Chapter 4 - Who is the God of Revelation?
BASIC DOGMATIC TEACHINGAn Orthodox Handbookby Protopresbyter Fr. Anthony Alevizopoulos (1931 – 1996)Dr. of Theology, Dr. of Philosophy
1. The hospitality of Abraham
Man cannot possibly know God the way He is in reality.
That is, he cannot become acquainted with the essence of
God. He can only perceive the uncreated energies of God
- the "traces" of God.
However, in the Holy Bible and the Sacred Tradition of
the Church, we have certain "portrayals" of God. The
most familiar one is that Byzantine icon in which God is
portrayed in the form of three angels - the way He
appeared before Abraham. The Fathers of the Church
say that the excerpt in question actually comprises the
very first depiction of the Holy Trinity in the Old
Testament.
"Now
God appeared to him near the oak of Mambre, while he was
sitting at the door of his tent at midday.