Love is the feeling that everyone experiences in his or her life. That is why it is not surprising that this word exists in all languages and dialects, but it also has several meanings. For example, the ancient Greek language included eight words, which denoted the notion of love; and only three of them entered the international vocabulary: «fileo» - friendly (filic) love, «agapy» - elevated (agapic) love, «eros» - sensual (erotic) love. During many centuries people try to cognize real love, God's love, love to one another. However, neither a religious nor a philosophic system gives a full and deep meaning of love, except Christianity. The Divine Revelation teaches that God himself is love (1 John. 4,8), that all persons of the Divine deity breathe the great, all-giving love to one another. True, genuine love has nothing in common with egoism, whim, self-admiration, it does not search for its own, it gives all to others. From his magnanimous love God created this world - visible and invisible, angelic. Love does not shrink into itself, it is eager to do good for all and does it without delay. Love brings bliss and joy to others. From his love God created a man and gave him his own image and likeness - presented us all with the feeling of all-embracing love. St. Basil the Great said: «… love to God is inborn to a man, it is not something acquired in learning. You cannot simply learn God's love…» The God's love was displayed to the mankind «in the fact that God sent his only-begotten Son of God, so that we received our lives through Him. And love is not in that we love our God, but in that God loves us and thus sent his only-begotten Son, and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins» (1 John 4,9-10). Because of his great love to people, the Saviour went to Calvary and made lots of works of mercy. Christ's propitiatory sacrifice helped people become godlike and feel God's love in full. St. John the Theologian calls to mutual love and says: «Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another» (1 John 4, 11). Any Christian who lives a religious life is able to understand true God's love, which brings joy, beauty and bliss.
