Eastern Catholic view of hell

[sidbrown]

A question came up concerning whether or not, according to the Eastern Christian perspective, a soul may, under certain conditions, be released from the fires of hell. This is because the power and sacrifice of Christ on the cross is unlimited and His goodness is so great that He is able to redeem a soul from perdition.
So my question is what is the teaching of the Eastern Catholic Church on hell? Is it necessarily eternal punishment?

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

The best response I’ve ever heard to whether or not a soul can be delivered from Hell comes from Metropolitan Kallistos Ware (if anyone hasn’t noticed, I’m a big fan of his). He was “making small talk” with an abbot or a bishop during a car ride. When he asked this abbot/bishop if God could release a soul from Hell the other simply replied, “Mind your own business.” The implication is that whether or not God can free the souls in Hell is not for us to concern ourselves with. Our business is cooperating more and more with the grace/divine energies of God so that we might become more and more like Him.

 

[Dave_in_Dallas]

replied, “Mind your own business.” The implication is that whether or not God can free the souls in Hell is not for us to concern ourselves with. Our business is cooperating more and more with the grace/divine energies of God so that we might become more and more like Him.

Nice… I love it!