The Nous from the series "Themes from the Philokalia". The Nous that enjoys the love of God is the light of the soul. He who has such a nous is illuminated in his heart and sees God with his nous.

Even though the soul is one, it is divided according to the holy fathers into three powers or three parts, the rational, the appetitive and the incensive. The tool by which the rational part operates is the nous (the spiritual intellect, not to be confused with "reason" or logic or the mind) The nous is also the ability of the soul to partake and unite with God through enlightenment by the Holy Spirit. It is also the ability towards theoria or vision of God.

Archimandrite Ioannikios Kotsonis