deiflecl in botlr sorrl and body, nrrn will frccly cxpericncc(lod's uncrcirredencrliy (gracc)through his boclily scnscs. ln the worclsof St. (iregorv Prrlamas, In thc veryblcsscd cxisrencc thc lgc' to conrc,in "thc sons thc of ot (iospclof(,hrist, (l,uke20:-l(r), who, :rccordinq rhc rcsurrcction ro will havcrcccivecl angelic an it is il rligniry, will bc thc bodt,rvhich rrs hiddcn.Virh rlrcvictoryof the rrorrr. bodvrvill bccorrrc subtlc thc so rhat it rvill no longcrappcrlr bc nrltcrial,and ir rvill rro longcr r() linrir thc irctivity rlrc riorrr. thiswar,, of In thcy rvill cniovthc [)ivinc scnscs.r' Liglrr rhcirh,'clilr irr Frorl this Patristic testimonywc seclrow, through Christ, m,rn ancl the rcst of creation will not only lrc resrorctl ro rhcir originrrl irrcorrupriorr; rlreywill alsobecomewhar dtey would barc btntttil the firsr Adam had fulfilled his calling from (lod. Ir will bc rcmcmbrrcd thirt, according ro St. Maximus, nran'.s original designationrvas not only to beconre deificd himselFburalsoto bring thc rvholecrc:rtecl uni"thc wholc [woultl bc] wholly vcrsc into a stateof deification,so thirt in tcrpcnet ratetl by Ciod."'tt IlLrrrhcr cxpoLrnding Maxinrus's Sr. teaclring, Vladirlir l-osskywrires: "Sincc this task which u.:rsgivcn to rnen was not fulfillcd by Adam, it is in thc work of (ihrist, rhc Sccond
1"" St. Svrnec,n Nov 'l-hcologi:rnlltl,iotl I)isotrr'tt I.i: S(i l2l:l Ill l0lef.Orr thc , rln,hl.ysriutLifi. vol. I. p.4li l:irtr'Ortaud ll,tn. p. 104. r3 St. (ircgorl I'rl;rnr.rs.//,r lrials |..\..76 tt ll'e lii'uti: Book (hr (('.hiettgo: I ) r : r x i s n s t i t u t c l ) r c s s 2 {X) 2 ) ,p . 1 2 i t. l , r3f St. N{.rximus thc (irnfi'ssor, tlnLigurn /tl: in I ourh, rll,rrllrrrr rfu (.lotliit,tt, 1t.

As I hirvc s:ticlscvcrll rinres,lll creltitltr' too. otlce nlldc ncw, will bcconrc rvholly spiriturl, ln<l togcthcl u'irh l',trrdiscrvill trc tr,tnstlwellctertt,rl,,rtttl nt>cric inro rrn intmltcti:tl. trnclrtng,itre, firrrrrccl pl ing pllcc. I hc hcrtvctrson thc onc h:rnd rvill bc itrcotrr t rttrlv ncrv,cliflircnt ltrcl tnorc r:rdi.trtt nr:rnncrindcccl<lLrirc briqhtcr, in r will rakc rvhilc thc crrrh on rhe other hrrncl rhan thc visiblc hc:tvcns, ltc:tutv, ;ltt tttrfltditrg vcrclttre.ortraon il ncw ancl incx;rressiblc florvets,vlriecl atrtl spirittral.It will bc.rn c,rrrh nrcnted bv rrtclirrnt will hlvc its in which, as thc srcrcd tvord hls ir, rightcoustrcss rvi d w cl l i n g pllc c ( 2 l' c t . . l :1 .]). Ih c s u n o 1 -ri q l rtc o ttsncss l l shi rrc scvcnfirltlrrrorcbrightly, ancl thc nroon will gleanrrwicc as briSihtes 'l'hc strrs rvill bc likc rhc sLrnwhiclr illurlines it now (cf. Is. -10:2(r). ,tf our sulr-if-, intlced, rhcscirrc thc sitnrcstrltsils ilrc s1-lt,kcn itr thc thoughrs of thc rvisc.All things thcre rrc bcvond spccch' sutrlirlc rrlnscc'nclrh<,ught,sirve only thlt rhcy :rrc spiritLraland divinc, ltrothcr, noctic l'errtunitcd ro tht' intclligible wolltl, ancl corrrprisc nraclclikc lncl ttnirc.l to the hcavcnlv cliscancl hcavcnlyJcrusirlcnl,

lclttrrcs. l'lc no lottgcr cottfirrnrcdrhc actionsof Ilis [r,xlv to nlttlrll Iitrvs.bLrt insrc,rdacrcd in thc bodv in :t spiritull nr,tntrcrthrtt u'ls bcvotrd nartrrc. I'his is rvhv thcir eycs rvcrc prcventeclf'ronr rccogttizingHinr' Whv did Ilc appcrrrto tlrcnr in lnother fbrnt, ancl u'hv ucrc thcir eves prevcntccllront rccognizing llinri. . Ih,rt rhcv nriglrr bclicvc.rll thc nrorc sttrclv rh:rt llis lroclv i. rto longcl e ltoclv thrtt is clearly risitrlc lo rvcrv()nc. [:-ventlrottgh His rcsurrcctedlrodv is rhc senrc'boclv onlv to those to rvhorn IIc rvills to rcvcll Hinrrvhich srrflercd.llc norv lp1'rcrtrs self.... lic rvasscctrby th,rscro ruhonr Hc rvishctlro bc visible' ( llte l:xpkndtiot ol' rfu Holl ()rpd rcordi s to St. /.rr,4r, pp. .118- 19). ln srmc witt'. following l lis esto crnsiorr in(o hcevcn,(lhrist hes nriraculouslv:rppcarccl pcoplc in llis rcsurrcctcd lt variottstinrc. throuthottt (llrristian historr'. l-ndy

r58.
9r

9o

.l

llu ()Rt H()l)()x \(oRl)

(]{liAl tit) tN tN(l()ll.lttiP II()N lcsus(lhrist was withoLrtsin . .. He was rror srrbjcctto tlcath, sirtcc dcarlr canreinro rhe world througtrsin." Ycr "rlrc L.ord,"rvrires.St. 'iraricnrly cntlurcclfirr our sakeit dclrh He wirstrot Circgoryl)alarnas, rvho werc obligctl to sulfcr dc,rrh."'"' olrligcrlto Lrnderg<,, rctleemLrs, to Hcrc rvc scc clcerly how thc plt.ysial, uustl n u'tio l)erwcctl of Aclam's of sin anclthc prcsencc dcerh rn the world lbrnrs the'trasis act fbr trnclcrstanding phvsical, the c:rusal conrrccrion bcrwccn(lhrist\ Lrnof cleserved cleath,rnclthc ovcrconringof thc cotrscclttctrccs sin irt tltc world. As Fr. SeraphinrI{oscpoirrrctlout, (lhrist's rvls a rcll, phvsical cvcnt,trot.ttt inr.tge deatbon rhc (-ross titrc it h:rsspilittral consc(lucrlccs, or rrttrtllcgory; and lt rhc sunre not brirrging ilb()rlr chlrnge rrrln'.r ll in c,lnclition. givcs salvltion: lt rrs lrt fiqLrrirtivc sllvation,bur lctull snlvrttiorr. tltc slttrc w;tt, A<|rnt l :r r,rsred trecand thcrcby ofa irrtocorruptionl. his,r(x),w.rs Ifcll cvcntwith spilitual consrqucnccs. .h.trrgint rtrltt.s conrliphysical tion."' 'I

Aclarn,that wc c:ln scc what it w,asmeant to bc."'n"'I'hus, as St. Maxinruswrircsin cliscoursing (lhrisr's on words."My Fatheris working c ven now, and I irrl working" (.fohn 5:17), it is in the work of Christ that we bchold "rhe gracecflcctivc ro dci! the univcrse."'"" All ther has becn clescribccl lrcrc-rhc immutable glory of the firture age-has becn nradepossible rhc incarnation,death and resurbv 'l'hrough rectionof Christ. rhe roralityof C)lrrist'.s work of redenrption, nran is spiritually unitedwirh (lod and tleificd:m:rncrrr arrairr [)araro dise and helvcn aficr dcath; antl, ar rhe Clcncr:llResurrcction, nrln'.s bocly and the cntire crearionare to bc rcnewctl as an incorrupriblc, spiritualand divineclwelling plirce. Vlll. Tue Onrnooox DocrnrNp op PnnLepsnnrex INconnuprroN es It Relerrs ro OnrHooox Sorenrolocv exo EscunroLocy Fronr thc fbrcgoingcliscussion cirn bc sccn how rhc Orthoclox it tcachingon the orieinalincorru;rtion rhe world hasdirect bcaring of 'l'he on Orrhodox sotcriology. Script u ral/I)irtrist doctrine rhar dclth ic entcred the world asa consequcnce nran'.s fbrnrsa fbundation fbr of sin the doctrinethat thc sinlcss Saviorinnoccrrtly took upon Himself that (lross-irr order ro "pr.rrirway consequcncc-rhlt is, bv clying on rhc sin by the sacrificc Hinrself," ro "bear rhc sinsof nrirnv" (Hcb. 9:2(r, of 28), to redecm mrnkind fionr all rhe conscqucnccs sin. of As wc havc sccn, whcn Aclanr fi'll his corrupred nature, now cliswith sin, madchim sLrbjccr physical eased to dcath.All his dcsccndanrs inheritcd thar corrupted nature, antl thrrs all rvcrc obliged ro dic. Christ llone, beine tottrlly sinlcss, rvls nor obliged to suffcr clcatlr; ancl tlrerefbre, His volr,tntlrydclth ,rnclin His rcsurrection in which inexorably succcedcd Hc clestloycd ir, clclth borh spirirual:rnclboclily.Lcr us recallrhe words of St. John Ihnrasccnequoted elrlicr: "Sirrccor.rr[.orcl
rs'r l.osskv, lvlystiul I htology, l lO. 1t. r"lrSr. J\1:rxinrrrs (irnlcssor.,,l/ lhaldssiun 2.,in On t/n,(.otttit t\1.).rl{r't1 I(X). the p.
,) 2

on incorrrtptiott rrlso is lbLrnhe Orthotlox teaching prelnpsariurt dationrl fbr Lr nclcrstancling I'irrrl'.s St. ofi-rcpcutctltcaching-u lriclt rve (llrrvsostonr'"'-of sin antl clcarh enhavcsccrr elucid:rtetl St.John trv man ancl rhcn bcine ovcrcotrtclry Orrr tering the world through .?/,rr N4an.Sr. John C)hrvsostorrr that rhe rrutlr thut orrr rcclcnrpri,rr s:ricl by,thc firct thitt tlte cottcr>uld conre fionr only Onc Man is evidcrtcccl scquences sin canrc fionr orrly one nriln. lrr ficr, St. (lhrtsostont of jrrxtrtsrates that, rn the fifth chapter of Ronrans,St. l)irtrlrepcatccllv "Onc" (lhrist prcciselvin ortlcr t<r posetl thc "onc" Aclam with the rcclcnrption Oh risr- ltarricuby tlcnronsrrrtcrhc rcaliryoI thc world'.s (lcnesis nilrrrltivebttt not (vct) lrrlv ro thoscJc',vs w,hobclicvctlin thc fiith in rhc rcalSccotrtl in Christ. For St. I)aLrl firr rhc Holy l;atlrers, as
r " L S c c r h c l i r l l q u o ti r ti o n s,r np p . ( r 9 r r b o vc. "0 r"r ljr. Sclrrphirrr l{osc, (,i,zrri, (.'ttrtion atl htrly Alau. p. )1 6. r"' Scc 1 '1 , . 7 l - l , r b <r r c.

ti

'l H It otLf Hotx)x \(/oltt) Adam as the Reclccmcr fionr rr.rin cannot bc divorcecl fionr belief in the rcal f.irsr Adam as rhe cause ofthat rtrin.'"' Certainll', the Orrhodox reachingon rhe original incnrruption of rlzl (specifically) most gcrmanc ro rhc ()rrhodox clocrrineof rcis tlcmption, sirrceir was a m:rn (Aclanr)who broughr sin ancldcrrh inro rhe world, and it rvasa Man (rhe (iod-rn:rn lcsus(ihrist) Vho ovcrcame thenr. At tlrc sametinre, however,this Scriprural/l)atristic tcirching cannot be separated fionr rhar of rhe incorruption of the resrof rhe cosnrosbetorc thc fall, sincc as rve have secn the visiblc crcarion was rnadc firr thc slkc of nran, is clcpcndcnron nran. and rlust bc in rhc samcconditionas man.'fhe incorrrrpr.lnJporcnriillly inrnrcrralbodv ofman lrcfbrerhc fill, as c]escribcd clcrailin rhc l)atristicwrirings. in could not havc existedin surroundingsfillcd with death and corrr,rpti<rn;arrd lrenceit is to bc cxpecrctlrhar rhc tzrrrrrlrr patrunt, in accorclenccwith Holy Scripturc, holds thar rhe cosmos wrrs originalll, incorlupt aswell.
r"' []tsiclcs tfrc pitssitgcs elrc,r.lv quotc.l (lbnr. 5: lJ '19, I ( lor I 5:21-22). rhcrc:rrc ,tther phccs in the I'rLrlinecPistlcsu'hcrc rhe r\posrlc rvrircsof t\clunruncl [ivc, rc, counting thc Biblicel clcscriptions ofthcir crcetion rnd fill: I'hc llrsr nran Atl:rm r v a s r rrtlc a living so rrl'(l (ir r l5: 45; c f . ( ic n. l: 7) ; ihc s c r p c n t b e g u i l c d l . l v c through his srrbtlcty" (l (br. ll:.ll cl. (icn. .l:l-(r)r "Adunr w;rs lirrnrcd first. then live: errrlAdlnr rvlrsrrot tlcccivcd,lrut thc wonr:rn bcing clcccivcd rv;rsirr rhc trerrs, -l srcssion"( | inr. 2:13- l.1rcf. (len. 2:21 .l:(r).i\g.rin, rcfi'rringto thc c rcrt ion ol li,c fionr Ad.rnr. St. I':rul urites: l!1ln is not fronr rvomirn. lxrr rvorrlrr fionr nlrnl nor rtls the nren crcutcrltbr thc lr'onritn,bur rhc rvonr:rn thc nran' ( I Cor I l:11-,);cf. fbr ( i c n . 2 :lll J.l) . In kee pin gwir h r hc plr in nr er ningof r hc s c f r r s s : r g co f S r . I ) r u l , r h c s Pltristic conrnrcnterics oo thcnr lrsstrneir bclicf in rn ecrrrll. hisroricirlAcr:rrn antr t. r ' e .S cc, lirr crln rplc, Sr. Jo hn ClTr ls os r or n.c on) nr ent ilr yon I I i n r o r h y 2 : 1 . ) l 4 s (NI)NIt lst Scrics. vol. l.l, pp.4.l5-.16), rvhcrcthc Suint rrflirnrsthe cxistcnccof li,c as l singulitr;rcrson, bcrwcen hcr,rnd thc lcrrr:rlc gcncralh,. disrirrguishing scr 'l h:rt Adlnr lnrl lrvc rvercle:rl u,:rs lf]irnrcd bv (lhrisr Hinrsclf, Vho srid ;rcrsons thrt rlrc "blootl of Atrcl," rhcir scconclson. rvirsshcd fnrnr thc firundarion ofrhe r v o rl d (l. ukc l1:il, 5 {):cf. (icn . 4: 8) . ( ihr is t r ls o s pok col r hc c r c e r i , 'no l n ( t x n r r n d lrvc,tluoring lionr rhc book ol (icncsis: Ilut lrom the ttgirrning of rhc crcition (;o(l 'nritderltcnr nralernd finrllc (N1.rrkl0:(l ci. (icn. l:-27).

(llLllA Il) IN lN(i()ltlltjl'l l()N l As thc tloctrinc rh.rr man and tlrc rvorlclwerc incorrupr befbrc rhc fill is directlv connccrcd ro ()rtlrodox sorcriolog,v, ?lso is rr conso Irectccl cschirology.It provides;r b:rsisfbr rtrldcrsr:rnding worcls to rhc of thc Apostlc l'aul in rhc way rhirr thc Holv l;arhcrsundersroocl thcrl; "For sinccby mln clme dcath, bv rnln c:rnre alsothc rcstrrrcction fionr the clcad.[]or irs in Atlam all dic, evcn so in (lhrisr shall all bc medc rrlivc.... Ihe lnst enerny thar shall bc tlcsrroycdis death" (l (]or. 15:)l-22,2(r). Ir underpinsrhc docrrir.rc (lhrisr carncin orclcrro rhat gilc fuck to nran rvhat Aclam hird krst ar thc firll, phvsicallvas rvell as spirittralll,, irnd rhar, throueh Chrisr'.s clclrh lncl rcsurrccrion, thcrc rvill be rt rcstoration,pertecrion,and spiriru:rlizarion thc irrcorrupr of flrsr-creirtecl wrtrld. FrorrrSr. Ircnacusin thc sccondccnnrrv,wlro said rhurcrcntion will be "rcstored irs prirncvrrl to c(,n(lirion" rl)c (;cncral Jr llcsurrccrion, to Fr. .fustin I)opovich in rhe twcnrierh ccnrury, wno wrotc thrr n:rrure will rhen "bcgin ro shincwirlt irs prirlor<lial sirrlcss irnnrortal belurr,,rhe sanrcas ir haclbcfbrc the firll," wc havc secrrrhc connectiotr rlrlr thc Futhers havedrarvrrlrcrwccn thc originalund rhc flnal statcs rhc crcarion. the wordsofSt. (,rcgory of Nyssa, of In rhc pronlisc thc flnll srarc preclicrrtctl lrclicfin tlrcoriginirl of is orr orrc,arrrl vicc ycrrit: Norvthc [(icncnl] Rcsurrction prorliscs norhing us clsethrrnrhc rcsrorarion thc fullcnto thcir.lncictrr of st.rtc: rhe grilccu,c look filr fbr is:rccnrin rcrurl l() rhe firsrlifc, bringirrg brck aqrrin I).rr.tljsc ro hinr .,r,ho wls clsr ()ur fionr it. lf rhcn thc lifc ol thoscrcstorctl is closellrcl.rrecl rlrrr of rhc lngcls,ir is clcrrr ro th:rrrhc lifc bcfbrcthc tlxrsgrcssion I kind ol-lngcliclifr',lnd hcncc.rlso r(trrfn () rv:rs or.rr thc arrcicrrt corrclirion oforrrlifeis conrparccl theangcls.r''i ro Highlilhting rhis intcrrclltionshigr bcru,ccn rlre originll lntl flnal stltes of nnrr rrntl chccclsnros, .serephinr l:r. poirlrcclout that
l " 5t. ( lltgrrrr o1 Nls.,.r,Orr r/'t ,lhlitttt ol ,llat l-.lr Nl)\l: 107 Jntl Scrics, vol. 5, p.

' l t ll]. ()l { l } I()l )()x \(()R t) lncl rtnlv tliflcr ' . in thar thc fltttrc stltc ol thc thc rwo corrcspotrrl to u'olld rvill bc lirlll'spirirual, correspc,nding thc "spiriturl lrodv" of rvill drvell in it,:tnd no longcr rvill it be possiblefbr rts rhc men who to incorrr.rptibilirv bc lost l)o wc Orthodox (lhristiltrs lrclievcthat uc will auually bc imrrrorr:rlrtnd incorruptiblc in rhat ncxr life-if (locl will onlv number us rlnronli thc s:tved-or otrlv mctlphoriclllv rrnd rllceoricrlly so?If rve lrclievcrntl think rs thc Holy Fathcrsclo, rls thcn our fitrurc incorlupritrility rvill bc rca1, wils thNt of thc crcntion :rtrrlof Aclantbcfbrc his tl isobeclicnce.r"" ()r todox Chrisri:rns is all of one l-hus we scc how orlr bclic.J'as piece. C)ur bclicf'rhat dcirth cartre into thc rvorlcl through hurr'rrt sin ( R om . 5 : I 2 ) is link c t l wit h o u r b e l i c f th a r (l h ri s t th c G od-man has rcd ecnre d th e wor ld by nr e a rrso f H i s d e a th (H e b . 9 :I5) l n thc sanrc way, our belief that man xnd the cosmos wcre incorrrtpt in the bcginning is tiecl to our bclicf'thirt thcv will bc incorrttpt in the futtrre age'

ct{t:AI l.:l)tN IN(toRttL]l,I()N t ing it. BccirLrsc rhis colrupriorr of nran'-s of r)ilrurc,graccwithclrcwfionr hirl. Mln rhercbysuflered spiritualtlclrh (rhe separirrion rhc sor:l of (lod), arrtlthis in trrrn nraclc fiom Irirrrsubjcctro phvsical dcath (thc separation of'rhc soul fiorl rhc bod1,)ancl to phvsicalcorrrrprion(dccay) afier tlelrh. ln rhis way, man inrroducctl cleirtlrand corruption-nor nrcrclyas a porcntialiry but as an lctLraliry-into his own existcnce wcll as irrto rhar of thc cntirc cosnros, as which clepcndcd on him. 'Wc have firrrhcr cliscrrssed horv (lhrist rhc (lod-rlan, rvhilc bcing Hinrsclfr.r,holly sinlcss, rook upol) Hintselfrhc ultintrrtc phl,sical conscquence sin-dcarh-thcrcby ovcrcoming all thc conscque of ncesof sin. l-hrough Christ'.s clcarhand resrrrrcctiorr, nrarr is llrsr resrlrrccted spiriruallythrough thc lifi of grecc in thc (lhLrrch;antl larcr,rr thc (lcncrrrl R.cstrrrcction, will lrc rcsurrccrcd he phvsicallyas well, bcing rcstorcdto thc incorrupr srarchc cnjoyed:rr his crcation.Sincetlre rcsr of crearionwas nradc firr man, ir t<lowill bc restorcrlro incorlupriorr. N4orcover, thc (;elterill Rcsurrectiorr ilt both nr:rn irnd thc cosmosrvill bc spiritullizctl and dciflctl,rhusreaching sratcthar,,vas the ultirlarcly in rcntletlfirr thcnr. 'l lrc I'trsoual l?clauanuand Applittrtion of'l-/tis 'tb,rltittg

IX. CoNcr-usroN A Surunar.y ol'tltt Ortlndox 7i'athing tcachingon thc origirrrrl In setting fbrth the Scriptural/Petristic steteof crcatiortlrnd orl thc entrallceof cle:lth:rtrdcorruprion' we hlve shown thlt the condition of tuarr ilncl the crc:rtion in thc bcgirrning \Thcther or not ot'lc was ridic:rlly clifferentfionr whrrt we know todrry. "llcvicws rhe originll incorruption of matl ancl the cosnlosirs beir)!! 'hrcording ro nature" (depcnding on how otrc etnploys thc word turc"), it nrust be said rhat this illcorruption wirs givctr rlnd Prcserved in bv Divinc grace.Man's corltitttlrlnce irrcorrttptiondepentlcdon the riglrt usc of his Frccwill in f'ollowing the conlnlarldment of Ciod' the where:rs continuanccin ilrcorrttption of the rcst of thc costlos clcgrcndcd Irran.\?hcn nun lrcll,sin infectctl htrmiln Itrlturc,corruPton
l')(, Iir. Sclrphinr ll.6sc, (,r,rrrrr.r, On,ttiot anzt |larll, Altt,1t.5r)). t16

Hlving cxlnrinecl rhescdoctrincsin sonrcclcprh.lcr us rrolvcorrsitlerhow thcy carrinfbrm our rrrirLl.le lnd pcrccprion ofotrrsclvcs, of oLrrlcllow htrnrarr beings, lntl of orrr nltural environrncrrt. WirhoLrtthc ()rthodox (ihristirrrr trndcrstrnding thc oriqin of of tlcurh and corruprion,rlroscwho bclicvein (lod nrav be inclinecl to blrunc Hinr firr thc nrany firrnrsof srrfflringrhur arisc irr rhis fillen rvorlcl,asrvcll ls fbr thc cleaths oflovccl oncs.()n rhe orhcr hand. thosc who do nor belicvcin (locl nrav point rr rhc trrokenuspccrs crcrrrion of "proofi" thar rhcrc is. in fict, no (-'rcilror.[irr rrs ()rthotlox (]hris:rs rians,horvcvcr, thc rnrc lc:rsorr thc corrtrprionof-crcrttion firr has bcen cxplaincd krng n{o in thc lliblc lrrcl in rhc urirings of rhc Frrrhcrs. Wc rccogrrizc rhar suffcrinq,illness, dclth, and tlccrrr, ftxtcrhcrwirh rlll

.l

lll.l ()Rl tlotx)x \y()l{l)

(llltri\ll:l) lN lN( l()ll.ltt I l( )N rl' It;rrbor:t rnorc vibritttr hope itr tltc firtLtrcrcrtcwrtl thc cosnros, olt wherr (iod's phn fbr it rvill hrtvc bccn firlflllcrl. As u,c havc heirrcl tirnr the tcachings St. Brrsanuphitrs of of()ptirrrr,rvccrrnsrill find "dclighrs.rnd corrsolirtiorrs" throLrgh bcholcling "flrrurncrrts" renrain (lotl's tlrc tlr:rt of

of rhc orher manifcstations corrttption-we rc llot Pirrt of Gocl'sorigi"vcry gttttd" creatiotr.l-hcy arc Prcsentbecause ntal broughr thenl rrrl into thc world throughhis sin. of An awarencss rvhlt wirs irr rhc beginning lnd whlt occurretlat rhc firll, tlicn, c:ln servc to uphold oLrr f:rith in thc flcc of lroth the Far hlrclshipsof life ancl the artacksof unbelicvcrs. fioln blanring God and dcarh, with suffering whetr confrontccl or doubting His cxistcr.tcc (iod's nlercl'.As wc havc scenfronr as we crn scc thcscre:rlities sigtts<lf rhc l)arristicwririrrgs,although (lod did llot crcittc rttrtltnttclthc cosrnos corruptiblc, whcn tnan sinnetl Hc allowrd delr-hand corrttltti,rtt to entcr thc world itr order to servcfirr rnan\ bencfit. L)eath prcvcnts incurrcd in mln's corwhilc rhc suflcrinqs sin from lreing inrnrortal, ruptible srrrc scrvc to lrluttt his pridc atrd irrational lovc of sctrsLlal and ro point hirn back to thc trrtc Sourceof his lifc, which is pleirsurc, (lod and not thc worlcl.Thtrs, rhe conscqucrrccs sitr are irt tilc sarnc of sin. -fhrough hard cxpcricncccottcorrcctivcs:rgainst rimc therapeutic with rhankfirl plcd with firith, we can lcarn t() lccePt thcsccorrcctivcs for oLtrhcalingand salvatiotr. lrearts,rcalizingthev arc giveu to us of thc rrndcrsrancling firll effects thc irll can hclp inFurthcrnrorc, tor srill in LrsgrcirtcrrcPcntltlce firr our sitrslncl grcltcr ct)tnpassioll rhc crcation.Although wc tlo Irot bcar thc guilr of the fall of oLtr flrsr of still ancestors, wc plrtici patein rhe sitrs the farnilyof Aclam'hlving bccn born into tliis world wirh a corrupted nattrrethat inclinesus towrrd sin. l'hus, whctr wc scc brokcnncssin our fcllow human bcings lre that we ottrsclvcs or in thc materialcrcation, we should rccogtrize this uuivcrbroughrirtrottt in enmcslrcd thrt rvhich,in the bcginning, c;rn, in turrl, inculcarcirl tts l-his reelization sal srarcof corruption. creatiotlil.l its brokcnttcss. corloxssion for Clod's that wls ill the bcginrring. cosmos thc in contc,npl,rting incorrLtpt encl pcrfictctl sratebeyonclthc (lcncral Resurrccaswell as its restored tion, we cln also bcct>mc,rwrreof (iod's plan fbr His crcation' His cconom),.In tlris way wc crln lirow in spirituril knorvledgcof crcatecl fbr itrtetrtiotrs them' lnd lt the sil,rrLrimc things accordingto Gocl'.s 9u

origin:rlhanclirvork.'"Horvctcr.it is orrlr'lrv being cogrrizent thc of originll :rnd flnal starcs crcrtion thili wc ciln irpprcciatc bcnurY of rhc that (iotl clcarc.lin thc lrcginning, rtrtrttrtrrcrl hrrrnn sin, anclthc bv corrcspondingyct cvcn grcirtcrlrcrtutythar is ro conrc.Such an ,rpplcwhat St. Mexinrrrshrrs ciation can hclp Lrsto lpprchentl spiritLrallv (iod's rlljcstv in tltc scttsitrlc cllled "traccs" of cle,rtion,"",rntl throLrglr (llcrtor. of-orrr thcm be lccl to a.lccpcr knorvlcclgc Iiinalh.ancl ntost inrportantlr', undcrstuntiing rvhrrt u,usin thc bcrvith rr nrorc fcrvcnr ginning antl rvhar occurlcd at rhc firll cirrrflll Lrs (lhrist, \7ho lroth rcsrorcs grrtrittrdcrorv,rrtlottr l-ortl .fcsLrs rvlrrrtrhe brirrgsinto bcirrgrvhrrtrlrc fllsr rnrrnwils rlrcllntto flrst rrrrrn losr rrrrcl rtttrtin. rvc hrtve As scett, is onlr,tryrccognizinS it thar dcrth crltcred thc (lhrisr rvorldbccurrse ofsin rhrttrvcc:trtfirllyrPPrcciatc rvlrt'rhc sinlcss diu/ for thc salvationof tlrc rvorlcl;u,hy Hc rrndcscrvcrlly rook LrPon Hinrsclfrhc final physicrrl conscqucncc sirrirr orclcrto ovtrcornc:rll of thc conscrlrrclrccs sirt, "trantpling tlorvrrtlcrth trv tlcltli'"" rrnrlgivof irrglil'c'to rvorlcl. knorvirtg lrt thc a,ly llc did this,rvccrtrt f)t' givc rrrore rvith llis dcarh orr thc (lross,'irlfi'rctl tine glorv to llinr firr ltrrvirtg, onc sucrificc sirrsfirro,cr"(Hcb. l0: ll), and firr bccorrins,in His firr rcsrrrrcctiorr, "firsrfiuits"ofourrisinqfi'ornthcdcrrd(l(lor. l5:10, the
) l\

inr-tlrrouglt Vlrorn rrrarr urrcl visibl(crciltiorr tlrc l,crc nrrrdc incorrLrpr rhc bcginning,rrrtl ,rre to bc inrnrtrru[rlv in rctLrrrrcrl to incorrrrprion, nretlc spirittrtl. rrrrdtlcificd-is dtrc glorv firrcvcr.For "llcholcl,"Flc savs. rrrlkc lll thinss ncrr'"(Apoc.2l:5). "l

'lb

L" Sr'cp. ll irbovc. "r Stt p. l') irbovc. r"" lirrrr thc l':rsclrel tloplrion.