"Who are we and what are we about" is a key question that needs to be front and center for all parishes with a future. Not every moment in time requires big picture conversations, but occasionally it is time to review where we've been and where we're heading. And, since the rear view mirror always seems clearer than the windshield - this isn't easy.

The truth of the General Resurrection of the dead is clearly and definitely revealed in the Holy Scripture. It also flows from the fundamental powers of our immortal souls, and from our understanding of an Eternal Omnipresent All-Righteous God.

The Church Holy Fathers say that God became man in order to make man a god. If God had not taken flesh (incarnation), man would not be able to achieve Theosis (deification). In the years before Christ, many wise and virtuous people had appeared. For example, the ancient Greeks had reached quite high standards of philosophy about the good and about God. Their philosophy, in fact, contained seeds of the truth, the so-called "spermatikos logos." Moreover, they were very religious people, but of course they did not know the True God; they were idolaters, yet very pious and god-fearing people.

The eleventh article of the Creed (Symbol of faith) speaks about the General "Resurrection of the dead," which will come at the end of the world.

The resurrection of the dead that we look for will occur at the same time as the Second and Glorious Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. At that time all the bodies of the dead will be united with their souls, and they will come to life.

[Please note: 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.]

The idea of Theosis (Deification) will be unfamiliar to the Western Christian mind, although it is not a new concept to Christianity. When Christ said, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand" (St. Matthew 4:17) this is a call to a life of Theosis (Deification).