[Kolokotronis]

I cannot see but that what +BXVI said is Orthodox theology as taught by the Fathers. Theosis is becoming Christlike in our very being, by dying to the self and focusing completely on God. Since God is wholly transcendant we can never in this life fully understand God. In that regard we have no more faculty of understanding than a pagan. What the Church gives us is a way of life which tends to focus the eye of the soul on God and away from ourselves. As that focus becomes clearer, grace, the uncreated energy of God, in turn further transforms us. But what is to say that, if the goal for, indeed the created purpose of, all humanity is to become Christlike, a pagan cannot, by grace, fulfill that purpose? Why would one presume to limit whither the Spirit goes? What does one say about a pagan born in a non Christian land who lives his life in such a manner as to become Christlike without even knowing it? The Fathers wrote of the "sporoi" the seeds of the Faith which they perceived in pagan beliefs.("Some say that we can do nothing good until we actively receive the grace of the Holy Spirit. This is not true." +Mark the Ascetic) These would seem to be the common heritage of created persons. If these exist, they exist for a purpose and I suspect that purpose is for the Holy Spirit to act upon them even if the seedbed isn't Christian or Jewish.How that happens, or even if it happens, I have no idea and I certainly don't ascribe to any sort of Universalism.

"Every Christian must make the effort to merit this salvation with a life of fidelity to God, of charity towards his brothers, of good works."

I think I know what he means, but I also think this is a very unfortunate choice of words. "Merit" doesn't fit real well with theosis. How does one "merit" theosis?

[kosta50]

I cannot see but that what +BXVI said is Orthodox theology as taught by the Fathers

Kolo, you beat me to it! Good job! Hey, another piece of that wall between the Orthodox and Rome just came tumbling down. To which I say: Your Holiness, tear down that wall!

[Claud]

Why would one presume to limit whither the Spirit goes? What does one say about a pagan born in a non Christian land who lives his life in such a manner as to become Christlike without even knowing it?

Right. Indeed, how would it ever be possible for a pagan to be moved to enter the Church without a motion of the Spirit to bring him there?

Deny any movement of the Spirit whatsoever in the pagan, and the Christianity of conversion and theosis no longer stands.