Christ's Descent into Hades

References

Sources

1. 1.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 4 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 459)

   HADES, according to Orthodox teaching, the resting place for the souls of all those who died prior to Christ's redemption of humanity, where righteous and unrighteous alike awaited His resurrection and the Last Judgment. At the death of Christ, He descended into Hades to release the souls of the righteous and transfer them to paradise.

2. 2.Understanding the Liturgy — Father Athanasius Iskander (p. 53)

   The Church teaches that after our Saviour gave up the ghost, His human soul united to His Godhead descended into Hell, the prison where the souls of Adam and all his children were kept in the bondage of the adversary. There, the Lord freed Adam and those of his children who were counted righteous under the Mosaic Law and brought them with Him to Paradise.

3. 3.Understanding the Liturgy — Father Athanasius Iskander (p. 53)

   There are many biblical allusions to this, for Saint Peter tells us that “Christ also hath once suffered for sins, ... being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit, by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison” (1Pet 3:18-19). Saint Paul also tells us, “Wherefore he saith, when He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men. Now, that He ascended, what is it that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?” (Eph 4:8-9)

4. 4.Understanding the Liturgy — Father Athanasius Iskander (p. 54)

   The resurrection drama, enacted on Easter eve is a reminder to us of Christ’s descent into Hades. Here, the deacons take the part of the angels going before the face of Christ, crying out to the gate-keepers of Hell, “Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be lifted up, O ye eternal gates, and the King of Glory shall enter in” (Ps 23:7-8).

5. 5.Understanding the Liturgy — Father Athanasius Iskander (p. 54)

   The Doxology of Easter also testifies to this dogma. By His power He abolished death, And made life to shine on us, He Who descended to, The lower parts of the earth. The gate-keepers of Hades, Saw Him and were afraid, He abolished the pangs of death, And He was not held by it. He has broken the gates of brass, And cut asunder the bars of Iron, and brought out His elect, With joy and rejoicing.

6. 6.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 4 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 616)

   Also, in spite of the fact that it commemorates the resting of Christ's body in the tomb, it is designated the Saturday of Joy because it heralds the Resurrection of Christ, which He had proclaimed to His disciples. Christ also promised them that they would see Him again, "and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you" (Jn. 16:22). It is a day of joy not only for the living but also for the dead who died in Christ (Is. 56:1-4; Lk. 4:18-21; Pt. 3:19), for on Holy Saturday Christ's spirit descended into HADES, the resting place of the souls of the dead.

7. 7.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 4 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 459)

   The Coptic church also teaches that there is only one final judgment on mankind, which will take place after the resurrection of the dead, to the exclusion of any immediate stage or so-called "particular" judgment. The souls of all the departed are kept in waiting—the pious in paradise and the sinful in Hades. It is only after the Last Judgment that the former go to heaven and the latter to hell.

8. 8.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 6 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 498)

   At the death of Christ on the cross, He descended into Hades, from which He conveyed the souls of the righteous to paradise.