Basic Eastern Theology: 101

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Agabus

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I realize this has probably been questioned to death, but please indulge me as I explore the theological diversity allowed within dogma:

How do Eastern Catholics understand purgatory?

How do Eastern Catholics understand indulgences?

Or, in these cases, is there a difference in understandings?
 
As a point of Divine and Catholic Faith, we believe in them. Privately, we may differ on their meaning or even subscribe to the Orthodox meaning of purgation after death (i.e. the toll-house doctrine) or that indulgences are not able to be applied to the Eastern notion of deification–they are simply a Latin formulation. At any rate, our union with Rome dictates our common Faith with them–our Eastern identity pulls us away from Latin definitions of that Faith.

Most Eastern Catholics who are active in the discourse of their Faith shift from being totally latinized to being absolutely Eastern Orthodox in Faith. This theological complexity does not lead to easy answers, such as what one would find in a Q & A catechism. Theological reflection moves beyond simple catechetics–it is not for neophytes in the Faith. Eastern Catholics live in the struggle of being in union before the Great Union of East and West–this complexity of ecclesial dynamism cannot be placed in black or white questions about doctrine or relations to Latin theological constructs.
 
We pray for the dead, that they may be brought into the dwelling place of the Saints. We offer up these prayers on very regular occaisions, especially for the recently deceased.

We believe that our prayers, and the intervention of the Saints, help to cleanse us and bring us closer to God. This is practiced at every single Divine Liturgy as a matter of course.

Would you say that this equates to an understanding of Purgatory and Indulgences, at least on a fundamental level?

Peace and God bless!
 
Ghosty said:
We pray for the dead, that they may be brought into the dwelling place of the Saints. We offer up these prayers on very regular occaisions, especially for the recently deceased.

We believe that our prayers, and the intervention of the Saints, help to cleanse us and bring us closer to God. This is practiced at every single Divine Liturgy as a matter of course.

Would you say that this equates to an understanding of Purgatory and Indulgences, at least on a fundamental level?

Peace and God bless!
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JL: I would say yes. My understanding is the only binding beliefs on purgatory are **Purification after death **involves some kind of pain, purification **can be assisted by prayers and offerings **by the living to God. This is all the Church officially or difinitively teaches about purgatory. I think I read this in one of Catholic Answers tracts years ago, but I’m not sure.
 
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