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Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty · Catechism · 222

Faith Q&A › Catechism › 5. The Wondrous Creator, the Guardian of the World

Why did God command waters to be above the firmament, waters to be below the firmament, and waters to be gathered in seas and rivers?

The answer

This was done in boundless wisdom for the benefit of humanity. The aquatic world praises God and glorifies Him: “Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all the depths” (Ps. 148:7). Further, St. Basil rejects the interpretation of the waters above the firmament as being the spiritual powers of good, and those in the depths of the seas as the powers of evil.440

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty

Notes

440 St. Basil of Caesarea, Hexamaeron 3.9 (NPNF II/8:70–71).

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty, Catechism of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Volume 1, Books 1–3. First English Edition, 2023. Published by St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, Sporting, Alexandria, and Queen St. Mary & Prince Tadros Coptic Orthodox Church, South Brunswick, NJ. Copyright © 2023. Translation and Editing: Youth of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, Arabian Gulf, and Egypt.