Orthodox Christianity teaches that love is not simply a human feeling but an uncreated energy of God.
Because it comes from God, true love cannot be limited to certain people or conditions. It overflows to all creation, reaching every human, every animal, even extending to the fallen spirits, in pity for their lost state.
This teaching is central to the Orthodox understanding of salvation, for the purified heart becomes a reflection of God’s love and therefore embraces all that He has made.
The world often reduces love to emotion, instinct, or personal preference. But in Orthodox Christianity, love is divine grace entering into the heart.
The saints and the Holy Fathers testify that when the passions are removed and the soul is cleansed, the heart burns with compassion for all creation. This is not sentimental but deeply spiritual. It is a participation in the very love of God.
God Is the Source of All Love
Saint John the Apostle says:
“God is love”
1 John 4:8
This is not a metaphor but a revelation of God’s uncreated energy. God’s love flows endlessly, like a river that never runs dry.
As Saint Isaac the Syrian writes, only God is the source of love, and from Him all true love is given.
Man is not the origin of love. He is like the moon that reflects the light of the sun. The human heart is created to receive and reflect the divine love of God. If the heart is clean, it reflects God’s light. If the heart is darkened by passions, it becomes incapable of shining.
The Psalmist prayed:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me”
Psalm 50:12, LXX
Without purification, the heart cannot bear the love of God. With purification, the heart becomes radiant and begins to love not selectively but universally.
The Heart as a Mirror of Divine Love
Orthodox Fathers often speak of the heart as a mirror. When God’s uncreated light touches the heart, it naturally reflects love back toward God and outward to others. But if that mirror is covered with rust, which are the passions, the reflection is lost.
This is why many people do not love God or neighbor. Their hearts are corroded with sin and selfishness.
But when one cleanses the heart through repentance, fasting, prayer, and the mysteries of the Church, the heart begins to shine again. Then love is no longer partial or limited but embraces all creation.
As the Lord Himself commanded:
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself”
Leviticus 19:18; repeated in Matthew 22:39
But Christ went even further:
“Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you”
Matthew 5:44
This is possible only when the heart has been healed.
Love Extending to All People
The saints of Orthodox Christianity demonstrate that love cannot be restricted only to friends or family. When the heart is purified, it loves all people equally, for all bear the image of God.
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Saint Silouan the Athonite wept continually for the salvation of all mankind.
Saint Isaac the Syrian wrote that the heart that loves God cannot endure to see even a sinner perish, but prays with tears for his salvation.
This is the sign of true love, for as the Apostle Paul writes:
“Love never fails”
1 Corinthians 13:8
This love is not blind to sin. It does not approve of evil. But it seeks always the healing and salvation of the person. It grieves over the lost and cries out to God for mercy on them.
Love Extending to Animals
Orthodox Christianity teaches that the love of God also extends to the animals and all creation. This is not sentimentality but recognition of the unity of creation in God’s plan.
Saint Isaac the Syrian described the burning heart of a true Christian as one that has compassion for all creatures, including animals and even demons, weeping for them and praying for all of creation.
This does not mean that animals are equal to humans, for man alone bears the image of God. But it does mean that God’s love is not indifferent to His creatures. When man fell, creation suffered.
As Saint Paul says:
“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God”
Romans 8:20-21
When the Christian loves the animals and cares for them, he reflects God’s compassion and begins to restore creation to its harmony.
Love Even for Enemies
One of the most radical teachings of Orthodox Christianity is love for enemies. The Lord Himself gave the commandment to love those who hate us. This is not natural for fallen man. Left to himself, man desires vengeance. But the grace of God makes the impossible possible.
Saint Stephen the Protomartyr, when stoned to death, prayed:
“Lord, do not hold this sin against them”
Acts 7:60
The martyrs and saints of every age have shown the same spirit.
Why must we love our enemies? Because God loved us while we were still His enemies.
“But God shows His love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”
Romans 5:8
If God loved us when we were against Him, how can we refuse to love those who oppose us?
This does not mean we accept evil. It means we desire the salvation of even those who hurt us, praying that God may heal their hearts as He has healed ours.
The Burning Heart of Compassion
Saint Isaac the Syrian speaks of the “burning of the heart” that the Christian feels when purified. This burning is not only for one’s own soul or for friends but for every creature. It is a fire of compassion that imitates God’s own love.
Such a heart cannot see the suffering of another without weeping. It cannot look upon the ruin of creation without grief. It cannot remember even the demons without pity, knowing their eternal loss.
This universal love is a sign that the heart has truly united with God.
The Psalmist cries:
“The mercies of the Lord are over all His works”
Psalm 144:9, LXX
The Christian who reflects God’s love also extends mercy to all His works.
The Path to Such Love
How can one reach such love?
Orthodox Christianity teaches that it is the fruit of purification. We cannot produce this love by ourselves. It comes from God when the heart is clean.
The ascetic life of the Church is directed toward this. Prayer, fasting, almsgiving, humility, and confession are not ends in themselves but means to cleanse the heart so that divine love may dwell within it.
Saint Paul wrote:
“The goal of the commandment is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith”
1 Timothy 1:5
Without purification, love is false. With purification, love is genuine and eternal.
Modern World vs Orthodox Christianity
There are profound differences between how the modern world views love for creation and enemies and how Orthodox Christianity understands it.
- The world limits love to emotions; Orthodoxy makes love participation in divine grace.
- The world loves selectively; Orthodoxy extends love to all, including enemies.
- The world often reduces animals to property; Orthodoxy sees them as part of God’s creation to be treated with compassion.
- The world loves based on benefit; Orthodoxy loves sacrificially, even without reward.
- The world confuses tolerance with love; Orthodoxy unites love with truth.
- The world views enemies as obstacles; Orthodoxy views them as opportunities for forgiveness and salvation.
- The world’s love is temporary and changing; Orthodoxy’s love is eternal because it is rooted in God.
- The world separates love from holiness; Orthodoxy sees love as the fruit of holiness.
- The world’s compassion may be political or ideological; Orthodoxy’s compassion flows from a purified heart.
- The world seeks to master creation; Orthodoxy seeks to restore it in harmony with God.
Explaining to Children
Parents can explain this teaching simply. God made everything: people, animals, birds, and even the smallest creatures. God loves all that He made. When our heart is clean, we also love everything God created.
We should care for animals, be kind to other children, and pray even for those who are mean to us.
Just as the sun shines on everyone, God wants our love to shine on everyone. Loving enemies means praying that they become good and happy with God.
Children can understand that this is the way to be like Jesus, who forgave everyone.
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