Eastern Church Fathers on Being Human—Dichotomy in Essence and Wholeness in Deification

The article traces the formation of Eastern Christian anthropology as a new religious and philosophical tradition within Early Byzantine culture. notion “Patristics” is reasoned corpus ideas Church Fathers, both Western. term “Eastern Patristics” means works by Greek-Byzantine who in theological disputes with Western Fathers elaborated creed. Based on an analysis texts most important provisions Patristics are deduced discussed, which determined specificity anthropology. In this context, different approaches to explanation Old Testament thesis creation man God’s image likeness justification duality human essence shown. Particular attention paid considering idea deification overcoming dualism entire created universe, doctrine Divine Logoi energies, potential elimination antinomianism earthly worlds. reflects anthropological pre-Nicene Father Irenaeus, non-canonical early work Shepherd Hermas, teachings classical period Athanasius Alexandria, Gregory Nyssa, Maximus Confessor.