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Mar 25th, 2025
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As Eastern Christians, I think we would view purification within the context of theosis: we are to become partakers in the divine nature, a process which is ongoing and continues beyond this life. Since a creature can never become its creator or fully comprehend His nature, theosis is asymptotic--it comes ever closer, but never quite gets there. Hence we are continually being perfected, but never become perfect. Excellent! I was just speaking about this recently...the process of theosis continuing into eternity. This of course assumes that eternity is really nothing else than an infinite succession of moments, rather than the being of all moments at once. I'm not sure that such an understanding is necessary, or even warranted. Peace and God bless! Or just that eternity is that which exists outside of time - IOW theosis continues beyond this temporal life. Pace e' bene!
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Just my two cents, but I believe that the experience of eternity as being outside of time is something only for God. As created beings our spatial/temporality is intrinsic to our existence. If we were outside of time we would be infinite as God is infinite.
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I see theosis as a loaf of bread. Each of us is living on a slice of it. We have no idea how big the loaf is, or how it is sliced. Are you on the same slice as your family? Your Bishop? The guy on your left in Church? Where are the Angels? Where are the Saints? Are Orthodox Saints allowed on the same slice as Catholic Saints?  I trust that the Lord has provided the bread for us. Our Infinite God has arranged His universe as He has willed. Just my two cents, but I believe that the experience of eternity as being outside of time is something only for God. As created beings our spatial/temporality is intrinsic to our existence. If we were outside of time we would be infinite as God is infinite.
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As Eastern Christians, I think we would view purification within the context of theosis: we are to become partakers in the divine nature, a process which is ongoing and continues beyond this life. Since a creature can never become its creator or fully comprehend His nature, theosis is asymptotic--it comes ever closer, but never quite gets there. Hence we are continually being perfected, but never become perfect. I really like that Stuart, you expressed my thoughts and beliefs on the matter perfectly! Helen-Margaret
Last edited by byzantina; 05/21/09 10:51 PM. Reason: clarification
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Good morning all .... you know I am newly Orthodox, so please weigh that with my comments.
As an Evangelical/Charismatic previously, of course the idea of Purgatory was absolutely out. As I read more and study and pray, the thought came to me that it is not unlike a child who is outside playing all day, in the dirt and grass, who then is called in for dinner. We wouldn't want that child at the dinner table without first washing or even taking a bath. Something inside of me just resonates with this ... like I said, I am very much a new Orthodox, but this is how I see it right now.
abby
<*)))><
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The unbroken Tradition of the universal Church is very simple:
--The souls of the departed require purification before entering into the presence of God
--Prayers for the deceased are efficacious in that process.
This is really all that has been revealed to us. Everything else is speculation, philosophy and theorizing. Each Church has a right to its own theology and doctrine elaborating on the Tradition, so long as it is not incompatible with the Tradition, and so long as it does not presume to impose its own particular doctrinal expressions on other Churches that have different expressions of doctrine.
The Latin Church has certainly been more systematic in its theoria on the subject, and in the past was more than a little forward in asserting its opinions were the only theological correct ones; fortunately, it has stepped back from such dogmatizing. The Orthodox Church is more open to theologumena, provided, of course, such speculations are compatible with tradition and are kept in their proper perspective.
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