How did man used to live in Paradise? Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi (+2009)

Paradise was a divine place, a fitting abode for man, who has been created “in the image and likeness of God”.

He lived there in the bliss of the divine attributes, which were integrated into his very essence. He had the sense of being superior and steward of all other created beings. He was dispassionate, lived without concerns, care, or officiousness for his life. He was not hard pressed for any necessity. He only had one task, that of the angels: to constantly and ceaselessly praise the Creator. The fullness of his likeness to God did not allow him to have any doubts and questions. His indulgence was to participate in the fullness of divine consummate love. According to Saint John of Damascus, “Man was residing in the most superior, unrivaled and most beautiful place, having God as a cohabiter. He had God as his bright garment, was surrounded by His grace and was taking delight in the sweetest product of His contemplation”.

Is there any higher indulgence than the feeling that you are holding onto and possessing that which you love and especially if the subject of your love is God?

What was the reason for man’s fall?

The fall was the result of the inexperience and carelessness of God-created man. These made him neglect and practically betray his personal union and communion with God the Father, believing that he can prosper by himself.Therefore, the fall is regarded and is named as the detachment and withdrawal of each and every created being from the first cause of creation, i.e God. The universe, according to divine revelation, is that which has been caused and as such it is not self-existent, but it exists because it participates in the divine energy and providence. Therefore, if that which has been created is cut off from the cohesive force and energy of God, it is spoiled and dies.

The defection of beings from God resulted in two equally powerful disasters. One is the audacity against and the defection from the Creator and governor. The other is the separation from the source of eternal life, God, who is the only cause of existence and cohesion.

The same offense caused disaster in both the human and the angelic nature. The angels, because of their selfish haughtiness, imagined that they could become independent from God. They lost not only their significance, their state and their illumination, but they were also altered from most the beautiful beings into horrific monsters and became the instigators of horror and terror, without any intention of repentance and return.

Even though man, who became a victim of demonic wickedness, has lost his god-like state and has been exiled here, to the valley of tears, he did not lose the advantage of repentance, which may prompt him to return.

Excerpts from the book ‘Discourse on Mount Athos’ by Elder Joseph of Vatopedi.Translated by Olga Konari Kokkinou from the Greek edition: Γέροντος Ιωσήφ Βατοπαιδινού, Συζητήσεις στον Άθωνα, Ψυχοφελή Βατοπαιδινά 13, Ιερά Μεγίστη Μονή Βατοπαιδίου, Έκδοσις Α΄2003