# Blog - [From the Hymns of the Church on Theosis (Deification)](/en/blog/theologya-songs) — *2026-10-13T08:14:29Z* From the second piece of the Theotokia of Friday: He took our body, gave us His Holy Spirit, and made us one with Him. - [The Meaning of the Term “Theosis”](/en/blog/what-is-theologya) — *2026-10-13T08:14:29Z* Theosis is the process by which man is united to God from glory to glory. The righteous will be deified on the last day, but this process must begin now. - [From the Sayings of Contemporary Writers on the Doctrine of Theosis (Deification)](/en/blog/theologya-today) — *2026-10-13T08:14:30Z* Metropolitan Nicholas Antoniou: the goal of Orthodox doctrines is to lead us to life in the Father, by the presence of the living Christ in us, by the power of the Holy Spirit. - [From Church History on the Doctrine of Theosis (Deification)](/en/blog/theologya-history) — *2026-10-13T08:14:31Z* Fr. Dr. Athanasius Ishaq Hanin on the difference between Eastern patristic theology and the later theories of the West. - [From the Liturgy of the Church on the Doctrine of Theosis (Deification)](/en/blog/theologya-liturgy) — *2026-10-13T08:14:31Z* From the Prayer of Reconciliation of the Liturgy of St. Gregory: You reconciled the earthly with the heavenly, and made the two one. - [From the Sayings of St. Athanasius the Apostolic on the Doctrine of Theosis (Deification)](/en/blog/athanasius-the-apostolic-theologya) — *2026-10-13T10:24:34Z* For the Word of God became man that He might deify us, and manifested Himself in a body that we might obtain knowledge of the unseen Father. - [From the Sayings of St. Basil the Great on the Doctrine of Theosis (Deification)](/en/blog/st-basil-the-great-on-theologya) — *2026-10-13T08:14:32Z* St. Basil the Great: just as bright, transparent bodies become radiant when rays of light fall on them, so souls that bear the Spirit become spiritual. - [From the Bible on the Doctrine of Theosis (Deification)](/en/blog/bible-about-theologya) — *2026-10-13T08:14:33Z* Jesus answered them: “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’?” (Gospel of John 10:34) - [From the Hymns of the Church on Ancestral Sin](/en/blog/from-theotokia-on-thursday) — *2026-10-13T08:14:33Z* From the second piece of the Theotokia of Thursday: the pride of all virgins is Mary the Theotokos, through whom the first curse was annulled. - [The Meaning of the Term “Original Sin”](/en/blog/what-is-original-sin) — *2026-10-13T08:14:34Z* The term “original sin” is a Latin term that was born in the West. It is the prevailing term in Blessed Augustine, and it means that we all participated in Adam’s guilt. This term is unknown among the Fathers who wrote in Greek… - [From the Sayings of Contemporary Writers on Ancestral Sin](/en/blog/metropolitus-erthios-flachus-for-original-sin) — *2026-10-13T08:14:34Z* The purpose of Christ’s Incarnation was to destroy death and sin, and to defeat the devil. In truth, Christ took a mortal and weak body in order to defeat death. He overcame death through His crucifixion and resurrection… - [From Church History on Ancestral Sin](/en/blog/belajius-heresy) — *2026-10-13T10:24:19Z* The heresy of Pelagius, who was born in Britain around 354 AD, and traveled back and forth between Rome and Palestine for a time, then was ordained a monk and attained the rank of priesthood. He fell into a heresy whose content is: that Adam’s sin was limited to him… - [From the Church’s Liturgy on Ancestral Sin](/en/blog/prayer-of-peace) — *2026-10-13T08:14:35Z* O great and eternal God, who fashioned man for incorruption. And the death that entered into the world through the envy of the devil, You have destroyed, by the life-giving manifestation of Your Only-Begotten Son… - [From the Comments of St. Severus of Antioch on Ancestral Sin](/en/blog/st-sawiris-of-antioch-for-original-sin) — *2026-10-13T11:21:32Z* All this shows clearly that it is the life that a person lives (in truth) that comes to judgment, and this is what he means by the saying: “No one is clean from his defilement, even if he lived only one day…” - [Sayings of St. John Chrysostom on Ancestral Sin](/en/blog/saint-john-chrysostom-on-the-original-sin) — *2026-10-13T10:24:56Z* By one man’s disobedience many were made (sinners).” There is nothing unreasonable in the fact that one person committed sin and became mortal, and that those descended from him became mortal in the same condition… - [From the Holy Bible on Ancestral Sin](/en/blog/original-sin-bible) — *2026-10-13T08:14:36Z* “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12) - [Witness in the Twenty-First Century](/en/blog/martyrdom-in-the-21st-century) — *2018-07-30T20:13:38Z* Drawing on St. Clement of Alexandria and St. Irenaeus, a reflection on martyrdom as living witness by one's way of life, and on witnessing to the truth in love rather than in division. - [The Meaning of the Term “Hypostasis”](/en/blog/what-is-hypostasis) — *2018-04-12T08:53:00Z* “Aqnum” is the Arabic form of the Syriac word “Qnoma”; in English it is Hypostasis, and its plural is “Aqanim”. - [From Church History on the One God in Three Persons](/en/blog/cardinal-kasper-on-the-history-of-trinitarian-doctrine) — *2018-04-12T08:52:00Z* The real theological exposition of the doctrine of the Trinity came about in the Hellenistic world in two stages: in the controversy with Gnosticism, in the third… - [From the Sayings of Contemporary Writers on the One God in Three Persons](/en/blog/spiro-jabbour-prayer-to-the-holy-spirit) — *2018-04-12T08:51:00Z* O Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father, who dwells in the Father and the Son, who dwell in You without mingling and without separation; who are present with the… - [From the Hymns of the Church on the One God in Three Persons](/en/blog/one-god-hymn-o-kyrios-meta-sou) — *2018-04-12T08:49:00Z* Holy is the Father, the King who looked upon our lowliness, the race of glory, and the Holy Spirit. - [From the Liturgy of the Church on the One God in Three Persons](/en/blog/one-god-liturgy-holies-for-the-holy) — *2018-04-12T08:48:00Z* The priest says: The Holies for the holy. - [From the Sayings of St. Basil the Great on the One God in Three Persons](/en/blog/st-basil-the-great-on-the-monarchy) — *2018-04-12T08:47:00Z* For we do not count by way of addition, one plus one, and so make increase from unity to multitude; nor do we say one, two and three, nor first, second and third. - [From the Sayings of St. Ignatius of Antioch on the One God in Three Persons](/en/blog/st-ignatius-of-antioch-on-the-trinity) — *2018-04-12T08:46:00Z* Study, therefore, to be established in the doctrines of the Lord and the apostles, that so all things, whatsoever you do, may prosper both in the flesh and spirit; in… - [From the Bible on the One God in Three Persons](/en/blog/one-god-bible) — *2018-04-12T08:44:00Z* When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and… - [The Meaning of the Term “Eucharist”](/en/blog/what-is-eucharist) — *2018-04-05T12:31:00Z* The word Eucharist means in Greek, generally, “thanksgiving”, that is, the feeling (a mere feeling) of thankfulness or delight. - [From Church History on the Mystery of the Eucharist](/en/blog/matthew-the-poor-on-the-mystical-supper) — *2018-04-05T12:29:00Z* In short, we find that the scholars most versed in the Hebrew tradition, and all the Coptic Fathers and the Popes in general, speak of Christ as the true Passover who… - [From the Sayings of Contemporary Writers on the Mystery of the Eucharist](/en/blog/matthew-the-poor-on-the-new-covenant) — *2018-04-05T12:27:00Z* By this we understand that the new spiritual food which Christ brought down to us from heaven as living, divine bread, which is His Body, to feed the new man so that he… - [From the Hymns of the Church on the Mystery of the Eucharist](/en/blog/eucharist-hymn-pi-oik) — *2018-04-05T12:26:00Z* The Bread of Life that came down to us from heaven gave life to the world. - [From the Liturgy of the Church on the Mystery of the Eucharist](/en/blog/eucharist-liturgy-confession) — *2018-04-05T12:24:00Z* Amen. Amen. Amen. I believe, I believe, I believe and confess to the last breath that this is the life-giving Body that Your Only-Begotten Son, our Lord, God and Saviour… - [From the Sayings of St. John Chrysostom on the Mystery of the Eucharist](/en/blog/st-john-chrysostom-on-the-eucharist) — *2026-10-13T10:25:07Z* With each one of the faithful does He mingle Himself in the mysteries, and whom He begot, He nourishes by Himself, and puts not out to another; by this also persuading… - [From the Sayings of St. Athanasius the Apostolic on the Mystery of the Eucharist](/en/blog/st-athanasius-on-the-eucharist) — *2026-10-13T10:24:45Z* For they (the Jews), being filled with the flesh of a dumb lamb, accomplished the feast, and having anointed their door-posts with the blood, implored aid against the… - [From the Bible on the Mystery of the Eucharist](/en/blog/eucharist-bible) — *2018-04-05T12:18:00Z* And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave… - [From the Sayings of St. Gregory of Nyssa on the Mystery of the Cross and the Unity of All in God](/en/blog/st-gregory-of-nyssa-on-the-shape-of-the-cross) — *2026-10-13T12:07:35Z* Concerning the Cross, this is what has come down to us from tradition, and this is what we learn from the shape of the Cross: it is divided into four arms, like four… - [From the Sayings of St. Irenaeus on the Mystery of the Cross and the Unity of All in God](/en/blog/st-irenaeus-on-the-cross) — *2026-10-13T11:21:59Z* For as we lost it (the Word) by means of a tree, by means of a tree again was it made manifest to all, showing the height, the length and the breadth in itself; and, as… - [From the Bible on the Mystery of the Cross and the Unity of All in God](/en/blog/mystery-of-the-cross-bible) — *2018-04-02T20:34:00Z* One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. - [A Prayer to God the Son](/en/blog/prayer-to-god-the-son) — *2017-02-07T19:40:07Z* O Word Who art of the same essence, the Only-Begotten Son Who is in the bosom of His Father, You who chose us before the ages to be holy and blameless in truth, You who made us deified when You came and became flesh… - [How to Fall in Love - Spiritual Capsule (4)](/en/blog/spiritual-capsule-4-falling-in-love) — *2017-01-26T14:19:01Z* The title is strange, but it fits what we're going to talk about in today's capsule. Today's capsule will be in two parts, by popular demand: one for people who like things short and sweet, which we'll call #TheGist, and another for the hard workers who like depth and study… - [The Fall, the Law and Freedom - Spiritual Capsule (3)](/en/blog/spiritual-capsule-3-fall-law-freedom) — *2017-01-26T14:15:27Z* One of the sidelined topics in our Church is, of course, talking about grace, and the reason for that is probably the dominance of the spirit of the law and the spirit of the fall, which are completely devoid of the spirit of freedom… - [Mindless Piety and Spiritual Babble - Spiritual Capsule (2)](/en/blog/spiritual-capsule-2-spiritual-chatter) — *2017-01-26T14:13:20Z* No offense on the phrase "spiritual babble", but in a youthful way: "babble" means talk with no point or value that we listen to anyway, much like the state of our spiritual life, where we live in a huge amount of "spiritual babble" and don't know what we're praying with or why... - [The Mystery of Repentance - Spiritual Capsule (1)](/en/blog/spiritual-capsule-1-mystery-of-repentance) — *2017-01-26T14:09:58Z* Who hasn't heard about repentance in church? Most of the time the talk has no depth. So how does the Bible actually teach us to understand it? Repentance as metania, a change of mind in synergy with the Holy Spirit. - [How Do We Consecrate Our Time to God?](/en/blog/how-to-consecrate-our-time-to-god) — *2016-12-01T17:54:18Z* On the intention behind consecration: from Cassian's Conference on the doer's intention and the story of Ananias and Sapphira, to why true consecration begins in the depths of the heart and springs from Christ's love, in synergy with the Holy Spirit. - [Does Christianity Accept Everything in the Old Testament as Doctrine?](/en/blog/old-testament-as-doctrine) — *2016-12-01T17:55:39Z* There is no doubt that the Church inherited much from the Old Testament, such as the fear of God revealed as Creator and Almighty God, so we came to know God as "Elohim - אֱלֹהִ֑ים", which points to the Trinity since it means gods, and we came to know Him as "Yahweh - יְהֹוָה"… - [What Are Repentance and Baptism According to the Orthodox Understanding?](/en/blog/repentance-and-baptism-orthodox) — *2016-12-01T18:04:39Z* Starting from St. Peter's answer at Pentecost, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized," this post explains repentance as metanoia (a change of mind) and the metania as an act of repentance, and Baptism as the gift of the Holy Spirit, ending with witness in life and word. - [Where Did the Term Logos Come From?](/en/blog/origin-of-the-term-logos) — *2016-12-01T18:06:25Z* Logos in Greek (Λόγος) is one of the most important and most obscure words in Western religious and philosophical thought, denoting in various contexts discourse, language, universal reason and the Word of God, among other meanings. - [Where Did the Term Theotokos Come From?](/en/blog/origin-of-the-term-theotokos) — *2016-12-01T18:17:43Z* In ancient Greek it is Theotokos (Θεοτόκος), and in Syriac and Aramaic (Yoldath Alloho). - [How Do We Receive the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation?](/en/blog/spirit-of-wisdom-and-revelation) — *2016-12-03T13:38:34Z* Is there a balanced spiritual life that a believer can live without having the spirit of wisdom?! In truth the answer is always no, because unless we receive the spirit of wisdom and it is the head of our works, even in love, we may lose a great deal. - [What Does the Cross Mean for the Christian Believer?](/en/blog/meaning-of-the-cross) — *2016-12-03T13:37:41Z* The Holy Spirit is like the dove that leads us to the Lamb. When the Holy Spirit appeared, He appeared in the form of a dove, and what we learned about the dove from the mouth of the Lord Jesus is "meekness." - [The Orthodox Understanding of Prayer](/en/blog/orthodox-understanding-of-prayer) — *2016-12-03T13:41:05Z* Daniel's prayer as an Orthodox prayer of repentance: a prayer that touches the heart of the loving God, the prayer of the tax collector and of the contrite spirit, which reopens for us the consolations of heaven and kindles in us the fiery work of the Spirit. - [Where Does the Word "Church" Come From?](/en/blog/origin-of-the-word-church) — *2016-12-03T13:57:58Z* In Greek the word means "gathering" or "assembly." In the Septuagint the Hebrew verb qahal (קָהָל) was translated as ekklesias, which shows the word was used from ancient times for the people gathered around God. - [What Was the Church as the Ancient Athenians Understood It?!](/en/blog/church-in-ancient-athens) — *2016-12-03T14:13:10Z* We cannot speak of the term Ekklesia without passing through a period in the golden age of rule in ancient Athens, namely the period of Solon's rule, from (560 BC to 460 BC), and getting to know this poet, legislator and thinker… - [The Fear of God as the Foundation of the Old Testament Liturgy](/en/blog/fear-of-god-old-testament-liturgy) — *2016-12-01T17:52:16Z* The Church has received a long and deep heritage from the Old Testament, and the dearest thing in it is that God is an awesome Creator, Master and Lord: "If then I am the Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My reverence?" (Malachi 1:6). - [The Development of the Liturgy in the Old Testament](/en/blog/liturgy-in-the-old-testament) — *2016-12-01T17:34:55Z* As we explained, any worship acceptable to God requires a liturgy and a rite bound together. In this section we trace the development of the liturgy from Adam to Mount Sinai, following every act of worship, its form, its liturgical development and the development of its rite. - [About the Blog Abba Ho Pater](/en/blog/about) — *2016-11-29T14:37:00Z* Abba, Father is the cry of every worshiping heart, and it is the cry of Christ Himself in the midst of suffering! It is our cry, we who rejoice and exult in the gift of adoption. - [The Orthodox Concept of Worship According to the Thought of the Church Fathers](/en/blog/orthodox-worship-church-fathers) — *2016-12-01T17:22:47Z* 1- The definition of worship according to the teaching of the Holy Bible and the thought of the Fathers: Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing (Ps 100:2). --- Source: https://abba.fadymondy.com/en/blog