Eastern Orthodox Church

=== Eschatology ===

{{main|Christian eschatology}}
[[File:Torcello - Santa Maria Assunta.Last Judgement.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|''Last Judgment'': 12th-century [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] mosaic from [[Torcello]] Cathedral]]

Orthodox Christians believe that when a person dies the soul is temporarily separated from the body. Though it may linger for a short period on Earth, it is ultimately escorted either to paradise ([[Abraham's bosom]]) or the darkness of [[Christian views on Hades|Hades]], following the [[Particular judgment|Temporary Judgment]]. Orthodox do not accept the doctrine of [[Purgatory]], which is held by Catholicism. The soul's experience of either of these states is only a "foretaste"—being experienced only by the soul—until the [[Last Judgment|Final Judgment]], when the soul and body will be reunited.<ref>[http://www.pravoslavieto.com/docs/eng/Orthodox_Catechism_of_Philaret.htm ''The Longer Catechism of The Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church''], an Orthodox catechism from 1830, by [[Filaret, Metropolitan of Moscow|Metropolitan Philaret]]. Start with item 366 or 372. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703171158/http://www.pravoslavieto.com/docs/eng/Orthodox_Catechism_of_Philaret.htm |date=3 July 2007 }}</ref><ref name=soul>Rose, Father Seraphim, ''The Soul After Death'', St. Herman Press, Platina, CA, c. 1980.</ref>

The Eastern Orthodox believe that the state of the soul in Hades can be affected by the love and prayers of the righteous up until the Last Judgment.<ref>[http://www.pravoslavieto.com/docs/eng/Orthodox_Catechism_of_Philaret.htm ''The Longer Catechism''], Item 377. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703171158/http://www.pravoslavieto.com/docs/eng/Orthodox_Catechism_of_Philaret.htm |date=3 July 2007 }}</ref> For this reason the Church offers a special [[prayer for the dead]] on the third day, ninth day, fortieth day, and the one-year anniversary after the death of an Orthodox Christian. There are also several days throughout the year that are set aside for general commemoration of the departed, sometimes including nonbelievers. These days usually fall on a Saturday, since it was on a Saturday that Christ lay in the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre|Tomb]].<ref name=soul/>

The Eastern Orthodox believe that after the Final Judgment:
* All souls will be reunited with their [[Resurrection of the Dead|resurrected bodies]].
* All souls will fully experience their spiritual state.
* Having been perfected, the saints will forever progress towards a deeper and fuller love of God, which equates with eternal happiness.<ref name=soul/>