This isnt so much of a debate, as my attempt to understand orthodox thinking.
Prayers for the dead, what happens to souls before heaven? resurrection?
Starting point I assume uncontested?
-Sheol was how the OT refers to a place where the dead await resurrection.
-Jews in some sense pray for the dead.
-Maccabees speaks of prayers for the dead so that sins are forgiven.
-Some quotes of Jesus showed he quoted the septuagint specifically and historically it can be shown Maccabees was in the septuagint. Indeed the feast of dedication referring to hanukkah is in both OT. So maccabees may be apocrypha but it is mainstream.
-Jesus after death, in some sense preaches to dead or spirits in prison 1 peter 3:19
My question then, is what do orthodox make of all this? I know they reject purgatory, but I understand purgation is accepted.
My understanding is whilst orthodox dont accept purgatory , what happens is left as a mystery, so undefined? Is that true?
Do orthodox pray for the dead? And in what sense do they consider such prayer is useful or has efficacy?
I once heard kallistos ware talking about ways the schism coudl be repaired , speaking of purgatory, saying if it was regarded as a state rather than place, a hospital rather than prison, catholic and orthodox are not so far apart.
I am not after contesting orthodox belief just understanding it!
Prayers for the dead, what happens to souls before heaven? resurrection?
Starting point I assume uncontested?
-Sheol was how the OT refers to a place where the dead await resurrection.
-Jews in some sense pray for the dead.
-Maccabees speaks of prayers for the dead so that sins are forgiven.
-Some quotes of Jesus showed he quoted the septuagint specifically and historically it can be shown Maccabees was in the septuagint. Indeed the feast of dedication referring to hanukkah is in both OT. So maccabees may be apocrypha but it is mainstream.
-Jesus after death, in some sense preaches to dead or spirits in prison 1 peter 3:19
My question then, is what do orthodox make of all this? I know they reject purgatory, but I understand purgation is accepted.
My understanding is whilst orthodox dont accept purgatory , what happens is left as a mystery, so undefined? Is that true?
Do orthodox pray for the dead? And in what sense do they consider such prayer is useful or has efficacy?
I once heard kallistos ware talking about ways the schism coudl be repaired , speaking of purgatory, saying if it was regarded as a state rather than place, a hospital rather than prison, catholic and orthodox are not so far apart.
I am not after contesting orthodox belief just understanding it!
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