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Theosis: The True Purpose of Human Life
This book answers the question, "What is the meaning of life?" from an Orthodox Christian perspective.
86 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
July 1, 2009
This book is short (86 pages) but powerful. In it, Archimandrite George of the Monastery of St. Gregorios of Mount Athos outlines the process of theosis--union with God through His uncreated Grace. This union, George states, is the true nature of humankind and the reason why nothing else satisfies the longings of the heart. Since God is both "essence" and "energies", Jesus' incarnation in the womb of Mary made it possible for us to approach the Trinity through Him--the pure "essence" of God alone being too powerful for us to approach on our own. God's "energies", His uncreated Grace, is what makes it possible for us to be in union with Him.
If the purpose of Christianity were merely to make us "moral" people, any of the number of good moral philosophers would have sufficed. Christ's purpose in His birth, death, and resurrection, was to heal the breach that occurred when Adam and Eve turned away from perfect communion with God in the Garden of Eden and shut the door on man's union with God. In Jesus, "God became man so that man could become a (child of) God." (St. Anthanasios of Alexandria 295-373 A.D.) Archimandrite George explains that man can never become God Himself. Instead, our purpose is to become like a lamp, illuminated by God, and shining with His light as a lamp is illuminated by electricity.
This book explains in clear and precise detail what Theosis is, how to get there and what it is that gets in our way.
Well worth reading for all those who feel the call to something more!
If the purpose of Christianity were merely to make us "moral" people, any of the number of good moral philosophers would have sufficed. Christ's purpose in His birth, death, and resurrection, was to heal the breach that occurred when Adam and Eve turned away from perfect communion with God in the Garden of Eden and shut the door on man's union with God. In Jesus, "God became man so that man could become a (child of) God." (St. Anthanasios of Alexandria 295-373 A.D.) Archimandrite George explains that man can never become God Himself. Instead, our purpose is to become like a lamp, illuminated by God, and shining with His light as a lamp is illuminated by electricity.
This book explains in clear and precise detail what Theosis is, how to get there and what it is that gets in our way.
Well worth reading for all those who feel the call to something more!
November 24, 2025
In seventy short pages the true purpose of human life is laid out before us. Theosis! To become gods by grace. Praise God for the Holy Orthodox Church.
September 17, 2024
If you want to know the purpose of life, of Christianity. This book is an excellent short summary.
Theosis (θέωσις)
"Theosis literally means to become gods by Grace. The Biblical words that are synonymous and descriptive of Theosis are: adoption, redemption, inheritance, glorification, holiness and perfection. Theosis is the acquisition of the Holy Spirit, whereby through Grace one becomes a participant in the Kingdom of God. Theosis is an act of the uncreated and infinite love of God. It begins here in time and space, but it is not static or complete, and is an open-ended progression uninterrupted through all eternity."
"Let us continually thank the holy Lord for the gift of Theosis, which is a gift of His love. Let us reciprocate His love with our own love. The Lord wants and desires us to be deified. After all, for this purpose He became man and died upon the Cross so that He shines as the Sun amidst suns, and God amidst gods." - pg. 51-52
Theosis (θέωσις)
"Theosis literally means to become gods by Grace. The Biblical words that are synonymous and descriptive of Theosis are: adoption, redemption, inheritance, glorification, holiness and perfection. Theosis is the acquisition of the Holy Spirit, whereby through Grace one becomes a participant in the Kingdom of God. Theosis is an act of the uncreated and infinite love of God. It begins here in time and space, but it is not static or complete, and is an open-ended progression uninterrupted through all eternity."
"Let us continually thank the holy Lord for the gift of Theosis, which is a gift of His love. Let us reciprocate His love with our own love. The Lord wants and desires us to be deified. After all, for this purpose He became man and died upon the Cross so that He shines as the Sun amidst suns, and God amidst gods." - pg. 51-52
April 30, 2021
This small book very efficiently translates the essence of the Orthodox faith for the seeker or members of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The author is the abbot of the St Gregorios Monastary on Mount Athos. He uses words sparingly in prescribing the critical actions and definition of critical terms to achieve the path to man’s Union with God. This is the ultimate goal of Eastern Orthodoxy and true purpose of human life per the title of the book. Theosis is the acquisition of the Holy Spirit whereby Grace one becomes a participant in the Holy Kingdom.
For those familiar with Western Christianity this status would be possible only after death to earthly life. Eastern Orthodoxy’s uniqueness is in part captured by the belief in the potential for man while on Earth to transcend limitations of the flesh to become one with God. This is not limited to the saints, but expected as the end result for any member of the Eastern Orthodox Church following the prescribed tenants of the faith to realize this outcome. This little book condenses all aspects of those tenants.
The expectation that all Buddhists are Buddha who will find enlightenment with practice of the sutras, middle way, and prescribed path is analogous. The same holds true for the Eastern Orthodox and God. That may be a bit heretical to the author and those better informed in Eastern Orthodoxy , but I welcome any corrections to this notion.
For those familiar with Western Christianity this status would be possible only after death to earthly life. Eastern Orthodoxy’s uniqueness is in part captured by the belief in the potential for man while on Earth to transcend limitations of the flesh to become one with God. This is not limited to the saints, but expected as the end result for any member of the Eastern Orthodox Church following the prescribed tenants of the faith to realize this outcome. This little book condenses all aspects of those tenants.
The expectation that all Buddhists are Buddha who will find enlightenment with practice of the sutras, middle way, and prescribed path is analogous. The same holds true for the Eastern Orthodox and God. That may be a bit heretical to the author and those better informed in Eastern Orthodoxy , but I welcome any corrections to this notion.
March 18, 2025
What is the meaning of life? Great many people have tried to define it and have struggled.
Archimandrite George, abbot of the holy monastery of St Gregorious in Mount Athos, puts it very simply: theosis. Theosis is the union of man with God.
Moral improvement alone is not enough. No matter how many good deeds a man performs, if he does not find God, he will not find rest because it’s all centered around himself and not God.
God has placed the thirst and desire for a union with Him, but so many of us chase the earthly things instead and remain empty.
Humility, asceticism and prayer are required for theosis.
Finally, it’s not so important how far we progress in our journey toward theosis, but it’s the struggle and effort we put into it.
Archimandrite George, abbot of the holy monastery of St Gregorious in Mount Athos, puts it very simply: theosis. Theosis is the union of man with God.
Moral improvement alone is not enough. No matter how many good deeds a man performs, if he does not find God, he will not find rest because it’s all centered around himself and not God.
God has placed the thirst and desire for a union with Him, but so many of us chase the earthly things instead and remain empty.
Humility, asceticism and prayer are required for theosis.
Finally, it’s not so important how far we progress in our journey toward theosis, but it’s the struggle and effort we put into it.
June 17, 2025
If you haven’t read this, you should. It’s short and packs a punch.
January 15, 2025
This short, simple work that nonetheless argues a profound point: Christ became man, binding together God and humanity, so that we can re-enter into that perfect union with God that we had in Eden. We were made, pure and simple, for union with God, which is the meaning of theosis. The humanism of the Church is the ministry of helping souls unify with God, whereas every other humanism is fundamentally selfish or meaningless. It invites us to take the path of humility and sacrifice, which is the path to theosis, the path to the vision of the glory of God.
April 2, 2025
magnificent gem of a book. should be required reading in all catechism classes. succinct and brilliant.
September 5, 2025
Little book full of great wisdom. A complicated topic is explained in simple terms. Great read for Orthodox Christians.
November 2, 2025
My first introduction to concepts of Orthodox Christianity. Born, baptized and raised Roman Catholic and I always felt there were missing pieces of the puzzle. This helped me find some of those missing pieces. I’m honestly still digesting it, but something about it just feels correct to me. Small, but powerful book. This book is lean but muscular…no fat whatsoever!
August 8, 2020
A good, brief introduction to theosis. There are so many things within orthodoxy that make me wish there was more ecumenism between the three branches of Christianity. We have much to learn from each other.
September 13, 2025
5+ stars
November 6, 2025
Definitely one of the best theology books I have ever read
December 12, 2025
Best book I’ve read in the past 3 years
February 25, 2022
The Orthodox Christian doctrine of theosis (deification, divinization) is very inspiring and illuminating and deserves more attention. According to the teaching of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the purpose and goal of human life is to attain theosis or deification, understood as likeness to or union with God: the soul's union with truth, beauty, and goodness...
“No matter how much we as men sin, * no matter how much we separate ourselves from God– if, through repentance, * we wish to unite again with God, we can succeed. We can unite with Him and so become gods by Grace [...] The incarnation of the Logos and the Theosis of man are the great mystery of our Faith and Theology. Our Orthodox Church lives this every day with its Mysteries, with its hymns, with its icons, with its whole life. Even the architecture of an Orthodox Church witnesses to this. The great dome of the churches, on which the Pantocrator is painted, symbolises the descent of Heaven to earth; it tells us that the Lord “bent down the Heavens and descended.” The Evangelist St. John writes that God became man “and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).
So, we represent the Theotokos in the apse of the altar to show that God comes to earth and to men through her, because He became man through the Theotokos. She is “the bridge by which God descended,” and again, “she who conducts those of earth to Heaven,” the Platytera of the Heavens, the space of the uncontainable, who contained the uncontainable God within herself for our salvation. To continue, our Churches show deified men; those who became gods by Grace because God became man. In our Orthodox Churches we can picture not only the incarnate God, Christ, and His immaculate Mother the Lady Theotokos, but we also show the saints around and below the Pantocrator; on all the walls of the Church we paint the results of God’s incarnation: sainted and deified men. Thus, when we enter an Orthodox Church and see the beautiful holy icons, this is an immediate experience through which we learn what God’s plan is for man; what is the purpose of our life. Everything in the Church talks to us about the incarnation of God and the Theosis of man.”
― Archimandrite George (Abbot of the Holy Monastery of St. Gregorios on Mount Athos), Theosis: The True Purpose of Human Life
Theosis (θέωσις–Theosis)
Theosis literally means to become gods by Grace. The Biblical words that are synonymous and descriptive of Theosis are: adoption, redemption, inheritance, glorification, holiness and perfection. Theosis is the acquisition of the Holy Spirit, whereby through Grace one becomes a participant in the Kingdom of God. Theosis is an act of the uncreated and infinite love of God. It begins here in time and space, but it is not static or complete, and is an openended progression uninterrupted through all eternity.
Antiochian Orthodox Church of the Redeemer
“No matter how much we as men sin, * no matter how much we separate ourselves from God– if, through repentance, * we wish to unite again with God, we can succeed. We can unite with Him and so become gods by Grace [...] The incarnation of the Logos and the Theosis of man are the great mystery of our Faith and Theology. Our Orthodox Church lives this every day with its Mysteries, with its hymns, with its icons, with its whole life. Even the architecture of an Orthodox Church witnesses to this. The great dome of the churches, on which the Pantocrator is painted, symbolises the descent of Heaven to earth; it tells us that the Lord “bent down the Heavens and descended.” The Evangelist St. John writes that God became man “and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).
So, we represent the Theotokos in the apse of the altar to show that God comes to earth and to men through her, because He became man through the Theotokos. She is “the bridge by which God descended,” and again, “she who conducts those of earth to Heaven,” the Platytera of the Heavens, the space of the uncontainable, who contained the uncontainable God within herself for our salvation. To continue, our Churches show deified men; those who became gods by Grace because God became man. In our Orthodox Churches we can picture not only the incarnate God, Christ, and His immaculate Mother the Lady Theotokos, but we also show the saints around and below the Pantocrator; on all the walls of the Church we paint the results of God’s incarnation: sainted and deified men. Thus, when we enter an Orthodox Church and see the beautiful holy icons, this is an immediate experience through which we learn what God’s plan is for man; what is the purpose of our life. Everything in the Church talks to us about the incarnation of God and the Theosis of man.”
― Archimandrite George (Abbot of the Holy Monastery of St. Gregorios on Mount Athos), Theosis: The True Purpose of Human Life
Theosis (θέωσις–Theosis)
Theosis literally means to become gods by Grace. The Biblical words that are synonymous and descriptive of Theosis are: adoption, redemption, inheritance, glorification, holiness and perfection. Theosis is the acquisition of the Holy Spirit, whereby through Grace one becomes a participant in the Kingdom of God. Theosis is an act of the uncreated and infinite love of God. It begins here in time and space, but it is not static or complete, and is an openended progression uninterrupted through all eternity.
Antiochian Orthodox Church of the Redeemer
March 1, 2025
Theosis is a journey a human is jnclined to take in their lives. Humans are different from animals in the way they can achieve the state of being god by grace, their initial purpose.
God gives humans something that he gives no other animals: a nous, a conscience, and freedom of will. The human charismata by God.
After Adam wrongs us from communion with God, Jesus comes down as the new path to be enjoined to God. He is God-man, therefore making a nature of man apart of the trinity.
The Orthodox Church in interpretation, is the “only way to theosis” as it holds the unrepeatable holy mysteries that can only unify us with God. By partaking in them, we are further deified in his image, as the author states “we are members of Christ’s body.”
Theosis is also only possible by God sanctifying or deifying us with his energies. God has an unfathomable essence, we cannot acquire, it is through his divine energies that man can become “god”.
Basically a whole snippet on Gregory Palamas v Barlaam that leads us to a next point. That our lives around centered around moral excellence, but actually experiencing God, and growing into his image. Not an external relationship but an actual communion.
Qualifications for Theosis (kartharsis):
1. Humility. — accepting that the centre of life is Christ not you.
2. Asceticism — applying Christ’s commandments, keeping vigil, amd struggling in our relationship to remove our passible and intelligent parts of the psyche in order to attain deification.
3. Holy Mysteries and Prayer — immersing into our nous and heart within prayer creates strength within our psyche, and garners an interpersonal relationship with God.
Theoria or illumination, is the second stage of Theosis. After absolving the psyche, the christian sees and experiences the world with grace. He weeps with tears of “divine eros”, his gladness for a higher experience of Theosis. The christian becomes luminous, and is indifferent to the attacks of the world. Kissing icons and holy relics reinforces the illumination and the grace present that God has previously granted a saint after kartharsis.
Failures of Theosis come from man being blinded by egotism and secondary purposes, not cementing God as first. Therefore man should put God as priority, and soon the rest comes after, lifes beauty multiplies when man experiences it differently.
Theosis enlightens man and makes him find himself, gives him greater purposes, and helps him enjoy everything much more. “Offering ourselves” makes us “true persons”
Ending chapter: Theosis is the greater purpose of life, younger generations losing themselves in materialistic or demonic things will began to usurp a depressive state. Leaving them hollow and vacant, the actual thing they will always yearn for is ‘God’ and communion with him.
God gives humans something that he gives no other animals: a nous, a conscience, and freedom of will. The human charismata by God.
After Adam wrongs us from communion with God, Jesus comes down as the new path to be enjoined to God. He is God-man, therefore making a nature of man apart of the trinity.
The Orthodox Church in interpretation, is the “only way to theosis” as it holds the unrepeatable holy mysteries that can only unify us with God. By partaking in them, we are further deified in his image, as the author states “we are members of Christ’s body.”
Theosis is also only possible by God sanctifying or deifying us with his energies. God has an unfathomable essence, we cannot acquire, it is through his divine energies that man can become “god”.
Basically a whole snippet on Gregory Palamas v Barlaam that leads us to a next point. That our lives around centered around moral excellence, but actually experiencing God, and growing into his image. Not an external relationship but an actual communion.
Qualifications for Theosis (kartharsis):
1. Humility. — accepting that the centre of life is Christ not you.
2. Asceticism — applying Christ’s commandments, keeping vigil, amd struggling in our relationship to remove our passible and intelligent parts of the psyche in order to attain deification.
3. Holy Mysteries and Prayer — immersing into our nous and heart within prayer creates strength within our psyche, and garners an interpersonal relationship with God.
Theoria or illumination, is the second stage of Theosis. After absolving the psyche, the christian sees and experiences the world with grace. He weeps with tears of “divine eros”, his gladness for a higher experience of Theosis. The christian becomes luminous, and is indifferent to the attacks of the world. Kissing icons and holy relics reinforces the illumination and the grace present that God has previously granted a saint after kartharsis.
Failures of Theosis come from man being blinded by egotism and secondary purposes, not cementing God as first. Therefore man should put God as priority, and soon the rest comes after, lifes beauty multiplies when man experiences it differently.
Theosis enlightens man and makes him find himself, gives him greater purposes, and helps him enjoy everything much more. “Offering ourselves” makes us “true persons”
Ending chapter: Theosis is the greater purpose of life, younger generations losing themselves in materialistic or demonic things will began to usurp a depressive state. Leaving them hollow and vacant, the actual thing they will always yearn for is ‘God’ and communion with him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2025
This small book is a great introduction and elaboration upon the Eastern Orthodox concept of Theosis. It is short and to-the-point, but whether you are brand-new to Orthodoxy or (much) more well-read, you will find value in this book. Throughout its pages, I found many great quotes, insights, and new perspectives - pearls of wisdom from the Holy Church.
I was particularly interested to read of the anthropological discussions / definitions that were offered in this book. Per its title, the book make it clear that our purpose in this earthly life is not moral improvement, as many Christians today seem to believe, but Theosis, becoming gods by Grace, adopted children of the Father. I appreciated the book’s discussion of and differentiation between terms like Heart, Psyche, Soul, Spirit, Nous, etc; this helped me to greater understand the uniqueness of the human being and how we relate to and differ from the rest of the animal kingdom.
Lastly, I appreciated the book’s discussion of the sad and decayed state of modern society, especially in the West. We see a society that is plagued - even defined - by rampant individualism and anthropocentrist mentalities (I believe these mentalities are descended from Renaissance Humanism). We must, instead, pursue the theanthropocentrism, with a focus not on man alone (for we shall all return to dust), but a focus on the God-Man Christ. This is humanism which the world must embrace: Orthodox Humanism.
I was particularly interested to read of the anthropological discussions / definitions that were offered in this book. Per its title, the book make it clear that our purpose in this earthly life is not moral improvement, as many Christians today seem to believe, but Theosis, becoming gods by Grace, adopted children of the Father. I appreciated the book’s discussion of and differentiation between terms like Heart, Psyche, Soul, Spirit, Nous, etc; this helped me to greater understand the uniqueness of the human being and how we relate to and differ from the rest of the animal kingdom.
Lastly, I appreciated the book’s discussion of the sad and decayed state of modern society, especially in the West. We see a society that is plagued - even defined - by rampant individualism and anthropocentrist mentalities (I believe these mentalities are descended from Renaissance Humanism). We must, instead, pursue the theanthropocentrism, with a focus not on man alone (for we shall all return to dust), but a focus on the God-Man Christ. This is humanism which the world must embrace: Orthodox Humanism.
November 3, 2024
This book was short and very well-written. I really agreed on the main message of how the purpose of man is found in God and in communion with Christ, not in man himself. This I think is very important and was glad to read about, even if as Catholic I don’t agree with all the specifics of the essence-energy distinction. I was annoyed at the constant condescending references to the “Western man” as heretic and totally egocentric because we do not agree with the exact way Theosis works. Apart from that, I did learn some interesting differences we have with the Eastern Orthodox, making me think of ecumenism.
July 31, 2025
A great, short and sweet introduction to the central goal of Orthodoxy. As a Catholic, it was refreshing to learn more about Eastern theology, and the book comes with some critiques of Western Catholicism, some good and thought-provoking, some a bit less. (It wasn't the main goal of the book, so that's understandable and not a huge knock against it)
Overall, a succinct book about Theosis for those interested in getting the basics of the concept. Would recommend.
Overall, a succinct book about Theosis for those interested in getting the basics of the concept. Would recommend.
August 4, 2025
Theosis is Truth
Simple, concise, uplifting, and encouraging, this little book confirms the purpose and path for truly Living.
For those who are Seekers, this is your treasure. This book deepens my love of Orthodoxy and gladdens my heart. We can participate readily in the genuine gift of God in Christ. Effort and struggle generate rewards when His magnificent Grace blesses us. There is truth in these pages. A treasure awaits you.
Simple, concise, uplifting, and encouraging, this little book confirms the purpose and path for truly Living.
For those who are Seekers, this is your treasure. This book deepens my love of Orthodoxy and gladdens my heart. We can participate readily in the genuine gift of God in Christ. Effort and struggle generate rewards when His magnificent Grace blesses us. There is truth in these pages. A treasure awaits you.
October 24, 2025
It is easy even as Orthodox Christians to forget the purpose of our life, or the reason for our faith. Such a small book, yet within itself contains the ability to reignite the soul in its pursuit of theosis. Such wisdom contained into a tiny book. I especially favor the last chapter, where in just a mere two pages it concisely explains the problem of our age and the consequences we reap from it, but also the solution to such problems which is of course, theosis.
April 1, 2019
A concise and thought provoking discussion of a theological concept that western Christianity rarely discusses; a must-read for the serious student of comparative religions, theology, Christianity, Catholicism, and Orthodoxy.
July 20, 2024
This pretty much sums up our existence and why we are here, why Adam fell and Jesus took his place for us to become God's by grace and go back to the father. Read it and ask your spiritual father questions.
January 20, 2025
Nice short book I was introduced to through Harmony productions on YouTube.
Me and several friends did a book study on this book. It was helpful to remind ourselves as to our purpose as Eastern Orthodox Christians and to inspire our will.
Me and several friends did a book study on this book. It was helpful to remind ourselves as to our purpose as Eastern Orthodox Christians and to inspire our will.
May 17, 2022
A perfect quick summary of theosis. I would recommend this to an inquirer first.
September 6, 2023
This little book on Theosis is essential reading for all Christians. It is by truly understanding this concept that we understand the Christian life and our purpose here.
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March 7, 2024This is a really short book my Greek Orthodox friend recommended to understand a term that she uses quite frequently. I don't know what to rate it.
It was helpful to increase my understanding.
It was helpful to increase my understanding.
March 23, 2024
phenomenal ~ a must read for every single Orthodox Christian
April 21, 2024
I do not agree with any belief portrayed in this book, but it’s a very well written text and pedagogical. It is interesting to read from an anthropological perspective.
June 3, 2024
Great book about the true purpose of humanity
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews