Christ the Conqueror of Hell: The Descent into Hades from the Orthodox Perspective

by Hilarion Alfeyev

Overview

This in-depth study on the realm of death presents a message of hope held by the first generation of Christians and the early church. Using Scripture, patristic tradition, early Christian poetry, and liturgical texts, Archbishop Hilarion explores the mysterious and enigmatic event of Christ's descent into Hades and its consequences for the human race. Insisting that Christ entered Sheol as Conqueror and not as victim, the author depicts the Lord's descent as an event of cosmic significance opening the path to universal salvation. He also reveals Hades as a place of divine presence, a place where the spiritual fate of a person may still change. Reminding readers that self-will remains the only hindrance to life in Christ, he presents the gospel message anew, even in the shadow of death.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780881410617
Publisher:	St. Vladimir's Seminary Press
Publication date:	11/01/2009
Pages:	232
Sales rank:	764,034
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.49(d)
Age Range:	16 Years

About the Author

Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev), Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, is well known throughout the Orthodox Church as a leading theologian, writer, and musical composer. He holds a doctorate in Philosophy from Oxford University and a doctorate in theology from St Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute in Paris.