Theosis - The Purpose of Human Life

The search for the purpose of life has preoccupied humanity for millennia. In the Orthodox Christian tradition, the answer to this question is clear and deeply theological: the purpose of human life is theosis, which means union with God. This concept goes beyond mere moral improvements or material pursuits and offers a higher understanding of human destiny. Orthodoxy, through the writings of the Fathers and its contemporary theologians, guides us on this lofty spiritual journey.

Saint Gregory the Theologian, in one of his well-known writings, notably states that man is a "living being being deified," that is, a living being destined to become god by grace. This theological position is also reiterated by Saint Maximus the Confessor, who emphasizes that theosis is the highest calling of man, which cannot be achieved through human effort alone, but through divine grace and human cooperation.

Theosis, as taught by the Orthodox Church, is not a theoretical idea but a real process through which man partakes of the divine nature, without becoming identical to God in His essence. This union is possible only through God's grace and through the incarnation of Jesus Christ. God became man so that man might become god by grace. This transcendent reality is revealed to us in the person of Christ, who brought about the incarnation and opened the path to theosis for every human being. Archimandrite George, in his work Theosis as the Purpose of Human Life, explains that without this divine intervention, man, given over to sin and the fall, could not achieve union with God.

Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, in one of his most significant contemporary theological works, emphasizes that theosis is not only the purpose of human life but also the essence of Orthodox spirituality. For Metropolitan Hierotheos, theosis is the return of man to his original glory, which he had before the fall. He points out that this union with God is not merely a moral improvement, but the complete regeneration of man, made possible through the Sacraments of the Church and spiritual exercise.

The Church, as the Body of Christ, is the place where this journey toward theosis is fulfilled. Through the Sacraments, such as Baptism, Chrismation, and especially the Divine Eucharist, the believer is incorporated into the Body of Christ and receives the divine grace necessary for his spiritual journey. This participation is not merely a formal act but the essence of the believer's life, which regenerates him and makes him "god by grace." As highlighted in Archimandrite George's work, the Church is the only path that leads to theosis, and departure from it means the loss of the source of divine grace.

Saint Symeon the New Theologian, one of the most important theologians of the Middle Ages, emphasized the necessity of a personal relationship with God to achieve theosis. Theosis, he notes, is not achieved through mere moral improvement, but through the experiential knowledge of God, offered to the believer through prayer and the sacraments of the Church.

Therefore, theosis is not merely a moral perfection. Moral improvement is important, but it is not the ultimate purpose of human life. The true purpose transcends morality and is found in the complete union with God. This purpose cannot be achieved by human efforts alone; it requires the continuous help and grace of God, which is provided through the Church. Man was not created simply to live a good and virtuous life in this world but to become a participant in divine life, to become god by grace. Without this direction, man loses his true destiny and remains unfulfilled, no matter how much he tries to fill his life with other activities or pleasures.

The journey toward theosis is the true purpose of human life, and this path leads through the Church. The Church is the place where man is called to become one with God, not only through the Sacraments but also through continuous spiritual exercise and a personal relationship with Christ. This union is what gives meaning and purpose to our lives, making the journey toward theosis the most magnificent and essential work we can pursue.

References:

1. Archimandrite George, Theosis as the Purpose of Human Life, Holy Monastery of St. Gregory, Mount Athos, 2005.
2. Saint Gregory the Theologian, Theological Orations.
3. Saint Maximus the Confessor, On Love.
4. Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Life in Christ, Publications of the Holy Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos.
5. Saint Symeon the New Theologian, Hymns of Divine Love.