I saw this discussed in another thread and was intrigued.
Apparently some Orthodox believe that after death there is some form of Tollhouses that they need to pass through, where demons accuse the soul of sin and he then needs to clear it through Angelic help or intercessory prayer and on his state at death. It is a sort of purgatory it seems, a temporary disruption before the 'dead-in-Christ of Paul' state awaiting the Parousia.
One of the disputants @FireDragon76 said it was peasant superstition not taught by the clergy, yet it appears to be in the life of St. Anthony and slavonic liturgies.
Could someone enlighten me on what the actual orthodox position on this is? Is it really a sort-of purgatory in orthodox eyes, or merely soft-gnostic paganism as it seems to me. I find it hard to believe to be actual orthodox doctrine. How does it differ from Purgatory or a form of purgation then if so and what patristic or scriptural basis does it have (beyond of course the Maccabeaen prayers for the dead).
Apparently some Orthodox believe that after death there is some form of Tollhouses that they need to pass through, where demons accuse the soul of sin and he then needs to clear it through Angelic help or intercessory prayer and on his state at death. It is a sort of purgatory it seems, a temporary disruption before the 'dead-in-Christ of Paul' state awaiting the Parousia.
One of the disputants @FireDragon76 said it was peasant superstition not taught by the clergy, yet it appears to be in the life of St. Anthony and slavonic liturgies.
Could someone enlighten me on what the actual orthodox position on this is? Is it really a sort-of purgatory in orthodox eyes, or merely soft-gnostic paganism as it seems to me. I find it hard to believe to be actual orthodox doctrine. How does it differ from Purgatory or a form of purgation then if so and what patristic or scriptural basis does it have (beyond of course the Maccabeaen prayers for the dead).