www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Hell, Perdition and Universal Salvation

I have just finished a six-part series on hell, perdition, and the hope of universal salvation. The first article can be found here: " What is Orthodox Hell? [afkimel.wordpress.com]"

Click on the link at the bottom of the page to go to the next article in the series.

Thanks for that, Father. It's funny, but I just posted a much less substantial article (in every way) on virtually the same topic, entitled Purgatory and the Christian East [priestofthechurch.wordpress.com].

I feel provoked by your work into revisiting the question of life after death. The topic always seemed to me to proffer so much to ponder in terms of the Christian's purpose. Indeed, Metropolitan Hierotheos, for all I do not necessarily agree with him on certain questions, proved very stimulating in the same way.

I am happy to be directed once again to your blog.

St. Isaac the Syrian is the reason why I have remained Orthodox, instead of abandoning it for the Protestants or Catholics. His homilies are particularly fascinating given how well they line up with scripture. As I recall, there are several verses that speak of burning for both the saved and unsaved. The consequences are the real difference. So... St. Isaac the Syrian is the official position of the Orthodox Church.

That's an interesting position. Catholics of the Syriac/Chaldean/Malankara Tradition in particular hold Mor Isaac in as high regard as well. In his day, St. Isaac would have been considered outside both Eastern Orthodox Communion and the Catholic Communion, he was a bishop of the "Church of the East" - now divided among Chaldean/Syro-Malabar Catholics, The Ancient Church of the East, and the Assyrian Church of the East; and connected to the Syriac/Malankara Orthodox and Catholic Churches.

Interesting... I wasn't aware.