The Mystery of the Holy Trinity – Reflected in the Quality of Man as the “Image” of God
The Mystery of the Holy Trinity – Reflected in the Quality of Man as the “Image” of God

Summary/Abstract: This study presents in the light of Orthodox theology the concept of man being created “in the image of God”, the fundamental element which distinguishes him from all other creatures of God. So, it is shown that the “image” of God sometimes refers to its quality to express the imperial dignity of man, referring to his superiority over the sensible world, other times it is meant to be seen in his spiritual nature, in his soul or the principal and guiding part of his being, in his mind, in the higher faculties like intelligence, reason, or in man’s freedom, the faculty of selfdetermination... sometimes the image of God is assimilated with some quality of the soul, with its simplicity, with its immortality or with the faculty to know God, to live in connection with Him. The next step is the clarification, from the patristic perspective, of the relationship between human being created “in the image of God” and the incarnate Logos who is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation”. And, finally, the “image” of God in man, is presented as a reflection of the internal communion of the Holy Trinity, with special reference to St. Maximus the Confessor’s theology.

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