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Trinity - Pascha Cycle - "Knowing God"

Please maker sure that you have read the main Trinity page first

Setting the Scene

An Orthodox Christian is called to know God both personally and in the community of that "knowing" ... which is the Church.  He cannot say "I know God and therefore I do not need the Church."  Neither can he say, "Don't bother me with knowing God personally ... it is enough that I belong to the Church."  The Trinity resolves the false dilemma so often sadly experienced by other Christians.  The Trinity is a communion of persons sharing one nature as God.  Knowing God is to participate in this relational dynamic of God who is Love.  This personal participation has itself a relational character in its embrace of all creatures within the life of God.

St. John makes this clear in his first letter when talking of the Love of God.

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.   He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.   In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."                         [1 John 4:7-11]

Practical

Consider the people and experiences in your life that have caused you to know God more deeply.  What factors were involved in these spiritual encounters?  What measures do you (or could you) take to maintain and deepen your relationship with God in the Church?

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