"We unite ourselves to Him, in so far as this is possible, by participating in the godlike virtues and by entering into communion with Him through prayer and praise. Because the virtues are similitudes of God, to participate in them puts us in a fit state to receive the Deity, yet it does not actually unite us to Him. But prayer through its sacral and hieratic power actualizes our ascent to and union with the Deity, for it is a bond between noetic creatures and their Creator." +Gregory Palamas
And this from +Gregory Palamas:
"The grace of deification thus transcends nature, virtue and knowledge, and `all these things are inferior to it.' [cf +Maximos the Confessor] Every virtue and imitation of God on our part indeed prepares those who practice them for divine union, but the mysterious union itself is effected by grace. It is through grace that `the entire Divinity comes to dwell in fullness in those deemed worth,' and all the saints in their entire being dwell in God, receiving God in His wholeness, and gaining no other reward for their ascent to Him than God Himself."
So, my friend, you knew that I would appreciate your post and the words of that good bishop. What, however, do they say to, and perhaps more importantly, about you? :)
I do believe this is what you meant on an earlier thread, Kolokotronis, by "becoming like God" -- not that you are becoming God, but by doing what you can and depending upon Christ's mercy and sacrifice, correct?