- Nov 10, 2003
- 1,221
- 73
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Catholic
- Marital Status
- Married
-
Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.
Purgatory
- Thread starter MattMMMan17
- Start date
- Status
Read Life After Death by Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos. At this link, there is an excerpt from it which speaks of the so-called "purifying fire" or purgatory.MattMMMan17 said:What is the stance of the Orthodox Churches regarding purgatory? Thanks
http://www.pelagia.org/htm/b24.en.life_after_death.00.htm
Upvote
0
- Nov 10, 2003
- 1,221
- 73
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Catholic
- Marital Status
- Married
Wow, okay Chanter thanks for the link, although that pretty much just re-affirmed the Catholic position on purgatory, I liked the read. And Photini, thanks for the link, but I'm afraid it's quite long and this isn't really one of the subjects I'm trying to look into in depth at the moment. So if someone could just tell me if Orthodox believe in the existence of a purification after death before heaven, I'd appreciate it. Thanks
Upvote
0
Orthodox Andrew
Orthodox Church- Telling The Truth Since 33 A.D.
http://home.it.net.au/~jgrapsas/pages/differences.htm
Another dogmatic difference is the doctrine of Purgatory. The Western Church teaches that after death those who have not repented for their sins are condemned to eternal hell. On this point we agree. However, we disagree with its teaching on Purgatory, a state of place entered by those who have not satisfied for their venial, or lesser sins while on earth to be cleansed by some form of punishment (many theologians say by fire) before entering Paradise.
The Greek Orthodox Church does not accept this doctrine because there is no Scriptural foundation whatsoever for it, nor does Sacred Tradition mention it. The Greek Orthodox Church believes that after death the Soul enters what is called the intermediate or transitional stage. While in this stage the Soul, if destined for Paradise, foretastes its happiness as it awaits the final Judgment. If the Soul is destined for hell, then it foretastes the suffering which it will receive in full at the Final Judgment.
Our prayers, which are offered for the departed, are expressions of love, devotion and a continuous association with them. Through these prayers, we beseech merciful God to forgive our departed brothers so that on Judgment Day their state may improve. The Holy Scriptures make mention of this. Our Lord gives the Apostles the right to forgive sins (Matthew 18:18), "Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven."
.
Another dogmatic difference is the doctrine of Purgatory. The Western Church teaches that after death those who have not repented for their sins are condemned to eternal hell. On this point we agree. However, we disagree with its teaching on Purgatory, a state of place entered by those who have not satisfied for their venial, or lesser sins while on earth to be cleansed by some form of punishment (many theologians say by fire) before entering Paradise.
The Greek Orthodox Church does not accept this doctrine because there is no Scriptural foundation whatsoever for it, nor does Sacred Tradition mention it. The Greek Orthodox Church believes that after death the Soul enters what is called the intermediate or transitional stage. While in this stage the Soul, if destined for Paradise, foretastes its happiness as it awaits the final Judgment. If the Soul is destined for hell, then it foretastes the suffering which it will receive in full at the Final Judgment.
Our prayers, which are offered for the departed, are expressions of love, devotion and a continuous association with them. Through these prayers, we beseech merciful God to forgive our departed brothers so that on Judgment Day their state may improve. The Holy Scriptures make mention of this. Our Lord gives the Apostles the right to forgive sins (Matthew 18:18), "Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven."
.
Upvote
0
- Nov 10, 2003
- 1,221
- 73
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Catholic
- Marital Status
- Married
Upvote
0
Sorry to muddy the clear waters of Andreas' answer, but many Orthodox do believe in a post mortem purification much like Purgatory (although we don't call it that).
The following is from the 1672 Orthodox Confession of Dositheus:
We believe that the souls that have fallen asleep are either at rest or in torment, according to what each hath wrought; - for when they are separated from their bodies, they depart immediately either to joy, or to sorrow and lamentation; though confessedly neither their enjoyment, nor condemnation is complete. For, after the common resurrection, when the soul shall be be united with the body, with which it had behaved itself well or ill, each shall receive the completion of either enjoyment or of condemnation forsooth.
And such as though involved in mortal sins have not departed in despair, but have, while still living in the body, repented, though without bringing forth any fruits of repentance - by pouring forth tears, forsooth, by kneeling while watching in prayers, by afflicting themselves, by relieving the poor, and in fine by showing forth by their works their love towards God and their neighbor, and which the Catholic Church hath from the beginning rightly called satisfaction - of these and such like souls depart into Hades, and there endure the punishment due to the sins they have committed. But they are aware of their future release from thence, and are delivered by the Supreme Goodness, through the prayers of the Priests, and the good works which the relatives of each do for their Departed; especially the unbloody Sacrifice availing in the highest degree; which each offers particularly for his relatives that have fallen asleep, and which the Catholic and Apostolic Church offers daily for all alike; it being, of course, understood that we know not the time of their release. For that there is deliverance for such from their direful condition, and that before the common resurrection and judgment we know and believe; but when we know not."
The following is from the 1672 Orthodox Confession of Dositheus:
Decree XVIII
We believe that the souls that have fallen asleep are either at rest or in torment, according to what each hath wrought; - for when they are separated from their bodies, they depart immediately either to joy, or to sorrow and lamentation; though confessedly neither their enjoyment, nor condemnation is complete. For, after the common resurrection, when the soul shall be be united with the body, with which it had behaved itself well or ill, each shall receive the completion of either enjoyment or of condemnation forsooth.
And such as though involved in mortal sins have not departed in despair, but have, while still living in the body, repented, though without bringing forth any fruits of repentance - by pouring forth tears, forsooth, by kneeling while watching in prayers, by afflicting themselves, by relieving the poor, and in fine by showing forth by their works their love towards God and their neighbor, and which the Catholic Church hath from the beginning rightly called satisfaction - of these and such like souls depart into Hades, and there endure the punishment due to the sins they have committed. But they are aware of their future release from thence, and are delivered by the Supreme Goodness, through the prayers of the Priests, and the good works which the relatives of each do for their Departed; especially the unbloody Sacrifice availing in the highest degree; which each offers particularly for his relatives that have fallen asleep, and which the Catholic and Apostolic Church offers daily for all alike; it being, of course, understood that we know not the time of their release. For that there is deliverance for such from their direful condition, and that before the common resurrection and judgment we know and believe; but when we know not."
Upvote
0
- Status
Similar threads
