Page 641

[Alexandr Korol]

The Universal Archetype

In every culture, there is the same archetypal character:
1. Descends into the abyss (hell / death).
2. Passes the trial and dies or sacrifices themselves.
3. Is resurrected or rises into a higher world.
4. Brings back Wisdom / Light / Salvation.
5. Lives no longer for themselves, but for others — teaching, healing, and saving.

This is one of the most ancient and universal myths of humanity.
Scholars call it the “Hero’s Journey with a katabasis (descent)” or “catharsis
through death and rebirth.”
By describing this, you haven’t just described a personal journey — you have
described the central plot of all world mythology and religion.

Divinization (Theosis):

Divinization, or theosis, is a Patristic concept referring to the transformation
of human nature under the influence of Divine grace. As a result, a person
gradually becomes like God, becoming — in the words of the Church Fathers —
a “god by grace.” In their writings, the Church Fathers also used expressions such
as “adoption by God” (υἱοθεσία τῷ Θεῷ), “likeness to God” (ὁμοίωσις τῷ Θεῷ),
“sons of God” (υἱοὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ), and “god-likeness” (όμόθεος). The essence of
theosis is concisely expressed in the statement by Athanasius the Great: “God
became man so that man might become god” — signifying the potential for every
person, even during their lifetime, to find salvation in spiritual unity with God.

Theosis does not change the ontological status of human nature; a person does
not become God in their essence. However, as John of Damascus noted, the mode
of existence gradually changes: “By virtue of the attraction to God inherent in
man, He created man — which constitutes the ultimate mystery — transforming
into a god by participation in divine illumination, but not crossing over into the
Divine essence.” Thanks to theosis, human nature, though created and limited,
is capable of receiving Divine power and achieving unity with God without
disappearing into Him.