Orthodox version of Purgatory?

Just a question

do the EO believe that any soul in hell could be rescued by the prayers/good works of people on earth? Or are some souls so unrepentant that they have decided to stay there forever, and can no longer change, and will be in hades till the last Judgement and beyond? are there different 'categories' of people in hades, or can all be eventually saved? If they can all be, why doesn't this happen; is it because people on earth are not praying enough?

thanks

RobNJ said:

Purgatory for the Orthodox? Of course it exists! It's called the GH forum here!

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You mean H'RU!

MoNiCa4316 said:

Just a question

do the EO believe that any soul in hell could be rescued by the prayers/good works of people on earth? Or are some souls so unrepentant that they have decided to stay there forever, and can no longer change, and will be in hades till the last Judgement and beyond? are there different 'categories' of people in hades, or can all be eventually saved? If they can all be, why doesn't this happen; is it because people on earth are not praying enough?

thanks

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We wouldn't classify people in hell like that. We can pray for anybody, and there are absolutely no limits on the mercy of God, only on our individual willingness to receive it.

Although some priests and bishops prefer to reserve public prayer for those who died in communion with the Church, private prayers can always be prayed for anyone (apostates, suicides).

There are some who may not repent and will stay there forever, but that is and always will be their choice, not the result of a classification system (even a general one) that we put upon them.

The Church teaches that while we cannot demand or expect universal salvation, we can (and probably should) always hope for it.

MoNiCa4316 said:

Just a question

do the EO believe that any soul in hell could be rescued by the prayers/good works of people on earth? Or are some souls so unrepentant that they have decided to stay there forever, and can no longer change, and will be in hades till the last Judgement and beyond? are there different 'categories' of people in hades, or can all be eventually saved? If they can all be, why doesn't this happen; is it because people on earth are not praying enough?

thanks

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here's the thing Monica.

It's not a dogma.

This should offer a peek into the Orthodox mindset on prayer for the deparated. We don't list out the reasons we should pray for the departed. Surely lists exists (and don't call me shirley... had to say it today out of all days lol) by saints here and there, but by and large, we pray for our deparated loved ones because we love them and because we believe in God's mercy. We don't direct His mercy though. We don't choose to pray for some and not others bc we have judged that they are beyond salvation. For many Orthodox throughout history even Judas isn't beyond salvation. The Bible seems to speak to this pretty clearly, at least in the minds of many, so many Orthodox will say he is beyond prayer because of what the Scriptures say. but my point is that even to that extent is the audacity of Orthodox to believe that somehow salvation is still possible for the dead. We don't procaim that as Gospel, but we hope in it because of what the Gospel tells us about God. God will never turn down a repentant sinner... never. NEVER. To say otherwise would blasphemy. However, the question is really, once one is dead, can they repent? That's beyond us because it's beyond this world. So pray because... it makes us human and there is always that chance that miracles can happen... even after death.

I know you know a lot about Orthodoxy and are quite familiar with it... but always think of it this way. While the west tends to be ask "why", we tend to ask "why not?".

Josh

Damaris said:

We wouldn't classify people in hell like that. We can pray for anybody, and there are absolutely no limits on the mercy of God, only on our individual willingness to receive it.

Although some priests and bishops prefer to reserve public prayer for those who died in communion with the Church, private prayers can always be prayed for anyone (apostates, suicides).

There are some who may not repent and will stay there forever, but that is and always will be their choice, not the result of a classification system (even a general one) that we put upon them.

The Church teaches that while we cannot demand or expect universal salvation, we can (and probably should) always hope for it.

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Great response!

Damaris said:

The Church teaches that while we cannot demand or expect universal salvation, we can (and probably should) always hope for it.

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May I quote this in my sig?
That is truely awesome!!!

do the EO believe that any soul in hell could be rescued by the prayers/good works of people on earth? Or are some souls so unrepentant that they have decided to stay there forever, and can no longer change, and will be in hades till the last Judgement and beyond?

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well, all are saved by God's mercy. our prayers for the departed are for God to have mercy on the departed soul, and for that person to accept the mercy that God offers. can this affect someone's salvation? I guess it can, maybe? but I know that God knows, and since He does the saving and the judging, that's good enough for me. as for your second question, I would have to say yes. there are some souls that will be so darkened by their sinfullness, that they will eternally reject God.

are there different 'categories' of people in hades, or can all be eventually saved? If they can all be, why doesn't this happen; is it because people on earth are not praying enough?

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yeah, I think in a sense there are different categories, because certain folk will be more darkened than others. all in hell are damned by their own chosing, but there are those who will have corrupted themselves so much more than others that their torment will be greater. God afflicts those and kills them, and this is gonna sound nuts, in His mercy to stop them from sinning, so that their torment will be less.

can all be saved? yes, because God offers salvation and everyone has the free will to chose it. will all be saved? prolly not, because there are those who will never want anything to do with God. and God allows it.

LiturgyInDMinor said:

May I quote this in my sig?
That is truely awesome!!!

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Thanks. You may certainly quote it.

Magnus Maximus said:

Even tough I am Catholic I really like, I guess like isn't the best word. The Orthodox notion of Sin makes a lot more sense to me than the Catholic one. There a lot of things a love in the Catholic church but two things I wish we could copy from the Orthodox is the sin concept and the need to tend towrds perfection at least how I undersyand it. Then again I also like the Anglican version of just.. by faith.

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So you're Cathanglidox?

You probably could start a church pretty easily...and who wouldn't want to be tax exempt?

wturri78 said:

So you're Cathanglidox?

You probably could start a church pretty easily...and who wouldn't want to be tax exempt?

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OO. I might be Cathanglidox, or at least Angcahtlidox.

MKJ said:

OO. I might be Cathanglidox, or at least Angcahtlidox.

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Well, as long as you aren't Orthocathlican, you should be fine.