One of the principal ideas in oriental anthropology is that of the divinization of man. The author studies this idea in John Cassian and draws the conclusion that not only was it known to Cassian, but indeed it is the filter through which he views the question of grace. The author arrives at this conclusion, above all, by underlining oriental monasticism as the original context of the theology of divinization. Cassian was trained as a theologian and monk in this very ambience. All of the elements of the concept of divinization are present in the writings of Cassian and the two biblical models for the qšwsij of man – its creation of man in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1: 26-27) and the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor (Mt 17: 1-8; Mc 9: 2-8; Lc 9: 28-36) – are widely commented on by Cassian and form the basis of his theological and ascetical teaching. Cassian’s doctrine on grace, which is deeply penetrated by the concept of divinization, propounds the idea that, after original sin, the likeness of God in man is destroyed, but the image of God in man – reason, free will, and conscience – remains. The grace of God, perceived through the prism of divinization, in Cassian implies not a “resurrection” of the dead nature of man, but a strengthening of his relationship with God, a passage from the condition of “slave” to that of “friend”. This teaching, characterized as it is by a salvific optimism which is typically oriental, according to the author, should no longer be regarded as a form of semipelagianism. Rather, but with due qualification, it should be regarded as a valid and interesting way of speaking on the perennially difficult quaestio of the relationship between grace and free will.
The mystery of the Holy Trinity is not only the most profound truth in the Christian faith, but also the foundation of Christian spiritual life. This life in its essence appears as participation in the life of God Himself – of the Holy Trinity. The present article is an illustration of its kind of this truth; the illustration is based on Sister Roberta Babiak's spiritual experience. Sister Roberta Babiak is a Polish mystic who lived in the first half of the 20th century. She experienced the presence of the Holy Trinity, especially while receiving the Eucharist. Receiving the Eucharist Christ was for her entering a direct salutary relation with the Holy Trinity, as result of which she participated in a peculiar exchange of love between her and God. In Sister Roberta's life, in her unification with God perceived as the Trinity, also theological virtues played an important role. From the possibility of the Holy Trinity taking up residence in man his supernatural dignity results; and the very presence of Triune God in him contributes to his divinization.
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