Seraphim Alexiev, archim. Eternity, painful or blissful: the afterlife Translation from Bulgarian by Gheorghita Ciocioi Published 2011 Whether we come to terms with it or not, death is a reality in everyone’s life. Once we become aware of this fact, we necessarily ask the question: What comes next? Of course, there are all kinds of answers, and we face the difficult task of discerning between false and true, shallow and deep ones. In the present book, Archimandrite Seraphim Alexiev provides the Orthodox answer, rooted in the Holy Scripture and the Holy Fathers’ teachings, to this existential question. It is the voice of an experienced contemporary spiritual director, who remains meek even while speaking of eternal torment. Despite his realism, Father Seraphim evinces an optimism based on the very essence of Orthodoxy. While heaven and hell are unquestionable realities, no one is predestined for one or the other. The gift of freedom allows man to choose his path and be his own master. The key that opens the gates of the Kingdom is repentance, and heaven or hell are reached through communion with God, respectively by rejecting His love. How is God’s justice reconciled with His mercy, why a sinner receives eternal punishment for sins committed over a limited time, as well as other paradoxical questions, are given simple and reliable answers in this book. Format: 11 x 20 cm; 112 p. ISBN: 978-973-136-262-5 “Theological Studies” «« back