To know more about Orthodoxy!

[josie_L]

Yes, Jesus conquered death, and at the Final Judgement the last decision will be made.

But if he conquered death then the spirits that were trapped in Hades were either sent to Heaven or Hell when Jesus preached to them after he died and descended into the dead, and this means that we too when we die will be sent to either Heaven, Hell or Purgatory as Jesus conquered death.

p.s. You didn’t really answer my question.

 

[Siddhartha]

But if he conquered death then the spirits that were trapped in Hades were either sent to Heaven or Hell when Jesus preached to them after he died and descended into the dead, and this means that we too when we die will be sent to either Heaven, Hell or Purgatory as Jesus conquered death.

I’m talking about Orthodox doctrine. You’re talking about Catholic doctrine.

 

[nancy_dalrymple]

You know what Since you people have a way of ignoreing other people I am going on line and get my answer this place is for the birds! I was going to change to the Orthodox but i think it would be better to be a no body it is safer!

 

[trophybearer]

You know what Since you people have a way of ignoreing other people I am going on line and get my answer this place is for the birds! I was going to change to the Orthodox but i think it would be better to be a no body it is safer!

You’d probably do best to check out an Orthodox forum if you’re interested. This may not be the best place to investigate Orthodoxy.

 

[nancy_dalrymple]

You’d probably do best to check out an Orthodox forum if you’re interested. This may not be the best place to investigate Orthodoxy.

Thank You for at least answering me God Bless

 

[jimmy]

If it’s irrelevant then you should never have brought up Pope Benedict’s book, it had absolutely nothing to do with the position you were supporting.

Excuse me but leave my approach to me. I will argue how I will. You should read peoples posts and try to understand what they are saying rather than twist it.

Scripture tells me that if nothing impure can get into Heaven then nothing impure can get into Heaven, logically then purification by fire is going to be happening somewhere outside of Heaven. Purgatory is outside of Heaven and involves purification by (divine) fire, what is so hard to understand?

Nothing is hard to understand. The problem is that you like to read into the bible what you want to see. It says nothing about purgatory but you will pretend like it does. I will say that there is purifying by fire, but that fire is nothing other than the divine nature of God.

 

[SingleMomMonica]

I will say that there is purifying by fire, but that fire is nothing other than the divine nature of God.

Hi Jimmy!

I always believed and was taught that their is a purifying fire and that that fire is the divine nature of God which is Purgatory, if we can be purified after death & is at the same time Hell, if we can not be purified after death & for the rest of us, it is Heaven, for those who were already fully purified while living on earth or have been purified already in Purgatory. And that Purgatory isn’t so much of a Place, but an Experience. The way many of us will experience God after death until our purification is complete.

What do you believe and what were you taught?

I’m a Catholic

 

[meridith]

Because Orthodox, like the Jews, believe everyone goes to Heaven, so there’s no need to convert souls.

wrong, they do do not teach that

 

[josie_L]

I’m talking about Orthodox doctrine. You’re talking about Catholic doctrine.

How did Jesus conquer death if we are still to remain in Hades (upon our death) till the final judgement?

 

[josie_L]

Excuse me but leave my approach to me. I will argue how I will. You should read peoples posts and try to understand what they are saying rather than twist it.

No you will not argue as you will as your attempting to misuse the Pope’s words.

Nothing is hard to understand. The problem is that you like to read into the bible what you want to see. It says nothing about purgatory but you will pretend like it does. I will say that there is purifying by fire, but that fire is nothing other than the divine nature of God.

Does the doctrine of purgatory deny that the fires that purify us are divine?

 

[The_Pilgrim]

How many differnt kinds of Orthodox churches
are there? What are they called and Why are thye better then the Catholic
church? I herd it was the first real church and then broke away from the
Catholic church because the Catholic church would not do as they were
doing. Is that right? Were they realy the first church? Are they Greek?
What exactly do they come from and were they first to come to America?
Thank You Nancy

There is one Orthodox Church, but it has many national distinctions.
Therefore the Russian Orthodox Church, the Greek Orthodox Church and the
Antiochian Orthodox Church are all the same body. They would be better
called “The Orthodox Church in Greece,” “The Orthodox Church in Russia,”
etc.

There are other groups that use the word Orthodox in their titles but are
not in communion, just as there are groups that use the word “Catholic” in
their name, but are not in communion with Rome.

As an Orthodox Christian, the Orthodox Church is better suited to me than
the Catholic Church, and I don’t mean that as a slam against my Catholic
brothers and sisters (My mother is Catholic.) The mystery of Orthodoxy
appeals to me; the fact that my Bishop can say “We don’t know the answer to
that – it’s a mystery.” I also like the visual elements and the depth of
St. Basil’s Liturgy. I feel enveloped by the liturgy, as opposed to
feeling like an observer.

As to breaking away, it appears to me that both Churches broke away from
each other, and I say thank God that Pope Benedict seems committed to
repairing that lamentable breach.

Saint Herman of Alaska came to North America in 1794, so we were far from
the first Church in America. The Catholics in St. Augustine and the
Anglicans in Jamestown were here much earlier.

I hope this helps.

 

[Siddhartha]

How did Jesus conquer death if we are still to remain in Hades (upon our death) till the final judgement?

I submit the below for your considered contemplation.

On the question of whether Hades continues as the place after the Resurrection, Vassiliades writes:

"Certain Fathers teach that in spite of this temporary separation [of the soul from the body], the souls of both the righteous and the sinners “descend to a common place, Hades”, as they did before the Resurrection of the Lord, who Himself descended to Hades and proclaimed the Gospel of salvation. But, here again, we must not understand Hades as a particular location, but as a “spiritual place,” and, as noted above, according to the opinion of the great Father, St. John of Damascus. Or, as St. Gregory of Nyssa teaches, we must consider it as some “condition of life without form, bodiless”: a condition of spirutal life that is formless, invisible, indefinite and unknown. St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain teachs us that Hades is “a place that has no form (invisible), as its very name denotes (αδης → αειδης) and it contains the invisible soulds of dead people.” (Mystery of Death, page 400).

He then goes in to a discussion of the parable of the Rich man and Abraham, and the state of temporary anticipation, some of bliss and some of damnation. He goes on about 10 pages about how these souls are awake, pray for us, will be crowned after the final judgment, etc etc.

 

[josie_L]

I submit the below for your considered contemplation.

The quote states that certain fathers believed this but was there ever an ecumenical council confirming the fact that when we die we go to Hades even after Christ’s resurrection? And I’m curious as to why this scripture (rich man and Lazarus) supports this idea when the story itself was being said before the crucifixion happened. This of course still lives the question unanswered as to how Christ conquered death if we still remain in Hades? And what do the Orthodox make of the prisoner dying on the cross who was told that he would be in Paradise (today) with Jesus?

 

[nancy_dalrymple]

I submit the below for your considered contemplation.

Dear Siddhartha, I know Jesus talked about that and gave a parrable on it it was also known as the great devide. But the man there was not able to talk to anyone above or on earth he was there and it looked like it was to late for him and he wanted his brothers warned about this place but was answered no. So how can they pray for us? or we for them? And this saint that wrote this book you refere to when did that book get written? LOL Nancy

 

[nancy_dalrymple]

There is one Orthodox Church, but it has many national distinctions.
Therefore the Russian Orthodox Church, the Greek Orthodox Church and the
Antiochian Orthodox Church are all the same body. They would be better
called “The Orthodox Church in Greece,” “The Orthodox Church in Russia,”
etc.

There are other groups that use the word Orthodox in their titles but are
not in communion, just as there are groups that use the word “Catholic” in
their name, but are not in communion with Rome.

As an Orthodox Christian, the Orthodox Church is better suited to me than
the Catholic Church, and I don’t mean that as a slam against my Catholic
brothers and sisters (My mother is Catholic.) The mystery of Orthodoxy
appeals to me; the fact that my Bishop can say “We don’t know the answer to
that – it’s a mystery.” I also like the visual elements and the depth of
St. Basil’s Liturgy. I feel enveloped by the liturgy, as opposed to
feeling like an observer.

As to breaking away, it appears to me that both Churches broke away from
each other, and I say thank God that Pope Benedict seems committed to
repairing that lamentable breach.

Saint Herman of Alaska came to North America in 1794, so we were far from
the first Church in America. The Catholics in St. Augustine and the
Anglicans in Jamestown were here much earlier.

I hope this helps.

What are these visual elements you refere to? LOL Nancy Is it a repete sermon every week?

 

[Hesychios]

What are these visual elements you refere to?

The Divine Liturgy is Glorious.

It incorporates all of the senses… sight, smell, taste, sound, touch and even motion.

One’s entire body is incorporated in worship (which is why it is best done without pews, as in the early church).

Visually alone, an Orthodox Divine Liturgy is distinctive.

LOL

Are you laughing, or does this mean something else to you?

Is it a repete sermon every week?

What ever would give you this idea?

 

[jimmy]

No you will not argue as you will as your attempting to misuse the Pope’s words.

Excuse me but get over yourself. If you don’t understand my point in using the words of the pope then read it again. If you have a problem with the way I use the popes words then tough luck.

Does the doctrine of purgatory deny that the fires that purify us are divine?

Yes, it does. It posits a separation between man and God for the sake of purification and satisfaction of temporal punishment.

Purgatory is a man made invention. It is that simple.

 

[nancy_dalrymple]

The Divine Liturgy is Glorious.

It incorporates all of the senses… sight, smell, taste, sound, touch and even motion.

One’s entire body is incorporated in worship (which is why it is best done without pews, as in the early church).

Visually alone, an Orthodox Divine Liturgy is distinctive.
Are you laughing, or does this mean something else to you?
What ever would give you this idea?

I must be more confused then you I thought LOL was Lots of love? Boy am I dumb I would like to go to one service and see what you are talking about See, smell, taste, ETC it sound’s nice. I dont think we have anything like that up here. Nancy

 

[The_Pilgrim]

What are these visual elements you refere to? LOL Nancy Is it a repete sermon every week?

A repeat sermon every week would get boring!

The walls of our church are covered in icons. There is a large wall (iconostasis) that separates the congregation from the altar, and it too is all icons; even the doors for the priests and the servers to pass through.

It appears from the new churches around here that American Catholicism is leaning towards an austerity and spareness in it’s architecture, and that’s okay, but I prefer the more visual, colorful Orthodox model.

I am uncomfortable going through this on a Catholic blog, I feel like i’m “poaching” on Catholic territory. Let me just say that there are lots of Orthodox blogs out there where people are more than willing to answer your questions.

God’s Peace

 

[Hesychios]

I must be more confused then you I thought LOL was Lots of love?

Actually, I am relieved and delighted!

I like your version better

Boy am I dumb

NO, you have a clean heart and a wonderful spirit. I take my hat off to you with all possible respect