www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Eastern Catholics and Hell

I posted here a while ago concerning whether to make the move to Orthodoxy or stay Catholic. Wound up going Orthodox.

I have a question regarding Eastern Catholic beliefs. So, from my reading, it appears that some, not all but some, people may be released from hell before the final judgement. I know there's different formulations of this, some say only those guilty of not serious sin, others don't mention severity of sin. But that's the general idea. I've read this in Pomazansky, Staniloae, and Larchet. I find this idea very hopeful and it is one of the reasons I converted.

So, do Eastern Catholics believe something similar? I know some have compared the Orthodox idea to purgatory, others have criticized that comparison, etc. But in general what do Eastern Catholics believe?

Christ is in our midst!!

Seeking Truth,

I've never heard or read any theory about people being released from Hell. The idea that Hell is temporary was condemned centuries ago. In fact, it was Origen's apocatastasis teaching that held that everyone eventually gets released from Hell, including Satan himself. I wonder if you have misread your Orthodox sources about Hell.

I do understand that various Orthodox sources hold that there is an intermediate state before the Last Judgment where each of us experiences a foretaste of our eternal reward or punishment. Is that what you are refering to?

No, not at all. Like I said I've read this in the authors I mentioned. They are not teaching what Origen taught. There's also Christ the Conqueror of Hell by Alfeyev that teaches something similar. They literally say that since there's only heaven or hell, that some will experience hell before the final judgement for only a short time. That's the purpose of praying for souls. Otherwise why pray that their sins will be forgiven them?

Have you read THAT ALL SHALL BE SAVED by David Bentlet Hart? Very good exposition on Universal Restoration. Also, the WordPress blog site, ECLECTIC ORTHODOXY, by Fr. Aiden Kimel has a wealth of information, including a very long and detailed piece on the 5th Ecumenical Council, which council has come under the scrutiny of modern scholarship.

Yes I've read that. But it's not exactly what I meant.