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WrittenbyVladimirMoss
Page2
DeathandtheTollHouses
WrittenbyVladimirMoss
Itisdecreedthatmenshoulddieonce,andafterthatthejudgement.
Hebrews9.27.
TheOrthodoxtraditiononthejudgementofthesoulafterdeath,and
the
passageofthesoulthroughthetollhouses,wassummarizedbySt.
MacariustheGreatasfollows:Whenthesoulofmandepartsoutof
thebody,
agreatmysteryisthereaccomplished.Ifitisundertheguiltofsins,
there
comebandsofdemons,andangelsofthelefthand,andpowersof
darkness
thattakeoverthatsoul,andholditfastontheirside.Nooneoughtto
be
surprisedatthis.If,whilealiveandinthisworld,themanwassubject
and
complianttothem,andmadehimselftheirbondsman,howmuch
more,when
hedepartsoutofthisworld,ishekeptdownandheldfastbythem.
Thatthis
isthecase,yououghttounderstandfromwhathappensonthegood
side.
Godsholyservantsevennowhaveangelscontinuallybesidethem,
andholy
spiritsencompassingandprotectingthemandwhentheydepartout
ofthe
body,thehandsofangelstakeovertheirsoulstotheirownside,into
thepure
world,andsotheybringthemtotheLord
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Liketaxcollectorssittinginthenarrowways,andlayingholdupon
the
passersby,sodothedemonsspyuponsoulsandlayholdofthem
andwhen
theypassoutofthebody,iftheywerenotperfectlycleansed,theydo
not
sufferthemtomountuptothemansionsofheavenandtomeettheir
Lord,
andtheyaredrivendownbythedemonsoftheair.Butifwhilstthey
areyet
intheflesh,theyshallwithmuchlabourandeffortobtainfromtheLord
the
gracefromonhigh,assuredlythese,togetherwiththosewhothrough
virtuouslivingareatrest,shallgototheLord(Homilies,XLIII,4,9)
ThefirstmajorexpositionofthistraditioninmoderntimeswasBishop
IgnatiusBrianchaninovsEssayonDeathinthethirdvolumeofhis
Collected
Works.(Later,headdedaReplytotheobjectionsofacertainpriest
called
Matveevsky.SeePolnoeZhizneopisanieSvititeliaIgnatia
Kavkazkogo,
Moscow,2002,pp.450488(inRussian).)St.BarsanuphiusofOptina
called
thisEssayindispensableinitsgenre.(VictorAfanasiev,Elder
Barsanuphius
ofOptina,Platina,Ca.:St.HermanofAlaskaBrotherhood,2000,p.
736).In
recentyearsthisteachinghasbeenchallengedbyOCAArchbishop
Lazarus
(Puhalo)(TheSoul,TheBodyandDeath,OrthodoxyCanada,vols.
67
(197980).)AlthoughrefutedbothbyHieromonkSeraphimRose(The
Soul
afterDeath,Platina,1980,2004)andbytheHolySynodofthe
Russian
OrthodoxChurchAbroad(ExtractfromtheMinutesoftheSessionof
the
SynodofBishopsoftheRussianOrthodoxChurchOutsideofRussia,
OrthodoxLife,vol.31,no.1,JanuaryFebruary,1981,pp.2327),
Puhalos
thesiscontinuestobereceiveddoctrineinHOCNAandelsewhere,
andelicits
passionatesupportonOrthodoxlistforums.Itmaybeuseful,
therefore,to
reviewsomeofthemajorarguments.
IstheTollHouseTeachingGnostic?
TheideathatthetollhouseteachingisGnosticisrefutedbythe
support
givenitbymanyHolyFathers.Averylargebodyofevidenceinfavour
ofthe
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tollhousesfromscriptural,patristic,hagiographicalandliturgical
sources
wasamassedbyRoseinthebookalludedtoabove.Accordingto
Puhalo,
however,manyofthesesourcesareeitherapocryphal(e.g.St.Cyril
of
AlexandriasHomilyontheDepartureoftheSoulfromtheBody)or
influenced
by
EgyptianGnosticideas(e.g.theHomiliesofSt.MacariustheGreat,
quoted
above)ortheproductsofwesternhereticalconceptsconcerning
Divinejustice,
purgatory,etc.(e.g.thestoriesinSt.GregorytheGreatsDialoguesor
the
VenerableBedesEcclesiasticalHistoryoftheEnglishChurchand
People).
Sincethepresentwriterisnotcompetenttodiscussquestionsof
textual
authenticity,therestofthisarticlewillbebasedonauthoritiesand
writings
whoseauthenticityhasneverbeenquestionedinOrthodoxcircles,at
any
rate.
St.AthanasiustheGreatwritesinhisLifeofSaintAnthonythatone
night
thesaintreceivedacallfromonhigh,saying,Anthony!Rise,goout
and
look!Hewentoutthereforeheknewwhichcallstoheedand,
lookingup,
sawatoweringfigure,unsightlyandfrightening,standingand
reachingto
thecloudsfurther,certainbeingsascendingasthoughonwings.The
former
wasstretchingouthishandssomeofthelatterwerestoppedbyhim,
while
othersflewoverhimand,havingcomethrough,rosewithoutfurther
trouble.
Atsuchasthesethemonstergnashedwithhisteeth,butexultedover
those
Page5
whofell.ForthwithavoiceaddresseditselftoAnthony,Understand
the
vision!Hisunderstandingopenedup,andherealizedthatitwasthe
passing
ofsoulsandthatthemonsterstandingtherewastheenemy,the
envierofthe
faithful.Thoseanswerabletohimhelaysholdofandkeepsthemfrom
passingthrough,butthosewhomhefailedtowinoverhecannot
masteras
theypassoutofhisrange.Hereagain,havingseenthisandtakingit
asa
reminder,hestruggledthemoretoadvancefromdaytodayinthe
thingsthat
laybeforehim.(St.Athanasius,TheLifeofSaintAnthony,London:
Longmans,GreenandCo.,pp.7576)
Anthonysdisciple,AbbaAmmonas,spokeofthepoweroftheHoly
Spirit
enablingustopassallthepowersoftheair(Ephesians2.2)after
death:For
thisisthepowerwhichHegivestomehereitisthis,again,which
guides
menintothatrest,untilheshallhavepassedallthepowersoftheair.
For
thereareforcesatworkintheairwhichhindermen,preventingthem
from
comingtoGod.(TheLettersofAmmonas,Oxford:SLGPress,1979,
p.3)
ThetheologianNikolaosP.Vasileiadeswrites:Afterhisdeathpoor
man
Lazaruswasreceivedupbytheangels(Luke16.22).Angels,
however,
accompanynotonlythesoulsofthejust,butalsothoseofevilmen,
asthe
divineChrysostomcomments,basinghiswordsonwhatGodsaidto
the
foolishrichman:Fool,thisnightwilltheyrequirethysoulfromthee
(Luke
12.20).SowhilegoodangelsaccompaniedthesoulofLazarus,the
soulofthe
Page6
foolishrichmanwasrequiredbycertainterriblepowerswhohad
probably
beensentforthisreason.Andtheone(therichman)theyledaway
asa
prisonerfromthepresentlife,butLazarustheyescortedasonewho
had
beencrowned.St.Justinthephilosopherandmartyr,interpretingthe
wordof
thepsalm,Rescuemysoulfromthesword,andthisonlybegotten
oneof
minefromthehandofthedogsavemefromthemouthofthelion
(Psalm
21.2122),comments:Bythiswearetaughthowwealsoshouldseek
thesame
fromGodwhenweapproachourdeparturefromthislife.ForGod
alonecan
turnawayeveryevilangelsothathemaynotseizeoursoul.
BasiltheGreatrelatesthattheholymartyrGordius(whosememory
is
celebratedonJanuary3rd)wenttomartyrdomnotasifhewasabout
tomeet
thepublic,butasifhewasabouttohandhimselfoverintothehands
of
angelswhoimmediately,sincetheyreceivedhimasnewly
slaughtered,
wouldconveyhimtotheblessedlifelikethepoormanLazarus.In
another
place,theholyFather,withreasons(atthattimemenusedtobe
baptizedata
greatage),said:Letnoonedeceivehimselfwithlyingandempty
words
(Ephesians5.6)forthecatastrophewillcomesuddenlyuponhim(I
Thessalonians5.3)itwillcomelikeatempest.Therewillcomea
sullen
angelwhowillleadawayyoursoulwhichwillhavebeenboundbyits
sins
andyoursoulwillthenturnwithinitselfandgroansilently,forthe
further
reason,moreover,thattheorganoflamentation(thebody)willhave
beencut
Page7
offfromit.Ohowyouwillwailforyourselfatthathourofdeath!How
you
willgroan!
TheLordswords:Theruleroftheworldcometh,andhasnothingin
Me
(John14.3)areinterpretedbySt.Basilasfollows:Satancomes,who
haspower
overmenwholivefarfromGod.ButinMehewillfindnothingofhis
own
thatmightgivehimpoweroranyrightoverMe.Andtheluminaryof
Caesareaadds:ThesinlessLordsaidthatthedevilwouldnotfind
anythingin
HimwhichwouldgivehimpoweroverHimforman,however,itis
sufficientifhecanbesoboldastosayatthehourofhisdeaththat
therulerof
thisworldcomesandwillinmeonlyafewandsmallsins.Thesame
Father
saysinanotherplacethattheevilspiritswatchthedepartureofthe
soulmore
vigilantlyandattentivelythaneverenemieshavewatchedabesieged
cityor
thievesatreasury.St.Chrysostomcallscustomsofficersthose
threatening
angelsandabusivepowersofterribleappearance,meetingwhomthe
soulis
seizedwithtremblingandinanotherplacehesaysthatthese
persecutorsare
calledcustomsofficialsandtaxcollectorsbytheDivineScripture.
Inthattemporarystate[betweenthedeathofthebodyandtheLast
Judgement]thejustliveunderdifferentconditionsfromthesinners.
AccordingtoSt.GregorytheTheologian,everybeautifuland
Godloving
soulhasscarcelybeenpartedfromthebodywhenitexperiencesa
Page8
wonderfulinnerhappinessbecauseofallthegoodthingsthatawaitit
in
endlesseternity.Forthisreasonitrejoicesandgoesforward
redeemed,
forgivenandpurifiedtoitsMastersinceithasleftthepresentlife
whichwas
likeanunbearableprison.Ontheotherhand,thesoulsofthesinners
are
drawntotheleftbyavengingangelsbyforceinaboundstateuntil
theyare
neargehenna.Fromthere,astheyfacetheterriblesightofthefireof
punishment,theytrembleinexpectationofthecomingjudgement
andare
alreadypunishedineffect(St.Hippolytus).Forthewholetimethat
theyare
separatedfromtheirbodiestheyarenotseparatedfromthepassions
which
haddominionoverthemonearth,buttheybearwiththemtheir
tendencyto
sin.Forthatreasontheirsufferingisthemorepainful(St.Gregoryof
Nyssa).(TheMysteryofDeath,Athens:Sotir,1980,pp.368,
371372,189in
theGreekedition,382382,386and404405intheEnglishedition)
Visionsofthepassagethroughthetollhousesarecommonalsointhe
LivesoftheCelticsaints.ThuswereadaboutSt.ColumbaofIona
thatone
dayhe
suddenlylookeduptowardsheavenandsaid:Happywoman,happy
and
virtuous,whosesoultheangelsofGodnowtaketoparadise!Oneof
the
brotherswasadevoutmancalledGenereus,theEnglishman,who
wasthe
baker.HewasatworkinthebakerywhereheheardSt.Columbasay
this.A
yearlater,onthesameday,thesaintagainspoketoGenereusthe
Englishman,
saying:Iseeamarvelousthing.ThewomanofwhomIspokeinyour
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presenceayearagotodaylook!sheisnotmeetingintheairthe
soulofa
devoutlayman,herhusband,andisfightingforhimtogetherwiththe
holy
angelsagainstthepoweroftheenemy.Withtheirhelpandbecause
theman
himselfwasalwaysrighteous,hissoulisrescuedfromthedevils
assaultsand
isbroughttotheplaceofeternalrefreshment.(Adomnan,LifeofSt.
Columba,III,10)
Comingtoourownage,wehavementionedthewitnessoftheholy
BishopIgnatiusBrianchaninovandElderBarsanuphiusofOptina.Still
closer
toourtimeisSt.JohnMaximovich(+1966),whowrites:Many
appearances
ofthedeadhavegivenustoknowinpartwhathappenswiththesoul
whenit
leavesthebody.Whenitnolongerseeswithitsbodilyeyes,its
spiritual
visionisopened.Thisfrequentlyoccursevenbeforeactualdeath
while
seeingandevenconversingwiththosearoundthem,thedyingsee
thatwhich
othersdonot.Leavingthebody,thesoulfindsitselfamongother
spirits,
goodandevil.Usuallyitstrivestowardsthosewhicharemoreakinto
it,but
ifwhilestillinthebodyitwasundertheinfluenceofcertainspirits,it
remains
dependentuponthemwhenitleavesthebody,nomatterhow
unpleasant
theymightprovetobeattheencounter.
Fortwodaysthesoulenjoysrelativefreedomandcanvisitits
favourite
placesonearth,butonthethirddayitmakesitswaytowardsother
realms.
Atthistimeitpassesthroughahordeofwickedspirits,whoobstruct
itspath
Page10
andaccusethesoulofvarioussinsbywhichtheythemselveshad
deceivedit.
Accordingtorevelations,therearetwentysuchbarriers,socalled
tollhouses.
Ateachstopthesoulistestedastoaparticularsin.Passingthrough
one,thesoulcomesuponthenext,andonlyaftersuccessfully
passing
throughthemallcanthesoulcontinueitsway,andnotbethrown
straightwayintohell.Thesedemonsandtheirtrialsaresohorrendous
that
theMotherofGodherself,wheninformedbyArchangelGabrielofher
imminentrepose,entreatedherSontodeliverherfromthosedemons
and,in
fulfillmentofherprayer,theLordJesusChristHimselfappearedfrom
HeaventotakethesoulofHisMostPureMotherandcarryitupto
Heaven.
Thethirddayisterrifyingforthesoul,anditisespeciallyinneedof
prayer.
Oncehavingsafelypassedthroughthetollhousesandhavingbowed
downbeforeGod,thesoulspendsthenextthirtysevendaysvisiting
the
heavenlyhabitationsandthechasmsofhades,notknowingwhereit
willfind
itself,andonlyonthefortiethdayisitassigneditsplaceofwaiting
untilthe
resurrectionofthedead.Somesoulsfindthemselveswithaforetaste
of
eternaljoyandblessedness,whileothersinfearofeternaltorments,
which
willbegininearnestaftertheDreadJudgement.Untilthattime,
changesin
thestateofthesoularestillpossible,especiallythroughofferingfor
theirsake
theBloodlessSacrifice(commemorationattheDivineLiturgy),and
likewise
throughotherprayers.(IBelieveintheResurrectionoftheDead,in
Manof
God:SaintJohnofShanghaiandSanFrancisco,Redding,Ca.:
Nikodemos
OrthodoxPublicationSociety,1991,pp.143144)
Page11
Descriptionsofthepassageofsoulsthroughthetollhousesaretobe
found
intheOrthodoxliteratureofmanyagesandnations.Suchuniversality
isin
itselfawitnessagainsttheideathatthetollhousetraditionisGnostic.
ToWhomBelongstheJudgement?
Puhaloalsoarguesthatthetollhousetraditionishereticalonthe
grounds
thatitimpliesthatthejudgementofsoulsafterdeathisnotGodsbut
the
demons.Moreover,itisveryclose,heclaims,tothepapistdoctrineof
purgatory.Forthedifferencebetweenthepurgatorymythandthatof
the
aerialtollhousesisthattheonegivesGodsatisfactionbymeansof
physical
torment,whiletheothergivesHimHisneededsatisfactionbymeans
of
mentaltorture.(Puhalo,OrthodoxyCanada,vol.6,no.12,1979,p.
23)
Todiscusstheroleofjusticeanditssatisfactionwouldtakeustoofar
from
thesubjectofthetollhouses.Thereforesufficeittosaythatwhileall
judgementofsoulsisinthehandsofGod,Heoftenusescreated
beingsasthe
instrumentsofHis
justice,justasajudgemightuselawyersfortheprosecutionand
defence,ora
kingmightuseanexecutioner.ThuswethinkoftheavengingAngel
who
slewallthefirstbornofEgypt,andoftheArchangelMichaels
destructionof
the185,000warriorsofSennacherib.Anditisnotonlygoodangels
whocarry
outHiswillinthisway:theotherplaguesofEgyptwereamission
performedbyevilangels(Psalm77.53).Wearenottemptedtothink,
inthese
Page12
cases,thatGodhaslostcontrol:HeissimplyexecutingHiswill
through
createdinstruments.
Similarly,weshouldnotthinkthatGodisnotcarryingoutHisown
judgementwhenheallowsthesoultobetestedatthetollhouses.
HereGodis
revealingHisjudgementonasoulthroughtheagency,ontheone
hand,of
demons,who,likecounselfortheprosecution,bringupalltheevil
thingsthat
thesoulhasthoughtordone,and,ontheotherhand,ofthegood
angels,who,
likecounselforthedefence,bringupitsgooddeeds.Moreover,
insofarasitis
thegoodangelswhoencouragementogooddeeds,andthedemons
who
incitethemtoevil,thisprocedureactuallyrevealstothesoulthe
hidden
springsofmanyofhisactionsonearth.
Thusthereisnocontradiction,contrarytoPuhalosassertion,between
the
demonstestingsoulsatthetollhousesandthefinaljudgementof
sinners
beingdeliveredbyGodHimself,WhocutsthemofffromtheHoly
Spirit.
Ofcourse,Godhasnoneedforadetailedexaminationofour
thoughtsand
deedsitiswewho,inaccordancewithHisjustice,arerequiredto
cometoa
fullconsciousnessofthem.FortheLordHimselfsaid:Everyidleword
that
menshallspeak,theyshallgiveanaccountofinthedayof
judgement
(Matthew12.36).Sinnerswhofailthesearchingtestoftheir
conscienceatthe
tollhousesareindeedcutofffromtheHolySpirit,andtheirsoulsare
cast
intoprison(Matthew5.25),theprisonofhades,ofspiritualdarkness
and
Page13
excommunicationfromGod,untilthefinaljudgementofsoulandbody
togetheronthelastday.Thuswhileangelsaccuseandexcuse,itis
Godalone
whodeliversthefinalverdictHealonedecidesthesoulsdestiny.
Moreover,inHismercyGodoftentipsthebalanceinfavourofthe
sinner
whenthedemonsappeartohavewonthecase.ThusintheLifeofSt.
Niphon,
BishopofConstantiainCyprus,weread:Withhisclairvoyanteyes
theSaint
sawalsothesoulsofmenaftertheirdeparturefromthebody.Once,
standingat
prayerinthechurchofSt.Anastasia,heraisedhiseyestoheaven
andsawthe
heavensopenedandmanyangels,ofwhomsomeweredescending
toearth,and
otherswereascendingbearingtoheavenmanyhumansouls.Andhe
sawtwo
angelsascending,carryingsomeonessoul.Andwhentheycame
nearthetoll
houseoffornication,thedemonictaxcollectors
cameoutandsaidwithanger:Thisisoursoulhowdoyoudareto
carryhim
pastus?Theangelsreplied:Whatkindofsigndoyouhaveonthis
soul,that
youconsiderityours?Thedemonssaid:Itdefileditselfbeforedeath
withsin,
notonlynaturalonesbutevenunnaturalonesbesidesthat,itjudged
its
neighbouranddiedwithoutrepentance.Whatdoyousaytothat?
Wewillnotbelieve,saidtheangels,eitheryouoryourfatherthe
devil,until
weasktheguardianangelofthissoul.Andwhentheyaskedhim,he
said:It
istruethatthissoulsinnedmuch,butwhenitgotsickitbeganto
weepand
confessitssinbeforeGodandifGodhasforgivenit,Heknowswhy:
Hehas
theauthority.GlorybetoHisrighteousjudgement!Thentheangels,
having
putthedemonstoshame,enteredtheheavenlygateswiththatsoul.
Thenthe
blessedonesawtheangelscarryingyetanothersoul,andthe
demonsranout
tothemandcriedout:Whyareyoucarryingsoulswithoutknowing
them?
Forexample,youarecarryingthisone,whoisaloverofmoney,a
bearerof
malice,andanoutlaw.Theangelsreplied:Wewellknowthatitdidall
these
Page14
things,butitweptandlamented,confesseditssins,andgavealms
forthis
Godhasforgivenit.Butthedemonsbegantosay:Ifeventhissoulis
worthy
ofGodsmercy,thentakeandcarryawaythesinnersfromthewhole
world.
Whyshouldwebelabouring?Tothistheangelsreplied:Allsinners
who
confesstheirsinswithhumilityandtearsreceiveforgivenessbyGods
mercy
buthewhodieswithoutrepentanceisjudgedbyGod.(TheOrthodox
Word,
MayJune,1980,pp.139140)
Thisshows,ontheonehand,thatthedemonsareessentially
powerless,
andontheother,thatsuchauthorityastheypossessoversoulsis
cededto
thembythesoulsthemselveswhentheywillinglyfollowtheir
enticements.
FortheLordsaid:Hewhosinsistheservantofsin(John8.34),and
thereforeofhimwhoistheoriginandinstigatorofsin,thedevil.Ifthe
demonshavepowereveninthislifeoverthosewhowillinglyfollow
their
suggestions,whatreasonhaveweforbelievingthatthesesoulsdo
not
continueinbondageaftertheirdeparturefromthebody?However,if
we
resistsinandthedevilinthislife,theywillhavenopoweroverusin
thenext.
For,asSt.Anthonysays:Ifthedemonshadnopowerevenoverthe
swine,
muchlesshavetheyanyovermenformedintheimageofGod.So
thenwe
oughttofearGodonly,anddespisethedemons,andbeinnofearof
them.(St.
Athanasius,TheLifeofSaintAnthony)
TheTollHousesandPurgatory
Butifthejudgementofsoulsafterdeathisnotinanyrealsensea
Page15
judgementbythedevil,asopposedtoGod,muchlessisitapurging
ofsouls
inthepapistsense.Atmost,thefearexperiencedonpassingthrough
the
tollhouses
cantosomeextentpurifythesoul.Thatthisisadmittedbythe
OrthodoxChurchisshownbythefollowingreplyofSt.Markof
Ephesusto
theRomancardinalsonpurgatory:Atthebeginningofyourreport
you
speakthus:Ifthosewhotrulyrepenthavedepartedthislifeinlove
(towards
God)beforetheywereabletogivesatisfactionbymeansofworthy
fruitsfor
theirtransgressionsoroffences,theirsoulsarecleansedafterdeath
bymeans
ofpurgatorialsufferingsbutfortheeasing(ordeliverance)ofthem
from
thesesufferingstheyareaidedbythehelpwhichisshownthemon
thepart
ofthefaithfulwhoarealive,asforexample:prayers,Liturgies,
almsgiving,
andotherworksofpiety.
Tothisweanswerthefollowing:ofthefactthatthosereposedinfaith
are
withoutdoubthelpedbytheLiturgiesandprayersandalmsgiving
performed
forthem,andthatthiscustomhasbeeninforcesinceantiquity,there
isthe
testimonyofmanyandvariousutterancesoftheTeachers,bothLatin
and
Greek,spokenandwrittenatvarioustimesandinvariousplaces.But
that
soulsaredeliveredthankstoacertainpurgatorialsufferingand
temporalfire
whichpossessessuch(apurgatorial)powerandhasthecharacterof
ahelp
thiswedonotfindeitherintheScripturesorintheprayersandhymns
forthe
Page16
dead,forinthewordsoftheTeachers.Butwehavereceivedthat
eventhe
soulswhichareheldinhellandarealreadygivenovertoeternal
torments,
whetherinactualfactandexperienceorinhopelessexpectationof
such,can
beaidedandgivenacertainsmallhelp,althoughnotinthesenseof
completelyloosingthemfromtormentorgivinghopeforafinal
deliverance.
AndthisisshownfromthewordsofthegreatMacariustheEgyptian
ascetic
who,findingaskullinthedesert,wasinstructedbyitconcerningthis
bythe
actionofDivinepower.AndBasiltheGreat,intheprayersreadat
Pentecost
writesliterallythefollowing:Whoalso,onthisallperfectandsaving
feast,
artgraciouslypleasedtoacceptpropitiatoryprayersforthosewhoare
imprisonedinhell,grantingusagreathopeofimprovementforthose
who
areimprisonedfromthedefilementswhichhaveimprisonedthem,and
that
ThouwiltsenddownThyconsolation(ThirdKneelingPrayerat
Vespers).
Butifsoulshavedepartedthislifeinfaithandlove,while
nevertheless
carryingawaywiththemselvescertainfaults,whethersmallonesover
which
theyhavenotrepentedatall,orgreatonesforwhicheventhough
theyhave
repentedoverthemtheydidnotundertaketoshowfruitsof
repentance:
suchsouls,webelieve,mustbecleansedfromthiskindofsins,but
notby
meansofsomepurgatorialfireoradefinitepunishmentinsomeplace
(for
this,aswehavesaid,hasnotatallbeenhandeddowntous).But
somemust
becleansedintheverydeparturefromthebody,thanksonlytofear,
asSt.
Page17
GregorytheDialogistliterallyshowswhileothersmustbecleansed
afterthe
departurefromthebody,eitherwhileremaininginthesameearthly
place,
beforetheycometoworshipGodandarehonouredwiththelotofthe
blessed,
oriftheirsinsweremoreseriousandbindthemforalongerduration
they
arekeptinhell,butnotinordertoremainforeverinfireandtorment,
butas
itwereinprisonandconfinementunderguard.
Allsuchones,weaffirm,arehelpedbytheprayersandLiturgies
performedforthem,withthecooperationoftheDivinegoodnessand
lovefor
mankind.ThisDivinecooperationimmediatelydisdainsandremits
somesins,
thosecommittedoutofhumanweakness,asDionysiustheGreat(the
Areopagite)saysinReflectionsontheMysteryofthoseReposedin
theFaith
(inThe
EcclesiasticalHierarchy,VII,7)whileothersins,afteracertaintime,
by
righteousjudgementsiteitherlikewisereleasesandforgivesand
that
completelyorlightenstheresponsibilityforthemuntilthatfinal
Judgement.
Andthereforeweseenotnecessitywhateverforanyother
punishmentorfor
acleansingfireforsomearecleansedbyfear,whileothersare
devouredby
thegnawingsofconsciencewithmoretormentthananyfire,andstill
others
arecleansedbytheveryterrorbeforetheDivinegloryandthe
uncertaintyas
towhatthefuturewillbe.Andthatthisismuchmoretormentingand
punishingthananythingelse,experienceitselfshows(St.Markof
Ephesus,
FirstHomilyonPurgatorialFire,TheOrthodoxWord,MarchApril,
1978)
Page18
ThuswhileSt.Markrejectedtheideaofapurgingbyfireasthe
cardinals
understoodit,hedefinitelyacceptedthenotionofapurgingbyfear
andthe
gnawingsofconscience.Nowtheexperienceofthesoulafterdeath
which
Orthodoxwritersdescribebymeansofthetollhousemetaphoris
certainlyan
experiencewhichincludesfearandthegnawingsofconscience.We
may
thereforeconcludethatthereisnothinghereticalinthenotionofthe
tollhouses
providedwerememberthatitisametaphorandnotaliteral
descriptionofevents.
SoulSleep?
AthirdsetofobjectionsraisedbyPuhaloisbasedontheteachingthat
the
soulwhenseparatedfromthebodycannot,byitsnature,havesuch
experiencesasareattributedtoitbytheOrthodoxteaching.Forthe
notion
thatthesoulcanexitthebody,moveabout,haveexperiences,
receivevisions,
revelations,wanderfromplacetoplace,makeprogressorbe
examinedand
judgedwithoutthebody,isessentiallyOrigenistic,andisderivedfrom
the
philosophiesofthepaganreligionsofGreeceandelsewhereOld
Testament
anthropology,likethatoftheNewTestament,neverconceivedofan
immortalsoulinhabitingamoralbodyfromwhichitmightbeliberated,
but
alwaysconceivedasimple,nondualisticanthropologyofasingle,
Page19
psychophysicalorganism.Andactive,intellectuallifeorfunctioningof
the
soulalonecouldneverbeconceivedineitherOldorNewTestament
thought.
Forthesoultofunction,itsrestorationwiththebodyasthewhole
person
wouldbeabsolutelynecessary.Atthesametime,Puhaloaccepts
thatthe
soulhassomeconsciousnessoffuturedestiny,somehope,andis
neither
deadnordevoidofspiritualsensations.(Puhalo,op.cit.,pp.31,33)
Thequestionarises:whyshouldnottheexperiencesthatthe
Orthodox
teachingattributestothesoulafterdeathbeaccountedasspiritual
sensations?Wehaveseen,forexample,thataccordingtoSt.Basil
the
indolentsoulafterdeathgroanssilentlybecausetheorganof
lamentation
(thebody)willhavebeencutofffromit.Sowhileitcannotlamentin
the
wayitdidbefore,thesoulstilllamentsinadisincarnate,bodiless
way.
Similarly,itseeswithouteyesandhearswithoutears.Thesespiritual
experiencesarecertainlydifferentfromtheiranaloguesinthesensual
world,
buttheyarenonethelessrealandvividforallthat.
Thedifferencebetweenthespiritualandsensualsensesiswell
illustrated
bythefollowing:theyusedtotellastoryofacertaingreatoldman,
andsay
thatwhenhewastravelingalongaroadtwoangelscleavedtohim
and
journeyedwithhim,oneonhisrighthandandtheotheronhisleft.
Andas
theyweregoingalongtheyfoundlyingontheroadadeadbodywhich
stank,
Page20
andtheoldmanclosedhisnostrilsbecauseoftheevilsmell,andthe
angels
didthesame.Nowaftertheyhadgoneonalittlefarther,theoldman
said
untothem,Doyealsosmellaswedo?Andtheysaiduntohim,No,
but
becauseoftheeweclosedournostrils.Foritisnotforustosmellthe
rottennessofthisworld,butwedosmellthesoulswhichstinkofsin,
because
thebreathofsuchisnightforus.(Palladius,TheParadiseofthe
Fathers,vol.
2,p.200)
Itisnotonlyangelswhohavethesespiritualsenses:tothedegree
thata
manispurifiedhemayalsosee,hearandsmellspirituallyevenwhile
inthe
body:Itcametopassthatwhentheoldman[St.Pachomiusthe
Great]had
saidthesethingtothebrethren,thedoorkeepercametohimand
said:
Certaintravelers,whoaremenofimportance,havecomehither,and
they
wishtomeetthee.Andhesaid:Callthemhither.Andwhentheyhad
seen
allthebrotherhood,andhadgoneroundallthecellsofthebrethren
they
wantedtoholdconversewithhimbythemselves.Nowwhentheyhad
taken
theirseatsinasecludedchamber,therecameuntotheoldmana
strongsmell
ofuncleannessthoughhethoughtthatitmustarisefromthem
becausehe
wasspeakingwiththemfacetofaceandhewasnotabletolearnthe
causeof
thesamebythesupplicationwhich[hemade]toGod,forhe
perceivedthat
thattheirspeechwasfruitful[ofthought]andthattheirmindswere
familiar
withtheScriptures,buthewasnotacquaintedwiththeirintellectual
uncleanness.Then,afterhehadspokenuntothemmanythingsoutof
the
DivineBooks,andtheseasonoftheninthhourhaddrawnnigh
meanwhile,
Page21
theyroseupthattheymightcometotheirownplace,andRabba
entreatedthem
topartakeofsomefoodtherebuttheydidnotaccept[hispetition,
saying]that
theywereindutyboundtoarrivehomebeforesunsetsothey
prayed,andtheysalutedus,andthentheydeparted.
AndAbba,inordertolearnthecauseoftheuncleannessofthese
men,
wentintohiscell,andprayedtoGodandheknewstraightwaythatit
was
thedoctrineofwickednesswhicharosefromtheirsoulsandpursued
these
men,andhavingovertakenthem,hesaiduntothem,Doyecallthat
whichis
writtenintheworksofOrigenheresy?Andwhentheyhadheardthe
questiontheydeniedandsaidthattheydidnot.Thentheholyman
saidunto
them,Behold,ItakeyoutowitnessbeforeGod,thateverymanwho
readeth
andaccepteththeworkofOrigen,shallcertainlyarriveinthefireof
Sheol,
andhisinheritanceshallbeeverlastingdarkness.ThatwhichIknow
from
GodIhavemadeyoutobewitnessesof,andIamthereforenot
condemned
byGodonthisaccount,andyeyourselvesknowaboutit.Behold,I
have
madeyouhearthetruth.Andifyebelieveme,andifyewishtogratify
God,
takeallthewritingsofOrigenandcastthemintothefireandnever
seekto
readthemagain.AndwhenAbbaPachomiushadsaidthesethings
heleft
them.(TheParadiseoftheFathers,vol.1,pp.292293)
Spiritualbeingsnotonlysmellthespiritualconditionofsouls:theyalso
see
themandtheirappearancedependsontheirspiritualstate.ThusSt.
John
theBaptistonceappearedtoSt.DiadochusofPhotike,andsaidthat
neither
Page22
theangelsnorthesoulcanbeseenbythebodilysensesinsofaras
theyare
beingswhichdonothaveashape.However,hewenton,onemust
know
thattheyhaveavisibleaspect,abeautyandaspirituallimitation,so
thatthe
splendouroftheirthoughtsistheirformandtheirbeauty.Thatiswhy,
when
thesoulhasbeautifulthoughts,itisallilluminedandvisibleinallits
parts,
butifbadones,thenithasnolusterandnothingtobeadmired(St.
Diadochus,inOrthodoxie:BulletindesVraisChre'tiensdespays
francophones
(OrthodoxBulletinoftheTrueOrthodoxChristiansofthe
Frenchspeaking
Countries),no.13,January,1981,p.5(inFrench))
Whenthesoulisseparatedfromthebody,itlosestheuseofitsbodily
senses,butbynomeanstheuseofitsspiritualsenses.Onthe
contrary,they
revive.For,asSt.JohnMaximovichsays,Whenit[thesoul]no
longersees
withitsbodilyeyes,itsspiritualvisionisopened.Again,St.John
Chrysostomwrites:Donotsaytome,Hewhohasdieddoesnot
hear,does
notspeak,doesnotsee,doesnotfeel,sinceneitherdoesamanwho
sleeps.If
itisnecessarytosaysomethingwondrous,thesoulofasleepingman
somehowsleeps,butnotsowithhimwhohasdied,for[hissoul]has
awakened.(HomilyonLazarusandtheRichMan).
Again,St.JohnCassianwrites:Thesoulsofthedeadnotonly
donotloseconsciousness,theydonotevenlosetheirdispositions
thatis,
hopeandfear,joyandgrief,andsomethingofthatwhichtheyexpect
for
themselvesattheUniversalJudgementtheybeginalreadyto
foretasteThey
becomeyetmorealiveandmorezealouslyclingtotheglorificationof
God.
Page23
Andtruly,ifweweretoreasononthebasisofthetestimonyofthe
Sacred
Scriptureconcerningthenatureofthesoul,inthemeasureofour
understanding,woulditnotbe,Iwillnotsayextremestupidity,butat
least
folly,tosuspectevenintheleastthatthemostpreciouspartofman
(thatis,
thesoul),inwhich,accordingtotheblessedApostle,theimageand
likeness
ofGodiscontained,afterputtingoffthisfleshlycoarsenessinwhichit
finds
itselfinthispresentlife,shouldbecomeunconsciousthatpartwhich,
containinginitselfthepowerofreason,makessensitivebyits
presenceeven
thedumbandunconsciousmatteroftheflesh?(FirstConferenceof
Abba
Moses)
Notonlyisthesoultheoppositeofunconsciousandunfeelingwhenit
departsfromthebody:itssinfulpassionsrevealthemselvesinalltheir
hidden
strength.Forthesoul,writesSt.DorotheusofGaza,warsagainst
thisbody
withthepassionsandiscomforted,eats,drinks,sleeps,talkstoand
meetsup
withfriends.Butwhenitleavesthebodyitisleftalonewiththe
passions.Itis
tormentedbythem,atoddswiththem,incensedatbeingtroubledby
them
andsavagedbythemDoyouwantanexampleofwhatIamsaying
toyou?
Letoneofyoucomeandletmelockhimupinadarkcell,andforno
more
thanthreedayslethimnoteatnordrink,norsleep,notmeetanyone,
not
singinghymnsorpraying,notevendesiringGod,andyouwillsee
whatthe
passionsmakeofhim.Andthatwhileheisstillinthislife.Howmuch
more
Page24
sowhenthesoulhasleftthebodyandisdeliveredtothepassions
andwill
remainallalongwiththem(KataniktikoiLogoi,inArchimandrite
Vasilios
Bakogiannis,AfterDeath,Katerini,2001,p.123)
Itfollowsthattheancientheresyofsoulsleep,whichishererevived
ina
modernformbyPuhaloinhispolemicagainstthetollhouses,isfalse:
the
soulinitsdisincarnateformcanindeedspirituallyperceiveangelsand
demonsandfeelhopeandfear,joyandgriefintheirpresence.
Conclusion
Thedoctrineofthetollhouses,oftheparticularjudgementof
soulsafter
death,isindeedafearfuldoctrine.Butitisatrueandsalutary
and
Orthodoxone.Letusthereforegatherthissavingfearintoour
souls,in
accordancewiththeword:Rememberthineend,andthoushalt
never
sin
(Sirach7.36).
Source:
http://www.christianorthodox.com/the_soul_after_death.html
Page25
ConcerningDeath
"Andjustasitisappointedformentodieonce"(Hebrews,9:27).Thesewordsof
St.Paul
andthehistoryofallhumanityteachusbeyondanydoubtthatwewillalldie.
Exceptions
suchasthecaseoftheProphetElias,whowastakenuptotheheavens,can
onlyoccurbya
miracleorbydivineintervention.Thelawisdeathforall.This,ofcourse,isa
resultofsin.
Manwascreatedimmortal.Sinmadehimmortal."Thewagesofsinisdeath"
spiritual
deathandphysicaldeath(Romans,6:23).
Everyonethinksaboutandfearsdeath,forobviouslydifferentreasons,butthisis
thetruth.
Letussee,though,whatdeathis,andthenseeifweshouldfeardeathorlifeor
even
ourselves.
Whenpeoplethinkofdeaththeyputintheirmindscatastropheandtheend.This
isnothow
thingsare.Deathisastageandastartingpoint.Itisneithertheend,nora
catastrophe.Itisa
changeofcircumstances.Itisbirth.
Justastheembryogrowsinthewombofitsmotherforninemonthsandisthen
born,sotoo
maninhisearthlylifeworksforhissalvation,andthenhedies.Inotherwords,
heisborn
intoeternity.Thechildthatisbornisborncrying.Why?Thereasonisthatitdoes
notknow
whereitisgoing.Itfearstheunknown.Wewhoknowtherealityofthesituation
donotcry
whenachildisborn,butarehappy.Thesameappliestothepersonwhodies.
Hecriesand
thinksaboutdeathbecauseheisafraidoftheunknown.Christwho"hasbecome
thefirst
bornfromthedead"hastolduseverything.ButthenwhyareChristiansafraidof
death?
Christiansareafraidofdeathforthreemainreasons:
a)theydonothaveenoughfaithinChrist,
b)theydonotliveaholy,butratherasinfullifeandarethereforeafraid,and
c)theyknowthatafterdeathrepentanceforsalvationnolongerexistsandso
theyareafraid
ofdeathandtheuncertaintythatitbringsforthempersonally.
Nonchristiansareafraidofdeathforthesamereasons,iftheyhavesomefaith,
butalso
becausetheydonotknowthethingsthatfollowafterdeath.Nonbelieversare
afraidof
deathbecausetheyconsideritcatastropheandtheend.Butitisnot.Itis,aswe
said,astage
andastartingpoint.
Christiansshouldnotbeafraidofdeath.Morethandeaththeyshouldfeartheir
earthlylife.
Inessenceandactualitytheyshouldnotbeafraidoftheirearthlylife.They
shouldfeartheir
badselves.Theyshouldfeartheirunrepentanceanddisbelief.Christ,Who
becamemanfor
us,werecrucifiedanddiedonthecross,descendedtoHadesandwereraised
upandbecame
"thefirstbornfromthedead,"Whotoldus"hewhobelievesinme,thoughhedie,
yetshall
helive"(John,11:25),You,Lord,helpus.Giveusfaith.Teachusaboutdeath.
Makeusnot
tofeardeath.GiveusYourgracesothatwemayworkoutoureternalsalvation
inour
earthlylife,bevictoriousoveroursinfulselves,andnotremaininoursinfulstate
our
unrepentantstate.Helpustoliveandgrowinastateofrepentance,tothinkof
deathfor
whatitis,astageandstartingpointforeternity,abirthdayinYourheavenly
Kingdom,anda
returntoourfatherlyhome.WethankYou,Lord.