' Maximus of Tyre [2nd century AD.]:

The eye cannot see God, words cannot name Him, flesh and blood cannot touch Him, the ear cannot hear Him; but within the soul That which is most fair, most pure, most intelligible, most ethereal, most honorable, can contemplate Him because it is like Him, can hear Him because of their kinship.


... The soul holds herself erect and strong, she gazes at the pure light [of the Godhead]; she wavers not, nor turns her glance to earth, but closes her ears and directs her eyes and all other senses within.

She forgets the troubles and sorrows of earth, its joys and honors, its glory and its shame; and submits to the guidance of pure reason and strong love.

For reason points out the road that must be followed, and love drives the soul forward, making the rough places smooth by its charm and constancy.

And as we approach heaven and leave earth behind, the goal becomes clear and luminous—that is a foretaste of God's very self.

On the road we learn His nature better; but when we reach the end, we see Him.