Every person is conceived as a reflection of the eternal light that God has embedded in his essence.

The Loss of Divine Reflection

Every person is conceived as a reflection of the eternal light that God has embedded in his essence. But when vices begin to accumulate in the soul, this light is lost, and the image—initially endowed with divine purity and beauty—becomes distorted by sin. The internal state of a person, like a mirror, can reveal his true spiritual condition: if signs of darkness appear in the “mirror of the soul,” then that very holy radiance, which was meant to illuminate his inner world and relations with others, has been lost.

Ancient texts indicate that original sin became the starting point for the destruction of this divine connection, transforming the purity of the original design into a distorted reflection. The gaze, being the window to the soul, begins to signal a disrupted harmony when the darkness of vice seeps through. Such an internal change not only deprives a person of the ability to clearly discern true spiritual ideals but also becomes the source of constant inner conflicts.

Thus, the loss of the reflection of God’s image is not merely a moral downfall but a profound destruction of the spiritual foundation of the individual. The sensation of emerging darkness within serves as a reminder to everyone of the importance of continually striving to revive one’s inner light and to restore the primordial connection with the Divine, in order to once again become a full bearer of love and harmony.

Why is it considered a sin to lose within oneself the reflection of God’s image and how does it affect our spiritual state?

The loss of the reflection of God’s image is regarded as a profound sin because it signifies a disruption of the inner connection between a person and the Divine, as well as a distortion of the spiritual beauty and purity originally implanted in him. A person, created in the image and likeness of God, reflects the spiritual light that should illuminate both his inner world and his interactions with others. Yet when vices accumulate in the soul, this light fades, and the image of God, which was meant to be carried, becomes distorted by sin.

For example, one of the texts presented in file link txt states:
“The Lord said: ‘The eye is the lamp of the body.’ ... if some sin is reflected in your eyes, then that vice is within you, meaning that you are darkened by that sin”
(source: link txt). Here it is emphasized that the eyes become a mirror of the soul, reflecting its inner state—if sin appears in them, it indicates that the image of God embedded in the person is damaged and the spiritual state is enshrouded in darkness.

Furthermore, the text from file link txt explains that original sin essentially led to “the violation, damage, darkening, and disfigurement of God’s image in man.” The authors stress that before the fall, the image remained pure, and afterward it became distorted, leading to the loss of its original beauty and spiritual perfection (source: link txt). This indicates that the loss of the reflection of God’s image results in spiritual decline, as the person loses the ability to clearly perceive and strive for true spiritual ideals.

Additionally, as noted in the text from file link txt, the fall of man affects not only his external qualities but also deeply transforms his inner spiritual essence: “The image and likeness of God in man changed after his fall.” This conveys that the disruption of the connection with the Divine affects the entire structure of the soul, turning it into an arena of internal conflicts, where a distorted self-perception prevails, ultimately hindering true spiritual awakening and perfection (source: link txt).

Thus, the loss of the reflection of God’s image is considered a sin because it represents a rejection of the sacred, intrinsic nature of a person and leads to the destruction of the inner spiritual world. When a person loses this divine light, his soul sinks into darkness, affecting his moral consciousness, capacity for good deeds, and overall spiritual well-being. This effect generates a continuous struggle with inner passions and hinders the restoration or revival of the original spiritual beauty that God instilled in every person.

Supporting citation(s):
“The Lord said: ‘The eye is the lamp of the body.’ ... if some sin is reflected in your eyes, then that vice is within you, meaning that you are darkened by that sin” (source: link txt).

“Thus, our ancestors’ eye that gazed upon God was blinded, for sin, like a veil, fell upon the heart... The violation, darkening, distortion, relaxation, that original sin brought about... disfiguring the image of God in man” (source: link txt).

“The image and likeness of God in man changed after his fall” (source: link txt).