The Descent into Hades

[James the Persian]

I just came across this useful article comparing the traditional view of the doctrine of the descent into Hades (or Harrowing of Hell as it is often called in English) and it is very good, if rather long.

http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles7/HilarionSalvation.php

I remembered, on reading it, that Michel (I think) started a thread asking about this teaching some time ago and, as a result thought that he, at least, might be interested to read the article. As it may also be of interest to others, I thought I would post it here for all to see.

If anyone has questions on the subject or wishes to discuss the article, then by all means do so here, but please remember that this is in the EO DIR forum and so debate is not allowed. If someone wants a debate on the subject, please start a thread in the appropriate place.

James

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Thanks for posting that.
it was worth reading right through if only to find this last Paragraph

We do not know if every one followed Christ when He rose from hell. Nor do we know if every one will follow Him to the eschatological Heavenly Kingdom when He will become 'all in all'. But we do know that since the descent of Christ into Hades the way to resurrection has been opened for 'all flesh', salvation has been granted to every human being, and the gates of paradise have been opened for all those who wish to enter through them. This is the faith of the Early Church inherited from the first generation of Christians and cherished by Orthodox Tradition. This is the never-extinguished hope of all those who believe in Christ Who once and for all conquered death, destroyed hell and granted resurrection to the entire human race.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

Fascinating, James!

I think what struck me the most was this passage:

By creating human beings and putting them in a situation where they choose between good and evil, God assumed the responsibility for their further destiny. God did not leave man face to face with the devil, but Himself entered into the struggle for humanity's spiritual survival. To this end, He sent prophets and teachers and then He Himself became man, suffered on the cross and died, descended into Hades and was raised from the dead in order to share human fate. By descending into Hades, Christ did not destroy the devil as a personal, living creature, but 'abolished the power of the devil', that is, deprived the devil of authority and power stolen by him from God. When he rebelled against God, the devil set himself the task to create his own autonomous kingdom where he would be master and where he would win back from God a space where God's presence could be in no way felt. In Old Testament understanding, this place was sheol. After Christ, sheol became a place of divine presence.
This presence is felt by all those in paradise as a source of joy and bliss, but for those in hell it is a source of suffering. Hell, after Christ, is no longer the place where the devil reigns and people suffer, but first and foremost it is the prison for the devil himself as well as for those who voluntarily decided to stay with him and share his fate. The sting of death was abolished by Christ and the walls of hell were destroyed.....

Let's say that I interpret it this way:

Upon death, humans come face-to-face with God. Depending on the heart of the person, being so close to God will either feel like paradise for some and hell for others. Hell isn't necessarily a distinct seperate place specifically designed for torment and suffering, but an experience individually. For since Christ is seen to be the conqueror of Hell, and the devil's power had been defeated by Him, and that his descent was not a one-time event (but timeless), then Christ's teachings are available forever for all to follow him.

Is this at all consistent with EO teachings, in your opinion?




Peace,
Mystic

 

[James the Persian]

Firstly, I must say that I'm glad I posted this. I didn't expect to have replies already and I'm very to see that others found it useful/interesting.

Let's say that I interpret it this way:

Upon death, humans come face-to-face with God. Depending on the heart of the person, being so close to God will either feel like paradise for some and hell for others. Hell isn't necessarily a distinct seperate place specifically designed for torment and suffering, but an experience individually. For since Christ is seen to be the conqueror of Hell, and the devil's power had been defeated by Him, and that his descent was not a one-time event (but timeless), then Christ's teachings are available forever for all to follow him.

Is this at all consistent with EO teachings, in your opinion?

Yes. I think you pretty much summed that up perfectly. This view is very diferent from the one I grew up with and it's this difference that, more than anything else, convinced me of Orthodoxy's truth. I could never have returned to being a Christian in the mould I was raised - that was far too judgemental, with a God who didn't really seem to will that all were saved at all - but Orthodoxy is different.

One of the things that always struck me of the icon of the Resurrection (as reproduced in that article) is that Christ stands on the wreckage of the doors of Hades pulling Adam out. Once you realise that in Orthodoxy everything Christ achieved is viewed as being eternal (rather than a one time only event) and that Adam actually stands for all mankind, you can't help but see that the Resurrection really allowed Christ to help all mankind out of 'hell' (bad translation, hence the quotes) and that the doors are still wrecked. The torments of hell may be eternal (in fact as they are God's love, they must be in a way) but anyone who is suffering them is there voluntarily - there are no gates on the prison any more.

James

 

[TrodtoZion]

raspect Iman have a question why do you use the greek pagan term for hell?

 

[James the Persian]

raspect Iman have a question why do you use the greek pagan term for hell?

What would you prefer we use? The Teutonic pagan one you used? Not sure it's relevant but I doubt there's any particular reason why that tends to be used (other than the fact that we do, after all, still tend more towards Greek for our theological language). In English the teaching I was referring to is actually more commonly called the Harrowing of Hell, which uses the term you apparently favour.

 

[TrodtoZion]

Why use a term for a place of ever lasting punishment in the first place? I only see pagan influences of this ism skism concept. Nothing to do with Jah/God people in I opinion but respect. Is Hades the brother of Zeus and Poseidon?