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Life after Death According to the Orthodox Tradition
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Life after Death according to the Orthodox Tradition provides an accessible and well organized synthesis of the ancient Christian understanding of death and the afterlife. It draws primarily from the Greek language writings of the Fathers of the Church whilst also bringing in the perspectives of Western Latin sources. Noting that some divergences between eastern and western traditions have existed since the fifth century, it argues that these have become of much greater importance since the twelfth century, when the Roman Catholic Church developed the notion of Purgatory. This work will be of benefit both to the Orthodox reader who wants to enhance their own understanding of the Church's teaching, and to Roman Catholics, Protestants and others who wish to become acquainted with the fullness of Christian tradition on death and the afterlife. All will encounter the abundant heritage of the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 3)
French philosopher and patrologist Jean-Claude Larchet brings his comprehensive knowledge of the Church Fathers to the subject of the afterlife, the Particular and Universal judgments, and the Church's intercessory prayer for the reposed.
Life after Death according to the Orthodox Tradition provides an accessible and well organized synthesis of the ancient Christian understanding of death and the afterlife. It draws primarily from the Greek language writings of the Fathers of the Church whilst also bringing in the perspectives of Western Latin sources. Noting that some divergences between eastern and western traditions have existed since the fifth century, it argues that these have become of much greater importance since the twelfth century, when the Roman Catholic Church developed the notion of Purgatory. This work will be of benefit both to the Orthodox reader who wants to enhance their own understanding of the Church's teaching, and to Roman Catholics, Protestants and others who wish to become acquainted with the fullness of Christian tradition on death and the afterlife. All will encounter the abundant heritage of the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 3)
French philosopher and patrologist Jean-Claude Larchet brings his comprehensive knowledge of the Church Fathers to the subject of the afterlife, the Particular and Universal judgments, and the Church's intercessory prayer for the reposed.
290 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 2001
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About the author
Jean-Claude Larchet
59 books67 followersJean-Claude Larchet, né le 9 août 1949 à Badonviller (Meurthe-et-Moselle), est un patrologue et théologien orthodoxe français.
Auteur de nombreux ouvrages publiés aux éditions du Cerf et traduits dans dix-neuf langues, il est notamment spécialiste de Maxime le Confesseur.
Auteur de nombreux ouvrages publiés aux éditions du Cerf et traduits dans dix-neuf langues, il est notamment spécialiste de Maxime le Confesseur.
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August 22, 2013
There's a small shelf of Orthodox books on life after death; I think this superb synthesis by Jean-Claude Larchet is the best of the lot by a good margin. Larchet applies his usual sober judgment and vast scholarship to produce a powerful summary of the Fathers' teaching on death, the progress of the soul after death, its fate in the time before the Last Judgment, and finally what the Church has to say about the Last Judgment itself. He concludes with a sobering chapter entitled "Preparing Oneself for Death and the Life Beyond."
Not surprisingly, a lot of space is given to the "Toll House" teaching, its support and its detractors. This is necessary because a small gaggle of Orthodox writers have kept a debate going about the topic for several decades. Larchet simply presents the massive body of Patristic evidence for the teaching, then presents some helpful comments to put it in perspective.
I had one quibble with this magnificent book. It seems that somewhere in the home stretch, the proofreader went out for coffee: the final chapters are full of typos.
This is a powerful, sobering book. I think any reader who wants to know what the Church has taught about life and death through the ages will come away informed and edified. I'll close with a striking quote from Abba Isaiah from Larchet's closing chapter:
Think to yourself daily, I have only this day to do something in this world, and you will not sin before God.
Not surprisingly, a lot of space is given to the "Toll House" teaching, its support and its detractors. This is necessary because a small gaggle of Orthodox writers have kept a debate going about the topic for several decades. Larchet simply presents the massive body of Patristic evidence for the teaching, then presents some helpful comments to put it in perspective.
I had one quibble with this magnificent book. It seems that somewhere in the home stretch, the proofreader went out for coffee: the final chapters are full of typos.
This is a powerful, sobering book. I think any reader who wants to know what the Church has taught about life and death through the ages will come away informed and edified. I'll close with a striking quote from Abba Isaiah from Larchet's closing chapter:
Think to yourself daily, I have only this day to do something in this world, and you will not sin before God.
Displaying 1 of 1 review