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''Main article: [[Soteriology]]''
Soteriology is the doctrine of salvation. In the Orthodox Church, salvation is understood as [[theosis]], the infinite process of becoming more and more like God. It is also termed ''deification'' or ''divinization'', and its meaning is that the Christian may become more and more soaked with the divine life, becoming by [[grace]] what Christ is by [[nature]]. As St. [[Athanasius the Great]] said, "God became man so that man might become god."
Salvation is a process which encompasses not only the whole earthly life of the Christian, but also the eternal life of the age to come. It is often described in terms of three stages—[[catharsis]] (purification), [[theoria]] (illumination) and [[theosis]] (divinization). Salvation is thus not only becoming sinless (purification), but it is also a progress in being filled with the divine light. Additionally, it is becoming so filled with God in union with Him that the Christian shines forth with the likeness of God, sometimes even literally becoming a bearer of the [[uncreated light]]. Though these terms of three stages are sometimes used, there is much overlap between them, and the whole process is often termed ''theosis''.
It is only in and through Christ that man can be saved. Salvation cannot be earned, being a free gift from God. Its acquisition, however, requires man's cooperation with God, because God will not violate the free will of man. Thus, a life of repentance and participation in the [[sacraments]] is the means by which man cooperates with God. This cooperation is termed ''[[synergia]]'' (synergy).
In theosis, man becomes filled with the divine life. He takes on God's attributes, but he does not become merged with the Holy Trinity. There is union without fusion. Man can become a god by grace, not in a polytheistic sense, but rather in terms of becoming a son or daughter of the Most High by means of adoption. Thus, a classic [[Church Fathers|patristic]] image of theosis is a sword held in a flame—the sword gradually takes on the properties of the flame (light and heat), but remains a sword.
==Clergy==