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... in its basic idea, the Latin teaching on paradise has some similarity to the Orthodox teaching on the state of dead men's souls until the general resurrection. This similarity lies in the common teaching that the souls of some of the dead, having undergone torments for their sins, can, however, receive forgiveness of sins and alleviation of their torments or even full release from them. According to the teaching of the Orthodox Church, this alleviation of torments or even the complete release from them is received by the soul of one who has fallen asleep by virtue of the prayers and benefactions of members of Christ's Church, whereas, according to the Latin teaching, the souls of dead men receive forgiveness of sins in purgatory by virtue of the purgatorial torments themselves, by which they personally offer satisfaction to God's justice and through this purify their sins. Apart from the last clause, which departs from Catholic dogma, this is a nice statement of the fundamental similarity of Orthodox and Catholic perspectives. Some imagine that the Catholic Church has an elaborate doctrine of purgatory worked out, but there are only three essential components of the doctrine: (1) that a purification after death exists, (2) that it involves some kind of pain, and (3) that the purification can be assisted by the prayers and offerings by the living to God. Other ideas, such that purgatory is a particular "place" in the afterlife or that it takes time to accomplish, are speculations rather than doctrines.
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... The repentant thief did obtain paradise, but he has not yet obtained the kingdom . . . In the meantime, he has paradise, which is a place of spiritual rest . . . even if the kingdom of heaven and paradise are one and the same, this does not prevent both the Lord's words and Paul's from being in agreement. For the good thief is in paradise, that is in the the kingdom, and not only he . . . He does not yet enjoy the full inheritance of good things . . . so too with the saints: although they do not yet enjoy their reward in full (that will come after the Second Coming of Christ - my note), nevertheless, in the meanwhile they pass their time in places of light, of fragrance, of royalty, in short, in the tabernacles of the righteous, although they are not yet entitled to the full measure of the gifts of the kingdom. (Theophylact of Bulgaria, Gospel of Luke, Chapter 23). So Orthodoxy teaches that there is a "place" that is neither heaven nor hell in which souls "pass their time" until the second coming? 
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Dear Alex, " One time, the clothing in all our dresser-drawers flew into the air and were floating around the bedroom while the furniture moved and the lights came on. The clothing all came to light on me, from head to foot, but it did not cover my face or mouth. " ...are you serious???? That is unbelievable! Did your wife also see this, or only you? Do you think that it was poltergeist or something else, (such as demonic attacks aimed at you?)... I have heard noises that were very real in my house, only to find out that they were not real at all, and after many years, have come to say, after doing the sign of my cross, 'oh you again!'...such as: the front door slamming as if my husband had just walked in, but noooooooooo.... the EXACT sound of my daughter (when she was an infant) playing with her duplo/lego blocks in her crib as she often did when she would awake...but nnnooooooooo...she was fast asleep, with no blocks in her crib........ My daughter even heard the piano play once when the poor dear was about 12 and alone at home! Such occurences have become common place in my life...and you are right, we have much religious ammunition, so there is nothing to fear! God bless you! In Christ, Alice
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Dear Alice, As you have seen for yourself on this forum, I don't have to refer to the other world to experience nasty attacks . . .  O.K., I'll go make the dinner salad . . . Alex
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Dear djs,
Yes, this is the "forecourt" of heaven.
We will only receive our final judgement when we will have become reunited with our bodies as the composite beings we are at the Final Judgement.
And as for your quote about the Orthodox view of purgation after death - it is not only the prayers of the Church that bring us closer to God - it is also our own prayers at that time, begging God's Infinite Mercy.
Alex
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Right. Both Orthodox and Catholics include suffrages of the departed oone and of other members of the Church.
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Ah, Alex, you are king of the forum one-liner! ...but I thought that would be "limbo?" Originally posted by Orthodox Catholic:
Dear Brad,
"Purgatory" is being in union with Rome right now.
Alex
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Dear Annie, No, "Limbo" is what happens when the UGCC asked Rome to recognize it as a patriarchate . . . Alex
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Owwwww, ZINGGGGGGGG!!!! Originally posted by Orthodox Catholic: Dear Annie,
No, "Limbo" is what happens when the UGCC asked Rome to recognize it as a patriarchate . . .
Alex
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Dear Admin., Many thanks for your post above...it is good and solid!
In Him, your poor brother,
+Fr. Gregory
+Father Archimandrite Gregory, who asks for your holy prayers!
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