Indulgences (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)

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Don't be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they don't sow, they don't reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height? If then you aren't able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.

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	Indulgences (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)

QUESTION:

The Roman Catholic Pope recently proclaimed "indulgences" as a means to hasten entry into heaven (at least according to what I read in the popular press).

Does Orthodoxy share this belief or one similar to it? If not, do you consider this one of several major differences between Roman Catholicism and Orthodoxy?

ANSWER:

While this is a complex issue, I will try to offer a clear and concise response.

The Roman Catholic tradition of indulgences dates back several centuries. In essence - and in short! - it was taught that Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints had more "merits" than necessary. As a result, these "extra merits" may be "transferred" to others and, consequently, used toward their salvation. Hence, in this framework, a person who would be expected to spend time in purgatory [the Orthodox Church does not believe in purgatory as a "third" or "alternate" state to heaven and hell] may have that time reduced through:

merits received by performing certain acts or prayers to which indulgences are attached, or

having the indulgences applied to the acts or prayers of another person transferred to them

This, according to this line of reasoning, reduces, or, in the case of a "plenary" indulgence, completely eliminates the amount of time one would have to spend in purgatory, during which his or her sins are "purged" in preparation for entrance into heaven.

I apologize for the brevity of this response, but in essence this is the nature of indulgences as seen by Roman Catholicism.

There is no similar concept of indulgences within Orthodox Christianity.

Published in January 2011.

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