The Essence of Orthodox Monasticism - Hieromonk Chrysostom 

Someone send us some monastics in Australia. The Church here needs much stronger health, less ego, less politics, more openness, more transparency.

I hope it helps.

Decree 18 of Council of Jerusalem 1672 addresses the issue you ask about: "We believe that the souls of those that have fallen asleep are either at rest or in torment, according to what each has done; - for when they are separated from their bodies, they depart immediately either to joy, or to sorrow and lamentation; though confessedly neither their enjoyment nor condemnation are complete. For after the common resurrection, when the soul shall be united with the body, with which it had behaved itself well or ill, each shall receive the completion of either enjoyment or of condemnation. And the souls of those involved in mortal sins, who have not departed in despair but while still living in the body, though without bringing forth any fruits of repentance, have repented - by pouring forth tears, by kneeling while watching in prayers, by afflicting themselves, by relieving the poor, and finally by showing forth by their works their love towards God and their neighbor, and which the Catholic Church has from the beginning rightly called satisfaction - [their souls] depart into Hades, and there endure the punishment due to the sins they have committed. But they are aware of their future release from there, and are delivered by the Supreme Goodness, through the prayers of the Priests, and the good works which the relatives of each do for their Departed; especially the unbloody Sacrifice benefiting the most; which each offers particularly for his relatives that have fallen asleep, and which the Catholic and Apostolic Church offers daily for all alike. Of course, it is understood that we do not know the time of their release. We know and believe that there is deliverance for such from their direful condition, and that before the common resurrection and judgment, but when we know not." ****Notice there is no third place called purgatory...it is just the realm of the dead called Hades where those who were not ready for Paradise await the judgement of the Last Day or help/ deliverance from the Lord Jesus prior to the Judgement day. The Church helps the departed ones through intercessory prayers and actions done on their behalf...as the members of Christ's body mutually help the other members. (Christ destroyed death and ushered in eternal life...death cannot seperate the members of Christ's body. This is the communion of saints) The General judgement on the Last day when Christ returns will be when all is finalized. This quote from the council of Jerusalem is the closest that I know of to an " official" statement about the intermediate state. God bless.

Heretical. Read St Mark of Ephesus' homilies against it

@@nektarios8386 what's the deal with toll houses?