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Old 11-07-2008, 07:11 PM
10 Cane's Avatar
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Default What does the Eastern Orthodox church believe about Hell?

Do they believe it is a place of fiery torment or Sheol/"the grave"?
@ Messenger of God

So they do not believe that Hell is a place of fiery torment?
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Old 11-11-2008, 07:11 PM
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That would be like asking different religions what they believe your house is like and how many rooms it has.

If Hell is real, then it really doesn't matter what any church believes it is like, real things don't change because of what a religion wants it to be like.

Don't be concerned with "opinions" of what Hell is like.
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Old 11-15-2008, 07:11 PM
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They believe Jesus will be giving you it in the butt for eternity.
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Old 11-18-2008, 07:11 PM
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Eastern Orthodox Christians believe that when Christ Jesus descended into Hades He made it possible for the souls to be immortal. Like the Roman Catholics they to believe in the resurrection of the dead on the Last Day and that the soul reunites with the body. Unlike the Roman Catholics Eastern Orthodox don't believe in Purgatory. They believe when the body sleeps the soul will will remain on earth for a short while and will either enter Abraham's Bosom or the Darkness of Hades (equivalent to Hell). They believe that the loved ones of the deceased can pray for the soul who may be in the Darkness of Hades in by doing so they can enter Abraham's Bosom, much like how Roman Catholics pray for their loved ones who might be in Purgatory. I should mention that in Catholicism Abraham's Bosom is Limbo for the Fathers which is part of Sheol (Hell) which according to the Roman Catholic Church it no longer exists because Christ brought those souls into Heaven after He descended into Hell and preached His Gospel to those souls.

I should mention that most Eastern Catholics believe in the same concept of the afterlife as the Eastern Orthodox.
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Old 11-21-2008, 07:11 PM
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The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has this (and more) to say:
"The moral progress of the soul, either for better or for worse, ends at the very moment of the separation of the body and soul; at that very moment the definite destiny of the soul in the everlasting life is decided... The Orthodox Church believes that at this moment the soul of the dead person begins to enjoy the consequences of its deeds and thoughts on earth - that is, to enjoy the life in Paradise or to undergo the life in Hell. There.is no way of repentance, no way of escape, no reincarnation and no help from the outside world. Its place is decided forever by its Creator and judge....
"... The word "sleep", by which death is characterized, does not refer to the soul, but to the body. " [1]

So the soul is conscious, and aware of its ultimate destination -- life in or out of communion with God. The soul is not annihilated, but lives on.

The Church's theology is carried in its prayers and hymns.

From the Liturgy of the Presancified Gifts celebrated during the weeks of Lent:
"The virtuous Elijah, mounting a divine chariot and made transparent by fasting, was raised to heavenly heights. Envy him, my poor soul, and fast from all evil, envy and discord, and from the fruits of pleasure, that you may escape the torment of eternal hell-fire, crying out to Christ, "Lord, glory to You!" [2]

From the Funeral Service:
"The Trinal Radiance of One Godhead with reverent song acclaiming let us cry; Holy are You, O Eternal Father, and Son also Eternal, and Spirit Divine; shine with Your light on us who with faith adore You; and from the fire eternal rescue us." [3]

Other printed materials:
"In the orthodox understanding, heaven and hell
are primarily states of the human soul, rather than
physical places. After death, our experience of the
fire of uncreated light, as either warmth or torment,
is based on our relationship to God." [4]

It's not so much a physical place as a state of the soul. Hell is not, say, the center of the earth, or the surface of the sun.

Blessings.
/Orthodox
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