An Assurance of Hope

I must admit that I never felt such joy the day I learned to pray for the salvation of the whole world and everything in it. But it didn't come immediately after my conversion, because then there was still the idea of Hell and everlasting torment for those who "rejected Christ."

Yet this is not part of any Orthodox creed, nor has it ever been Orthodox dogma. The concept of Hell as a place for punishment is largely a western construct (specifically medieval). This view is held by some in the Eastern church, but it is also held alongside others who view Hell as something else, and here I must use the words of others:

"It remains spiritually impossible to talk of Hell for others. The theme of Hell can only be broached in terms of I and Thou. The threats in the Gospel concern me; they formulate the serious tragic element in my spiritual destiny; they prompt me to humility and repentance, because I recognize them as a diagnosis of my state.But for you, the numberless you of my neighbour, I can only serve, bear witness, and pray that you will experience the Risen Christ and that you and everyone will be saved."

-Olivier Clement

This leads us to the practice of praying for all, and that includes the dead, so that all may be saved. This is not a new teaching, and Church fathers throughout history, from St. Paul ("that God may be all in all"), through St Issac, up until present day saints such as Silouan, have taught us to hope and pray for universal salvation.

"The assurance of the salvation of all cannot be an assurance of faith, because there is no clear and affirmative statement about this in Holy Scripture; but it can be an assurance of hope, because, knowing God as we know Him, we have the right to hope for everything."
- Metropolitan Anthony of Sourzoh

We cannot say that all will be saved, or even that all must be saved. But how can we imagine that the saints in Heaven won't continually pray for those on earth who have not met Christ, and even more, those who are still suffering in Hell? I too think that living Christians should pray in a like manner, and knowing God, have an assurance of hope. At least some of us should. Just some thoughts (not all my own) I felt like sharing.

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Saturday Prayer for the Dead:
Remember the souls of Thy servants O Lord,for Thou art good,and insofar as they sinned in this life,forgive them;for no one is sinless but Thee,Who canst also give rest to the departed
Now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Amen