www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Enoch and Elijah

Does any one know what happenend to Enoch and Elijah who both where taken by God before death? If no one could go to heaven untill after Christ where did these men go? I would like a reply other than the scholastic version that says the Jewsih people added this in. I dont believe this was a myth. Can any one give a logical faith based answer? :rolleyes:

Many times we are told that God breaks the laws of nature when he wants to. Since he sent the chariot for him, he would have taken hime home.

Look at Moses and Elijah of the Mt. Tabor at the Transfiguration. God sent them to prepare Christ for what was about to happen. How could God send them if they weren't with him already.

Rose

I would tend to think that they were in Hades like all the other just who died and awaited Christ's Resurrection, only they were there in body and spirit.

In Christ,
Lance, deacon candidate

If they were in Hades awaiting the Horrowing of Hell, then why have i seen Ikons where they, along with Dismas, are already in Heaven and are greeting the detainees of Hades as they enter into Paradise?

I could be wrong, but I suspect that the reason you see them depicted that way is because they were entered into Heaven after the Resurrection and in that sense, of course they could be depicted as greeting the rest.

But, I could be wrong.

I do not think it is all that bizarre really, as “he walked with G-d” does not mean that he was in Heaven, but well could have been waiting like all the rest of the holy ones for that Holiest of hours. Like Lance said, he would have been there in body and spirit, as the Lord took him in His chariot. Does not Christ Himself “descend (visit) into Hell and then arise?” We should all know what is being referred to there. Are they not referring to visiting to those holy ones who were waiting?

Who knows, I could be wrong.

[ 02-11-2002: Message edited by: Donnchadh ]

I wonder if this is how Elijah got into heaven?
Only imagine the fire of Pentecost, we are baptized with the water and the Spirit. If Elias prefigured the Ascension of Christ, would Elijah?

It is from The Theology of the Liturgy: The Three Sacraments of Christian Initiation by Archbishop Josep Tawil

In the introductory prayer of the liturgy of Theophany we find the text of St. Gregory repeated: "O you who manifested to us in Elias the Thesbite, by the triple effusion of the waters, the Trinity of Persons in the one Deity." The Fathers also remark that Elias was taken up into heaven after the crossing of the water of Jordan. This caused St. Cyril of Jerusalem to write, "Elias was taken up, but not without water." And so the crossing of the Jordan seems like a repetition of the crossing of the Red Sea. Elias appears like a new Moses. Tha ascent of Elias to heaven prefigures the Ascension of Christ, as well as that of those who have been baptized, the through water.

Just a thought!
Rose

Dear Rose,

Elias = Elijah (same person )

And to you and all, a happy Friday, the 22nd of February, Feast of the Throne of Saint Peter, Bishop of Antioch (Syrian Calendar...he was our Bishop before he was Rome's). :p

Mor Ephrem

Thanks, that was my first impression when I read it, but then got sidetracked.

Rose