The Catholic Doctrine of Purgatory

The Catholic Doctrine of Purgatory: Why It Is Theologically Erroneous In Roman Catholic theology, there exists the doctrine of Purgatory (Purgatorium): an intermediate state after death in which souls are “purified” through punitive suffering before entering Paradise. The Orthodox Church rejects this doctrine not out of hostility, but because it has no foundation either in Holy Scripture or in the Patristic Tradition, and because it distorts fundamental truths concerning salvation. ⸻ 1. Purgatory Does Not Exist in Holy Scripture There is no clear reference in the New Testament to a “place of purifying punishment.” The main passage cited by Catholics (2 Maccabees 12:45) does not belong to the Hebrew canon of the Old Testament, nor was it ever used dogmatically by the ancient Church. Christ speaks plainly: “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46) He makes no mention of a third, intermediate state of punitive “purification.” ⸻ 2. It Turns Salvation into a Legal Transaction Purgatory is based on the logic that: • guilt is forgiven, • but a remaining “penalty” must still be paid. This introduces a legalistic concept of salvation that is foreign to the Orthodox experience. In Orthodoxy: Christ does not pay penalties — He heals the human person. Salvation is not a judicial settlement, but the restoration of the relationship with God. ⸻ 3. It Distorts the Meaning of Repentance In Purgatory, purification takes place after death through suffering. In Orthodox Tradition: • purification occurs here and now, through repentance, confession, ascetic struggle, and Holy Communion. After death: “It is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) There is no second “pedagogical punishment.” ⸻ 4. It Creates Fear Instead of Hope Purgatory cultivates: • fear of future suffering, • anxiety over expiation, • and historically even led to the commercialization of indulgences. The Orthodox Church, by contrast, speaks of: • hope in the mercy of God, • prayer for the departed, • and trust in His loving-kindness — not in mechanisms of punishment. ⸻ 5. The Fathers of the Church Did Not Teach Purgatory None of the great Fathers of the Church: • St. John Chrysostom • St. Basil the Great • St. Gregory the Theologian ever spoke of a place of punitive purification. They speak of: • the toll houses (as a spiritual struggle), • a temporary state of awaiting judgment, • prayer on behalf of the departed, but not of an institutionalized post-mortem purgatorial fire. ⸻ ❖ Conclusion Purgatory: • is not biblical, • is not patristic, • is not therapeutic, • and distorts the evangelical message of salvation. The Orthodox Church accepts repentance — it places it in its proper context: in this life, where the human person is called to be healed, to love, and to be united with Christ.

Πουργατόριο και «Άγιοι» εκτός Εκκλησίας – Η Ορθόδοξη απάντηση

Στον καθολικό χώρο συχνά προβάλλεται η ιδέα ότι κάποιοι «άγιοι» είχαν μεταθανάτιες εμπειρίες και αποκάλυψαν την ύπαρξη του Πουργατορίου. Αυτές οι αφηγήσεις, όμως, δεν αποτελούν μέρος της Αποστολικής και Πατερικής Παραδόσεως της Εκκλησίας.

Το Πουργατόριο δεν ανήκει στην Ορθόδοξη Πίστη

Η Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία διδάσκει ξεκάθαρα ότι:

• δεν υπάρχει Πουργατόριο ως ενδιάμεσος τόπος ή κατάσταση καθαρμού ποινών,
• δεν υπάρχει «εξόφληση» αμαρτιών μετά θάνατον,
• δεν υπάρχει νομική αντίληψη σωτηρίας.

Οι Άγιοι Πατέρες μιλούν για:

• προγεύσεις Παραδείσου ή Κολάσεως,
• αναμονή της Τελικής Κρίσεως,
• προσευχή υπέρ των κεκοιμημένων ως επίκληση του ελέους του Θεού.

Μεταθανάτιες εμπειρίες και διάκριση πνευμάτων

Η Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία δεν θεμελιώνει δόγματα σε ιδιωτικά οράματα ή εμπειρίες.

Οι Πατέρες τονίζουν τη διάκριση πνευμάτων, διότι ακόμη και ο διάβολος μπορεί να παρουσιάζεται ως «φως».

Όταν μια εμπειρία οδηγεί σε διδασκαλία ξένη προς την Εκκλησία, δεν αποδεικνύει την αλήθεια, αλλά αποκαλύπτει πνευματική πλάνη.

Υπάρχουν Άγιοι εκτός Ορθοδοξίας;

Η αγιότητα δεν είναι ατομικό κατόρθωμα αλλά εκκλησιαστικό γεγονός.

Η Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία αναγνωρίζει Αγίους μόνο εντός του Σώματος του Χριστού, δηλαδή εντός της Εκκλησίας.

Δεν αποφαίνεται για τη σωτηρία προσώπων εκτός αυτής, αλλά δεν αναγνωρίζει αγιότητα εκτός της Ορθόδοξης Πίστης.

Συμπέρασμα

• Το Πουργατόριο δεν υπάρχει στην Ορθόδοξη Παράδοση.
• Τα οράματα δεν θεμελιώνουν δόγματα.
• Η αγιότητα είναι καρπός της Εκκλησίας.
• Η Ορθοδοξία στέκεται στην Αλήθεια χωρίς σχολαστικές κατασκευές.

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Purgatory and “Saints” outside the Church – The Orthodox Response

In Roman Catholicism, it is often claimed that certain “saints” had post-mortem experiences and revealed the existence of Purgatory. However, such claims do not belong to the Apostolic and Patristic Tradition of the Church.

Purgatory is not part of Orthodox Faith

The Orthodox Church clearly teaches that:

• Purgatory does not exist as an intermediate state of penal purification,
• there is no legal “payment” for sins after death,
• salvation is not understood in juridical terms.

The Holy Fathers speak of:

• a foretaste of Paradise or Hell,
• the awaiting of the Final Judgment,
• prayer for the departed as an appeal to God’s mercy, not as a payment of punishment.

Post-mortem experiences and discernment

Orthodoxy does not establish dogma based on private visions or experiences.

The Fathers emphasize spiritual discernment, since even the devil can appear as an angel of light.

When an experience leads to teachings foreign to the Church, it does not confirm truth, but reveals spiritual deception.

Are there saints outside Orthodoxy?

Holiness is not an individual achievement but an ecclesial reality.

The Orthodox Church recognizes saints only within the Body of Christ, the Church itself.

While it does not judge the eternal fate of individuals outside her bounds, it does not recognize sanctity outside Orthodox faith and life.

Conclusion

• Purgatory does not exist in Orthodox Tradition.
• Visions do not define doctrine.
• Holiness is a fruit of the Church.
• Orthodoxy stands on Truth through Tradition, not scholastic constructions.