site logosite logo
  • The Spiritual Gift of the Day
  • Gallery
  • About
  • [RO]
SIDEBAR

The stages of our eternal life

12 comments
  • Baptism, Tonsure, and Funerals
  • Dispassion
  • Prayer
  • Remembrance of death
  • Remembrance of wrongs
  • Renunciation of the world
  • Victory over death
Mar 17 2020
Post's featued image.

We must consciously realize that we are eternal and we have some stages in our eternal life which we will describe shortly below.

There are four stages in our eternal life:

  1. Embryonic life

    It begins from conception until birth. This stage is characterized by the fact that we, as human beings, are very dependent on the spiritual and biological lives of our parents – firstly, our mother’s, of course.

  2. Earthly life

    The second stage (as such as we all read this) lasts from birth until the separation of our body and soul, an unnatural phenomenon brought in existence by Adam’s sin (hence, our fear of it): the phenomenon called death. This second stage is very important because, in this stage, we determine to a great degree our existential plane for the next two stages. This happens because, here, we have the free will to change.

  3. Afterlife

    Even if, after death, our bodies decompose, our souls remain alive and know very well who we are and remember absolutely everything—since the phenomena of ageing and forgetfulness disappear. Our souls, which remember everything, are pleased by the virtues and good deeds we did, but are tormented by the existential distortions (sins) we accumulated and did not confess. In this stage, our souls rely on the prayers of those still in the second stage (and of the Saints in heaven) and hinge on the consequences of our deeds in our former stage.

  4. After Resurrection

    At the Resurrection, our souls regain our bodies. The main change of the body is that it is incorruptible. It doesn’t need any more meals, water, sleep, and similar things. In this period, which is also eternal, the human being stabilizes on the existential plane which is gained in the past three stages.

This is why we should never, ever commit any deed of which we might be ashamed, in the future.

In the photo, a monk comforts Elder Gervasios in his cell near Vatopedi, Mount Athos, a few hours before his death.

If you want to pray for you or to donate, click here.

Related Portfolio Items:

  • Saint Joseph the Hesychast - Photo Journal with his Life
    Saint Joseph the Hesychast - Photo Journal with his Life
  • How to start the spiritual life
    How to start the spiritual life
« Enjoy the Silence
The services are not held for the saints – photo journal from the Chapel of Saint Joseph the Hesychast »
  1. Pingback: Recomandări de pe asceticexperience.com (I) | Sfântul Munte Athos

  2. Ioan Toma 

    We still have free will. However this will is „stabilized” in good due of the level of our knowledge then. Because after death, we will have a lot more real knowledge – we really experience the fulfillment of our hopes – and, besides that, we have the knowledge of lack of Grace – that’s why nobody thinks to sin again. In hell, tough, is different: a stubborn fixation that „I am right and God is wrong & unfair etc.” – we see this (unfortunately) also here on Earth. Minor correction: after death there are two stages not only one.

    17/11/2016 at 17:32 Reply
  3. alex 

    Confession, after preparation, is one of the most wonderful things we as Christians can do. I used to be worried about it until I discovered the brilliant feeling after the priest gives absolution. God loves us so much and I think one of his greatest gifts is absolving us (through the words of his priest) of our sins.
    Thanks very much for todays `spiritual gift`. So much appreciated.

    15/11/2016 at 20:19 Reply
    • Ioan Toma 

      Yes, sure. Pretty classical experience. I am very glad that your experienced it. Warm regards!

      16/11/2016 at 10:28 Reply
      • Orthodox 

        How we should be prepared for confession please?

        16/11/2016 at 23:02 Reply
    • Ioan Toma 

      Indeed. This is the classic feeling after a confession. You’re welcome.

      16/11/2016 at 15:20 Reply
  4. Orthodox 

    Thanks a lot for this explanation, which make us to think carefully for our deeds and to be very serious to confess our sins.

    1. For confession, women could be more comfortable to confess to a religious woman (i.e. abbess, but who else in the world) and men to a religious man. Is this possible please?
    2. Since we might realize that we sin every day (and even repeat the same sin), may we confess in a front of an icon everyday, and are our sins forgiven? If yes, should it be the icon of Christ or Saint Mary and Christ, or any other icon of any Saint?
    3. If someone have received the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist without preparation (confession) one or some days before it, is this a very big sin?

    Thank you very much in advance for your kind help and answer.

    Have all blessings that God gives for people!

    15/11/2016 at 14:33 Reply
    • Ioan Toma 

      1. No.
      2. No.
      3. Yes. 🙂

      We must confess to a priest. Priest is (in our discussion) an institution. Do not think how he will see you – anyway, he heard these things a lot, believe me. It is nothing new for him. You speak to God which, also, anyway knows your sins – much better than priest. It is just your to have courage to negate them by saying them out. That’s all.

      Devil uses our natural shame to stop us to confess. Let us not obey him.

      15/11/2016 at 18:03 Reply
      • Orthodox 

        Thank you for your answers. Quite encouraging words for us.
        Is it possible to confess first to a confession priest who would not be the Spiritual Father, in order to avoid the shame we may feel in other confession sessions please?

        15/11/2016 at 18:29 Reply
        • Ioan Toma 

          Yes, it is possible, but GENERALLY it isn’t advised. Think like this: theology is the medicine of soul (see here: https://asceticexperience.com/portfolio/how-is-the-soul-cured/ ). In the same way in which your family doctor should know all your body diseases, in the same way your Spiritual Father should know your spiritual diseases. However, if it is something special you can find an Elder (someone who is recognized by the Church having a greater spiritual degree than average) and confess to him. It usually helps.

          16/11/2016 at 10:28 Reply
          • Orthodox 

            Thank you very much for your answer.
            It really help me very much as I am worried about this situation for me. I met someone who told me that the first time was full of tears, but then in the end and in the other confessions it was like God was there and a feeling of peace of happiness.
            God bless you with the best virtues always!

            16/11/2016 at 22:59
          • Ioan Toma 

            No need to worry. It is a war from devil.

            17/11/2016 at 17:33

Submit a Comment Cancel Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Spiritual Gift of the Day

The photo is featured here as well as in the full portfolio and the spiritual subject categories so you can find the photos in any way you want.

Search

Popular Posts


Recent Posts

  • The mystery of the Holy Unction: Miracles
  • When will the trial we go through be over?
  • What Does the Bible Say About Doctors?
  • Saint Mary of Egypt and the Holy Communion
  • The types of sadness – photo journal from the Akathist Hymn
  • Who are the patron saints? (St. Charalampos, St. Corona, St. Nikephoros)
  • The Akathist Hymn: ode to the Invincible General
  • Which is the Beginning of the Gospel?
  • Prophecies about the pandemic – Photo journal with a great schema service
  • Fear: how to deal with it

Categories

  • === Body ===
    • Avarice (Love of Money) and Self-Imposed Poverty
    • Baptism, Tonsure, and Funerals
    • Gluttony and Fasting
    • Motivation, toil, diligence and laziness
    • Obedience
    • Renunciation of the world
    • Sleep and vigil
    • Vices and virtues
    • Victory over death
  • === Heart ===
    • Anger, Meekness, Simplicity and Innocence
    • Dispassion
    • Faith, Anxiety, Uncertainty and Cowardice
    • Insensibility (Death of soul)
    • Joy, mourning and joy filled mourning
    • Love
    • Passion, purity and chastity
    • Patience, trials and peaceful living
    • Remembrance of death
    • Repentance
    • Stillness of body and soul (Hesychia)
  • === Mind ===
    • Despair and Discouragement
    • Discernment, Experience and Enlightenment
    • Humility, pride and unclean thoughts
    • Justice, lying and patience in injustices
    • Prayer
    • Remembrance of wrongs
    • Slander
    • Tradition, learning and education
  • === Other ===
    • Informational
    • Miracles
    • Mount Athos
  • ==== Authors ====
    • Abba Efprepios
    • Abba Isaiah
    • Abba Sisoes
    • Abbess Gavriïlia
    • Abbess Makrina
    • Abraham Lincoln
    • Aimilios Polygenis
    • Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
    • Alexandru Mironescu
    • Ancient Patericon
    • Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana
    • Archbishop Seraphim Sobolev
    • Archimandrite Chrysostomos Papadakis
    • Archimandrite Gabriel Dionysiates
    • Avva Agathon
    • Barbara Johnson
    • Bishop Nektary Kontzevitch
    • confessor Răducă Marin
    • Diadochos of Photiki
    • Dimitrios Panagopoulos, preacher
    • Edsger W. Dijkstra
    • Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra
    • Elder Amphilochios Makris of Patmos
    • Elder Arsenie Boca
    • Elder Arsenie Papacioc
    • Elder Charalambos of Dionysiou
    • Elder Cleopa Ilie
    • Elder Ephraim of Arizona
    • Elder Ephraim of Vatopaidi
    • Elder Georgios Kapsanis
    • Elder Ilarion Argatu
    • Elder Ilarion of Kalamitsi
    • Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi
    • Elder Philotheos Zervakos
    • Elder Tadej Vitovnički
    • Elder Thaddeos of Vitovnica
    • Elder Zacharias of Essex
    • father Dumitru Staniloae
    • father Elias Minjatios
    • Father George Calciu
    • Father Seraphim Rose
    • Father Stephen Freeman
    • Father Vasileios Kalliakmanis
    • Father Vasileios Thermos
    • Fotis Skhinas
    • Fyodor Dostoyevsky
    • Gerontissa Philothei of Karea
    • Ioan Ianolide
    • Ken Kesey
    • Kostas Nousis
    • Metropolitan Amphilochios of Montenegro
    • Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol
    • Metropolitan Augustinos (Kantiotis) of Florina
    • Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patra
    • Metropolitan Hierotheos (Vlachos) of Nafpaktos
    • Metropolitan of Diokleia Kallistos Ware
    • Nele Weduwen, Postgraduate student at Theology
    • New Testament
    • Old Testament
    • Patriarch of Constantinople Gregory V
    • Paul Saffo
    • Prof. Georgios Mantzaridis
    • Protopresbyter George Metallinos
    • Protopresbyter John Romanides
    • Robert Capa
    • Saint Ambrose of Optina
    • Saint Anthony the Great
    • Saint Apostle Paul
    • Saint Barsanuphius of Optina
    • Saint Barsanuphius the Great
    • Saint Basil the Great
    • Saint Cyril of Alexandria
    • Saint Diadochus of Photice
    • Saint Dionysius the Areopagite
    • Saint Dorotheos of Gaza
    • Saint Dyonisius the Aeropagite
    • Saint Ephraim of Katounakia
    • Saint Ephraim the Syrian
    • Saint Gennadius of Constantinople
    • Saint George Karslidis
    • Saint Gregory of Nyssa
    • Saint Gregory Palamas
    • Saint Gregory the Sinaite
    • Saint Gregory the Theologian
    • Saint Hesychius the Priest
    • Saint Ignatios of Antioch
    • Saint Ignatius Brianchaninoff
    • Saint Isaac the Syrian
    • Saint Isidore of Pelusium
    • Saint John Cassian
    • Saint John Chrysostom
    • Saint John Colobus
    • Saint John Jacob of Hozeva
    • Saint John of Damascus
    • Saint John of Kronstadt
    • Saint John of the Ladder
    • Saint John the Prophet from Gaza
    • Saint John the Russian
    • Saint John the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco
    • Saint Joseph the Hesychast
    • Saint Justin Popovich
    • Saint Luke of Crimeea
    • Saint Makarios
    • Saint Mark the Ascetic
    • Saint Maximos the Confessor
    • Saint Moses of Optina
    • Saint Nectarios of Pentapolis
    • Saint Nektarios of Aegina
    • Saint Nicholaos Velimirovich
    • Saint Nicodemus the Athonite
    • Saint Nikephoros the Leper
    • Saint Nikodimos the Athonite
    • Saint Nikon of Optina
    • Saint Paisios the Athonite
    • Saint Peter of Damaskos
    • Saint Philaret of Moscow
    • Saint Poimen the Great
    • Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalivia
    • Saint Porphyrios the Athonite
    • Saint Seraphim of Sarov
    • Saint Silouan the Athonite
    • Saint Simeon the New Theologian
    • Saint Sophrony of Essex
    • Saint Symeon of Thessaloniki
    • Saint Symeon the New Theologian
    • Saint Thalassios the Libyan
    • Saint Theophan the Recluse
    • Saint Theophylactos of Ochrid
    • Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk
    • Seneca
    • Soren Kierkegaard
    • Stanislav Lem (Solaris)
    • Theodoros Kolokotronis
    • Valeriu Gafencu

Archives

  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • June 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014

The images are copyrighted.
SHARE, don't steal!
Contact us.
Get it on Google Play