The sky

His Holiness Pope Shenouda speaks about the meaning of heaven and explains that the word “heaven” denotes exaltation and has multiple degrees: the heaven of birds, the astronomical heaven, and the “third heaven” or paradise, up to the “heaven of heavens” which is the exclusive throne of God.
He points out the existence of angels around God’s throne — such as Michael and Gabriel, the cherubim and the seraphim — and describes them as full of sight and watchful in all directions, and that the heavens proclaim the glory of God and declare the work of His hands as the Psalm says.
He emphasizes the importance of contemplation of heaven as a spiritual discipline (especially in Great Lent) because the phrase “who is in the heavens” in the Lord’s Prayer lifts our eyes and balances God’s tenderness with His majesty.
The Pope links heaven with virtues: almsgiving stores up treasures in heaven, obedience should be as in heaven, and good deeds glorify “your Father who is in the heavens” and their reward is great in heaven.
He discusses the relation of sin to heaven: the sinner “sins against heaven” and mourns the inhabitants of heaven, and repentance brings joy in heaven, and forgiveness comes from “our heavenly Father.”
He speaks of the kingdom of heaven and our eternal destiny, and mentions that the apostles were given the keys of the kingdom of heaven (binding and loosing and forgiveness) while warning against false shepherds and teachers who prevent entrance.
He clarifies that God descended from heaven and ascended to heaven in the body, and that in times of distress there is an “open door in heaven” as John saw, and the Lord said “I open and no one will shut” — a prayer that the Lord grant us a place in heaven.
He urges believers to prepare the heavenly dwelling for themselves and to care for the spiritual life and readiness for the kingdom, reminding that the heavens contain what eye has not seen nor ear heard.

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