Why did God create the universe and man?

God’s love, which is one of His God-like attributes, is also the reason for the creation. Because for His consummate love, God wished to create beings to which He would pass on part of His Goodness and His Kindness. That’s why it is written that His created beings were “very good”.

In summing up the teachings of the Holy Fathers of the Church, Saint John of Damascus writes on the reason for the creation: “Because, the Good and Most Kind God did not regard as sufficient the contemplation of Himself, but because of His excessive Goodness He took delight in creating beings which would benefit and participate in His kindness, has brought into being all creation- visible and invisible- out of non existence, including man, who is made of visible and invisible elements. He thinks and He builds, and His thoughts become deeds, which are accomplished by Word and fulfilled by the Spirit”.

The abuse which some intelligent beings, Eosforos and Adam, made of their freedom brought into existence the unnatural states of corruption and death. We are now expecting the regeneration, whereby the architect Word God will restore health and balance to the corrupted essence of beings and will finally obliterate corruption, instability and death.

Excerpts from the book ‘Discourse on Mount Athos’ by Elder Joseph of Vatopedi.

Translated from the Greek: ‘Συζητήσεις στον Άθωνα’ του Γέροντος Ιωσήφ Βατοπαιδινού, by Olga Konari Kokkinou Eκδόσεις ‘Ψυχοφελή Βατοπαιδινά 13’.