God Is Beautiful and Loves Beauty

Main Idea of the Lecture

This lecture affirms that God, by His nature, is beautiful and loves beauty, and that beauty is not merely an outward appearance but a reflection of a deep spiritual essence. Everything God created bears the imprint of beauty, whether in nature, humanity, worship, or spiritual life.

Dimensions of Beauty in Creation

• His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that God created all creation “very good,” and that beauty is evident in angels, nature, mountains, seas, colors, and music.
• Natural beauty is a constant testimony to God’s love and creativity, beyond the ability of any human artist to imitate.

Beauty in Humanity

• Humanity was created in the image and likeness of God, and therefore was originally created in perfect beauty.
• True beauty is not limited to the body but flows from the heart: purity, gentleness, love, and humility.
• Sin distorts human features, while purity and repentance grant light and beauty to one’s face and life.

Spiritual Beauty and Holiness

• Spiritual beauty is clearly manifested in the lives of saints and prophets, and especially in the Virgin Mary, who combined human beauty with spiritual beauty.
• Spiritual beauty leaves its mark on the body and behavior, making a person beloved and comforting to others.

Beauty in Worship and the House of God

• The house of God was designed in utmost beauty as a symbol of heaven, with its colors, icons, incense, lights, and order.
• Church rites and hymns carry profound beauty that leads the soul to spiritual joy and contemplation of God.

Beauty in Eternity

• In the resurrection, creation will be restored to its original beauty, and bodies will be transfigured into heavenly, luminous forms without any defect.
• Eternal beauty surpasses all that the eye has seen or the ear has heard, and it is the ultimate goal for which God calls us to prepare through a pure life.

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