Christ: Arsonist or Firefighter?translated

Fire is a natural phenomenon with ramifications that go beyond physical reality and positively or negatively define the social one as well. It constitutes one of the forces that shaped and are shaping human civilization.

By Apostolos Nikolaidis (Late Professor of the University of Athens, President of the Institute "Saint Maximus the Greek")

The value of fire is so great that, according to Greek mythology, it was the exclusive prerogative of the gods, being a symbol of power, knowledge, creation but also destruction, leaving people defenseless and weak against natural phenomena. Things changed when the titan Prometheus because of his love for humans secretly stole her from Jupiter and brought her to earth, offering humans the ability not only to protect themselves from the cold but also to make tools, and in general to create civilization.

Fire, like all natural phenomena, involves an ambiguity. It warms, illuminates, creates but also destroys. It destroys but also restores. It is a blessing but also a threat. On the one hand, it burns and destroys forests, houses, property and obliterates everything. On the other hand...