THE WORLD AS SACRAMENT

In its foremost symbol, the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, the Orthodox
Church confesses "one God, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things
visible and invisible." From this fundamental principle and declaration of
faith, the Orthodox Church articulates the concept of cosmic
transfiguration, especially through its hymnography.

The Feast of Christ's Transfiguration on August 6th highlights the integral
connection between metamorphosis and theophany, extending the divine light
and transformative power to all creation:
"Today, on Mt. Tabor, in the manifestation of your light, O Lord, You were
unaltered from the light of the unbegotten Father. We have seen the Father
as light, and the Spirit as light, guiding with light the entire creation."

And the Feast of our Lord's Baptism on January 6th proclaims:
"The nature of waters is sanctified, the earth is blessed, and the heavens
are enlightened . so that by the elements of creation, and by angels, and by
human beings, by things both visible and invisible, God's most holy name may
be glorified."

The breadth and depth of the Orthodox cosmic vision implies that humanity is
a part of a "theophany," which is always greater than any single individual.
As St. Maximus states: "Human beings are not isolated from the rest of
creation. They are bound by their very nature to the whole of creation."
Thus, in The Brothers Karamazov, Dostoevsky urges:
"Love all God's creation, the whole of it and every grain of sand. Love
every leaf, every ray of God's light. Love the animals, love the plants,
love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the divine
mystery in things."
[...]

On the sixth day of creation, God created man and woman in His divine image
and likeness. Yet, what most people overlook is that the sixth day is not
dedicated to the formation of Adam alone. That sixth day was shared with
"living creatures of every kind; cattle and creeping things and wild animals
of the earth." (Gen. 1.24) This close connection between humanity and the
rest of creation is a powerful reminder of our intimate relationship with
the environment. While there is undoubtedly something unique about our
creation in God's image, there is more that unites us than separates us, not
only as human beings but also with creation. It is a lesson we have learned
the hard way in recent decades.

The saints of our Church understood this well. They knew that a person with
a pure heart was able to sense the connection with the rest of creation,
including the animal world. The connection is not merely emotional; it is
profoundly spiritual, providing a sense of continuity and community as well
as an expression of identity and compassion with all of creation. One may
recall St. Seraphim of Sarov feeding the bear in the forests of the north.

As Abba Isaac of Nineveh observed:
"A merciful heart burns with love for all creation: for human beings, birds,
beasts, even demons - for all God's creatures. When it recalls these
creatures, it is filled with tears. An overwhelming compassion makes the
heart grow small and weak, and it cannot endure to hear or see any
suffering, even the slightest pain, inflicted upon any creature."

Patriarch Bartholomew
THE WORLD AS SACRAMENT
The Theological and Spiritual Vision of Creation
May 26, 2010
http://www.mospat.ru/en/2010/05/26/news19252/