Eternal Mysteries Beyond the Grave

by Archimandrite Panteleimon (Compiler)

Overview

Providing unique perspectives drawn from Russian Orthodox sources not easily found in the Western world, this book explores questions regarding the nature of God’s existence and the immortality of the human soul. It includes many examples of the awareness of life after death and argues that the expectation of a future life and faith in God form the foundation of a well-ordered life. This insightful look into the Orthodox Christian theology offers hope of something greater than a temporal existence and discusses questions relevant to every human being.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780884652120
Publisher:	Holy Trinity Publications
Publication date:	07/01/2012
Edition description:	Second Edition, Second edition
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Archimandrite Panteleimon was a 20th-century Orthodox monk and the founder of the Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York. He is the author of A Brief History of Russia in the Essays and Biographies and Tales of the Earthly Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Introduction to the Second Edition xi

Part I Belief in God and the Existence of an Afterlife 1

1 Orthodox Teachings on the Existence of God 3

2 The Mystery of the Holy Trinity 7

3 The Immortality of Our Soul 14

4 The Origin of Death 27

5 The Actual Existence of the Devil 33

6 The Fallen Angels 37

7 St Anthony's Struggles Against Devils 43

8 What Is Death? 52

9 What Is the Soul, and What Is Its Origin? 54

10 How Significant for Our Lives Is Belief in Immortality? 56

Part II Teaching on the Afterlife, Heaven, and Hell 59

11 Proofs of Immortality 61

12 The Particular Judgment 63

13 Church Teaching on the Trials of the Departed 65

14 The Mystery of Death 71

15 Teaching from the Holy Fathers on the Journey After Death 74

16 The Mysteries of Life Beyond Death 77

17 A General View on the Immortality of the Soul and on Life Beyond the Grave 81

18 The Life of Departed Souls Before the Universal Judgment 88

Part III Tales From Beyond the Grave 91

19 The Journey Beyond Death as Revealed to Gregory, a Disciple of St Basil the New 93

20 Testimony of the Departed About the Immortality of the Soul and the Afterlife 111

21 The Deaths of the Christian Boys 123

22 Two Visions of the Heavenly Kingdom 129

23 Two Marvelous Occurrences 134

24 The Miraculous Dream of the Novice Thecla 147

25 The Clairvoyant Girl 158

26 The Experience of a Certain Ascetic 165

27 An Ancient Tale 169

28 The Soldier Taxiotes 172

29 The Tale of Gabriel Ivanovich Gonchar 175

30 A Tale from the Holy Mountain 178

31 The Suffering Paralytic 180

Part IV Praying for Those in Eternity 183

32 How Important It Is to Remember the Dead 185

33 The Departed Request the Living to Pray for Them and Are Grateful 189

34 The Departed Appear to Their Relatives and Friends to Tell Them of Their Death 198

35 The Departed Take an Interest in Their Survivors 202

36 More Accounts of Appearances of the Departed 215

Part V Preparing Ourselves for Death 223

37 A Moral Conclusion to Be Drawn from the Previous Accounts 225

38 What the Holy Scripture and the Fathers of the Church Teach About the Location of Paradise 227

39 What the Holy Scripture and the Fathers of the Church Tell Us About the Location of Hell 229

40 The Future Punishment of Sinners 231

41 An Answer to the Eternal Question: Shall We Live After Death? An Attack on Atheism and the Doctrine That Death Is Final 235

Part VI Final Words on Immortality 245

42 More About Proofs of Man's Immortality and of the Preservation of His Own Identity After Death 247

43 After His Death, Man Preserves His Identity and Leads a Fully Spiritual Life 251

Part VII Comments on Christianity, Endtimes, Struggles, And Rewards 253

44 On the Holiness of the Christian Religion 255

45 A Last Word on the Divine Origin of the Christian Religion 261

46 The End of the World, the Resurrection of the Dead, and the Last Judgment 267

47 The Blessed Condition of the Righteous in the Future Life 272

48 About the Eternal Blessedness of the Saints 277

Part VIII Conclusion 287

49 A Defense of Christian Faith Against Disbelief 289

50 Final Exhortation-Stand Firm 300

Appendix 1 A Prayer for Mercy 322

Appendix 2 A Short Biography of Archimandrite Panteleimon 332

Subject Index 335

Scripture Index 349