Creation Days: The Fourth Day

“Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to separate the day from the night..."

Genesis 1:14‭

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As the three days of forming are finished, the fourth day introduces a new stage in creation, the second half of God's creative articulation, the days of filling what was created void. New givers of light are made and spread across the heavens- the sun, moon and stars. 

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The sky is the true iconastasis, a window into Heaven; by day, it reveals the sea of crystal and the Sun of Righteousness shining life giving rays throughout the universe, light for all; by night, the rulers of the heavens emerge, glorious against the darkness, indwelling the heavens by the thousands upon thousands. The heavenly lights image the multitude of spirits surrounding Christ's throne room, the angelic beings in Heaven, the sons of god. While the Fathers generally conclude that the celestial beings themselves were created prior to the first day, the heavenly lights are made to represent their constant activity and movement in the world. They are given to be rulers over the universe, acting in various ways to carry out the will of God in creation. The language indicates that they are to imitate God's actions: to shine light in the world and to rule over day and night. In this way, the fourth day reiterates the first, except now the celestial bodies are to repeat and carry out what God established on the first day.

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If the first three days of creation mystically represent the life, death and resurrection of Christ, the fourth whispers of His ascension. The Holy Prophet Daniel writes, "those who turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars for ever and ever." Man's fulfillment is to become like the stars of heaven, to ascend into the throne room of God to worship and glorify Him forever. Thus, Christ was made lower than the angels by becoming flesh and by His ascension has forever raised humanity into Heaven. The veil of the heavens, impenetrable though it seems, has been torn by Christ Himself that the sons of man may be welcomed into His kingdom as sons of God. And there was evening, and there was morning, the fourth day.

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Part 5 of 12 of the Creation Days series