The Image of God in Ascetic Literature: Anthropomorphic Controversy According to Saint John Cassian’s Conferences
The Image of God in Ascetic Literature: Anthropomorphic Controversy According to Saint John Cassian’s Conferences

Summary/Abstract: According to Holy Bible, God cannot be seen by man, man can see The Face of God only from an eschatological perspective. Although, „the glory of God” canbe seen in certain conditions, more precisely in a mystical ecstatic state. In the second conference held by Father Isaac on the topic of the payer (Conference X), Saint John Cassian tells about the outburst of the anthropomorphic controversy. Here he rejects the anthropomorphic representation of God during prayer time, and so brings into discussing the topic of „the face of God”referred to in Genesis 1, 26. From an allegorical point of view, he stresses the Christological perspective of the seeing God and warns about the anthropomorphic trap that leads to the loss of salvation. Following Holy Tradition and the most important Fathers, Saint John Cassian opposes the anthropomorphic „heresy” and becomes the most important witness of this event.

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