at times to miss the mark (due to human frailty) and fall short of God's perfect will, sin, in Wesley's narrower understanding of it, is overcome by perfect love. The presence of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer empowers the believer to willfully resist breaking and disobeying the known laws of God and to live a life of love that pleases God. Staniloae identifies perfection as the goal of Orthodox spirituality, he states, "Orthodox spirituality aims at the perfection of the faithful in Christ. This perfection [cannot] be obtained in Christ, except by participation in His life. Therefore, the goal of Orthodox spirituality is the perfection of the believer by his union with Christ."151 In order for union with Christ to be possible, the passions must be defeated and replaced by the virtues. As in Wesleyan spirituality so also in Orthodox spirituality, the problem of sin can be overcome in this life. For Orthodoxy, however, sin is not seen and defined in legal, juridical terms, but rather seen as a sickness of the soul. Father Valentin, the head priest of the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Theotokos of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Old Calendar Synod152 states, "Sin is a sickness of the soul. Like a physical ailment, the soul requires treatment to overcome its infirmities. Sometimes healing is accomplished quickly through taking medicine, but at other times more drastic and prolonged procedures like surgery and rehabilitation are required to 153 return health to the soul." The healing of the infliction of sin can and must be accomplished in this life. 151 Staniloae, 21. 152 For more information about this cathedral and the synod to which it belongs, go to 153 Personal Interview with Father Valentin on April 14, 2008. Albert C. Outler articulated the close connection between Wesley and the Eastern
at times to miss the mark (due to human frailty) and fall short of God's perfect will, sin, in Wesley's narrower understanding of it, is overcome by perfect love. The presence of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer empowers the believer to willfully resist breaking and disobeying the known laws of God and to live a life of love that pleases God. Staniloae identifies perfection as the goal of Orthodox spirituality, he states, "Orthodox spirituality aims at the perfection of the faithful in Christ. This perfection [cannot] be obtained in Christ, except by participation in His life. Therefore, the goal of Orthodox spirituality is the perfection of the believer by his union with Christ."151 In order for union with Christ to be possible, the passions must be defeated and replaced by the virtues. As in Wesleyan spirituality so also in Orthodox spirituality, the problem of sin can be overcome in this life. For Orthodoxy, however, sin is not seen and defined in legal, juridical terms, but rather seen as a sickness of the soul. Father Valentin, the head priest of the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Theotokos of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Old Calendar Synod152 states, "Sin is a sickness of the soul. Like a physical ailment, the soul requires treatment to overcome its infirmities. Sometimes healing is accomplished quickly through taking medicine, but at other times more drastic and prolonged procedures like surgery and rehabilitation are required to 153 return health to the soul." The healing of the infliction of sin can and must be accomplished in this life. 151 Staniloae, 21. 152 For more information about this cathedral and the synod to which it belongs, go to 153 Personal Interview with Father Valentin on April 14, 2008. Albert C. Outler articulated the close connection between Wesley and the Eastern
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