Descent into Hades

[chrisb]

I was curious if anyone had any texts from the Divine Liturgy which might illumate Christ’s descent into Hades and what was done while there for three days?

Thank you and God Bless.

 

[Eucharisted]

In the Creed, which we pray during the Holy Liturgy, we profess Our Lord Jesus Christ descended into Hell. Hell has three meanings, one of which is another name for Limbo (Latin), which in turn is another name for Hades (Greek), which in turn is another name for Sheol (Hebrew): the realm where the righteous within and without Israel lay asleep, since Heaven had been closed after man’s first sin. Christ’s soul descended to join them in Sheol, and there He preached the Gospel, than led them out of Limbo and into Heaven, having reopened Paradise by His Holy Sacrifice on the Holy Cross.

 

[chrisb]

In the Creed, which we pray during the Holy Liturgy, we profess Our Lord Jesus Christ descended into Hell. Hell has three meanings, one of which is another name for Limbo (Latin), which in turn is another name for Hades (Greek), which in turn is another name for Sheol (Hebrew): the realm where the righteous within and without Israel lay asleep, since Heaven had been closed after man’s first sin. Christ’s soul descended to join them in Sheol, and there He preached the Gospel, than led them out of Limbo and into Heaven, having reopened Paradise by His Holy Sacrifice on the Holy Cross.

Grace and Peace,

That was a rather wonderful synopsis of Christ’s descent. Is there anywhere we are actually taught this in the Liturgy? I am also interested in our Eastern Brothers and Sisters offering insight to this from their own rich tradition of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

Also, does anyone know of a ‘book for children’ where this a told?

 

[Eucharisted]

Grace and Peace,

That was a rather wonderful synopsis of Christ’s descent. Is there anywhere we are actually taught this in the Liturgy? I am also interested in our Eastern Brothers and Sisters offering insight to this from their own rich tradition of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

Also, does anyone know of a ‘book for children’ where this a told?

Yes, the Creed. It is part of the Liturgy. But if you mean the Liturgy of Holy Saturday, or the Liturgy of the Hours, than I am unsure.

 

[chrisb]

Yes, the Creed. It is part of the Liturgy. But if you mean the Liturgy of Holy Saturday, or the Liturgy of the Hours, than I am unsure.

Grace and Peace,

I am looking for more detail than the Credo regarding this. My daughter and I say the credo almost every night but it really doesn’t offer any detail or narrative for a child’s mind to grasp. I am looking for something along those lines.

 

[Eucharisted]

Grace and Peace,

I am looking for more detail than the Credo regarding this. My daughter and I say the credo almost every night but it really doesn’t offer any detail or narrative for a child’s mind to grasp. I am looking for something along those lines.

I encourage you to look for the Liturgy of the Hours for Holy Saturday, as well as the Liturgy for Holy Saturday. God bless!

 

[bpbasilphx]

\ In the Creed, which we pray during the Holy Liturgy, we profess Our Lord Jesus Christ descended into Hell. \

**There is nothing in the Nicene Creed about the descent into Sheol (to use my preferred terminology, as both “hades” and “hell” have become confused and even trivialized in modern speech).

The best answer, indeed the typical one, would be to see the offices for Holy Week, especially Holy Friday, Saturday, and Pascha (Easter).

Here is a link to good English versions of these services. Pay especial attention to the Synaxaria, which come after the Kontakion and Oikos of Matins.**

anastasis.org.uk/holyweek.htm

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I encourage you to look for the Liturgy of the Hours for Holy Saturday, as well as the Liturgy for Holy Saturday. God bless!

Especially the second reading in the Office of Readings.

 

[jlhargus]

I was curious if anyone had any texts from the Divine Liturgy which might illumate Christ’s descent into Hades and what was done while there for three days? Thank you and God Bless.

JL: bodies are buried in a grave covered with earth, usually not always, sometimes they are cremated, our Lord was buried, but not covered with earth. Lazarus a poor man’s body was probably buried in the ground. The rich man’s body was probably buried in an above ground tomb. Christ reveals in [Lk 16:22 So it was that the BEGGAR DIED, and WAS CARRIED BY THE ANGELS (did angels carry the beggar’s body to the grave, or his soul=spirit to Abraham’s bosom=Hades=Sheol=Hell?) TO ABRAHAM’S BOSOM.

THE RICH MAN ALSO DIED AND WAS BURIED. (his body was buried) 23 AND (his soul=spirit) BEING IN TORMENTS IN HADES, (Could his dead body be in torments in a grave?) he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.] [CAPS and (remarks ), added].

We know they were both bodily dead, yet the rich man is in torment in Hades. Christ reveals, in Mt10:28, man can kill the body but not BOTH body and soul, only God can destroy BOTH in hell (Gehenna or lake of fire, the second death). Destroy does not mean annihilation. Destroyed; as sin or substance abuse can literally destroy one’s life and body, without the person being bodily dead and certainly not annihilated. Both Lazarus’ and the rich man’s bodies were buried in a grave, Lazarus’ soul was carried by angels to Hades, the chamber called Abraham’s bosom, the rich man’s soul descended into Hades, the chamber of torment.

CHRIST, 1Pt3:18-19, bodily dead, yet fully conscious and aware, in spirit=soul went to Hell=English, Hates=Greek, Sheol=Hebrew. Christ, along with the thief, whom Christ promised would be with him that day in paradise, CCC 631-637, 1021, descended into Abraham’s Bosom, the paradise chamber of Hell, where Lazarus was comforted, Lk16:25. The rich man descended into the torment chamber of Hell. Christ preached to the spirits 1Pt3:19&1Pt4:6, in Hell=English, Hades=Greek, Sheol=Hebrew, the abode of the dead, The gospel was preached even to the dead. CCC 634. Both bodies were placed in a tomb=sepulchre=grave=English, mnemeion=Greek or qeber=Hebrew. [mnemeion, qeber from Strongs Exhaustive Condcordance of the Bible]

[Eph4:8 8This is why it says: “WHEN HE ASCENDED on high, HE LED CAPTIVES IN HIS TRAIN and gave gifts to men.” Eph 4:9 In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that HE had ALSO DESCENDED INTO THE LOWER PART OF THE EARTH?]

[Hb10:1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, MAKE PERFECT those who draw near to worship. …2…3… 4 because IT IS IMPOSSIBLE for the BLOOD OF BULLS AND GOATS to TAKE AWAY SINS.] No one went to heaven before the resurrection and ascension of our Lord. Who as our High Priest entered the Holy of Holies made without hands with his atoning blood. Only the atoning blood of Christ can take away sin and make just men perfect. All spirits=disembodied=souls, just or unjust, were captives in Sheol=Hebrew, Hades=Greek, Hell=English, before the ascension.

They went to one of the chambers of Sheol=Hades=Hell, before the resurrection and ascension of our Lord, who opened heaven for the just spirits when he descended to Hell, Sheol and preached to them,1Pt3:18 that he might bring us to God, 1Pt3:18-19 & 1Pt4:6, CCC 634. When he ascended, he led a host of captives, Christ took the just spirits, disembodied, souls, in Sheol=Hades=Hell into heaven, now made perfect by the blood of Christ, that cleanses and takes away sin [Eph 4:8…WHEN HE ASCENDED on high HE LED A HOST OF CAPTIVES,… Eccl 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and THE SPIRIT shall retun to God who gave it.] The body=dust returns to the earth and the spirit=soul goes back to God who gave it, for immediate personal judgement.

[Hb 9:27 as it is appointed for men to die once and after that comes judgment. Hb12:22 But YOU HAVE COME TO Mount Zion…the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,…23 … TO A JUDGE who is GOD of all, AND the SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MADE PERFECT… ] After the ascension we see in Hb9:23, the spirits of just men made perfect, with our Lord in heaven. The evil spirits are still in Hell, the chamber of torment until the resurrection. CONTINUED

 

[jlhargus]

CONTINUED:

JL; After the last judgement at the end of the age Sheol, Hades, Hell AND DEATH, along with demons and evil human beings, body and soul, will be cast alive into the lake of fire, where they die no more, because the lake of fire IS the second death. [Rv20:14 Then DEATH and HADES were THROWN INTO the lake of fire. The lake of fire IS the second death. 15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.] In the lake of fire death will have already been swallowed up, as it is thrown in first, even first or last makes no difference, death will have no more power, just as Satan will be swallowed up and have no more power in the lake of fire. Those in the lake of fire do not have a life, but only exist to experience, especially experience what they have inflicted on others.

[Hb 9:27 as it is appointed for men to DIE ONCE.] Not a second time as the lake of fire IS the second death, after resurrection. [Mk 9:48 where THEIR worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] Judith16:17 Woe to the nations that rise up against my people! The Lord Almighty will take vengeance on them in the day of judgment; fire and worms he will give to their flesh; they shall weep in pain for ever.]

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, 5020; TARTARUS, from tartaros (the deepest abyss of Hades). Scripture reveals, the eternal Lake of Fire, was prepared for the devil and his angels, but cursed resurrected man will also share their fate. [Mt25:41 Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS.] If both share the same fate after resurrection, there is no reason to think they wouldn’t share the same fate before resurrection. Especially since scripture, Lk16:19-31, 1Pt3:18-20, etc., reveals all souls went to sheol, hades, hell, before the ascension of our Lord to heaven.

Tartarus being the deepest pit, of shoel=hades=hell, where the spirits of the fallen angels are found. [2Pt2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be FALSE TEACHERS among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—BRINGING SWIFT DESTRUCTION ON THEMSELVES. … 4 For IF GOD DID NOT SPARE ANGELS when they sinned, but SENT them TO HELL, (tartarus, the deepest abyss of hades) putting them into GLOOMY DUNGEONS TO BE HELD FOR JUDGMENT; 5 IF HE DID NOT APARE THE ANCIENT WORLD when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;… 9 if this is so, then THE LORD KNOWS HOW to rescue godly men from trials and TO HOLD THE UNRIGHTEOUS FOR the day of JUDGMENT, while CONTINUING THEIR PUNISHMENT. … 17 THESE MEN are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. BLACKEST DARKNESS IS RESERVED FOR THEM.

Jude1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath RESERVED IN EVERLASTING CHAINS UNDER DARKNESS UNTO THE JUDGMENT of the great day.] Peter nor Jude say, only fallen angels are in tartarus, the deepest, pit of hades, but that fallen angels are in tartarus, the deepest pit. That doesn’t exclude, the spirits, of the most evil fallen men being in tartarus, in fact both Peter and Jude seem to indicate false teachers share the same fate of fallen angels.

The first chapter of Jude goes on, speaking of false teachers, [Jud1:12 THESE MEN are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—TWICE DEAD. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, FOR WHOM BLACKEST DARKNESS HAS BEEN RESERVED FOREVER.]

[Isa 24:21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that THE LORD SHALL PUNISH the host of THE HIGH ONES (fallen angels) that are on high, AND THE KINGS OF THE EARTH upon the earth. 22 And THEY SHALL BE GATHERED TOGETHER, as PRISONERS are gathered IN THE PIT, and shall be SHUT UP IN PRISON, and AFTER MANY DAYS SHALL THEY BE VISITED.] [added, (tartarus, deepest abyss of hades) (fallen angels) and CAPS.]

 

[Formosus]

In the Creed, which we pray during the Holy Liturgy, we profess Our Lord Jesus Christ descended into Hell. Hell has three meanings, one of which is another name for Limbo (Latin), which in turn is another name for Hades (Greek), which in turn is another name for Sheol (Hebrew): the realm where the righteous within and without Israel lay asleep, since Heaven had been closed after man’s first sin. Christ’s soul descended to join them in Sheol, and there He preached the Gospel, than led them out of Limbo and into Heaven, having reopened Paradise by His Holy Sacrifice on the Holy Cross.

I think you are thinking of the Apostle’s Creed, which is a particular creed belonging only to the Latin tradition, and not the Byzantine one.

 

[Byzman]

I was curious if anyone had any texts from the Divine Liturgy which might illumate Christ’s descent into Hades and what was done while there for three days?

Thank you and God Bless.

This is said during the Divine Liturgy, " In the tomb with the body and in hell with the soul, in paradise with the thief and on the throne with the Father and the Spirit, wast Thou."

Maybe that might shed light.