Nikolaos Vasiliadis

THE MYSTERY OF DEATH

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia

The monograph of Professor N. Vasiliadis of the University of Athens highlights the most important problem of human life and Orthodox theology – the problem of death. The book shows, on the one hand, the impotence of ancient and secular philosophy to give a satisfactory answer to this question, which frightens the unbeliever, and, on the other hand, reveals the teaching of the Eastern Church on the mystery of death and future eternal life. The monograph widely presents the opinions of the Holy Fathers on this problem.

The translation was made by the Publishing Department of the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius according to the edition: ?. ??????????. ?? ????????? ??? ???????. ??????, 1994.

© ?. Basiliadis, Athens.

© Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, 1998.

AUTHOR'S PREFACE TO THE RUSSIAN EDITION

I have always admired the Russian people – their faith, holiness, patience, love and steadfastness in Orthodoxy. So I felt unbearable pain to see his severe torment, which began in 1917 and lasted seven decades – as well as the exile of ancient Israel in Babylon!

The Lord, Whose destinies are a great abyss (Psalm 35:7), allowed the great red dragon (Rev. 12:3), that is, the Antichrist, to persecute and torment the Russian Church "for the time being." Perhaps in order to manifest the martyrs, and to drink the Russian land with their blood, which once became the seed for the growth of the Church. As the Christian apologist Tertullian said, "semen est sanguis Christianorum," that is, the seed by which the Church is multiplied, is the shed blood of Christian martyrs.

The great red dragon literally rushed at Russia in a great rage, knowing that he had little time left (Rev. 12:12). And since his power is temporary, he set about his dirty work with all his might and using all the means at his disposal. He imagined that he could bury the Church of Christ!

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However, the Russian people of God, armed with the Cross, strength in faith and love for the Most Holy Trinity, courageously accepted spiritual and physical torments and endured. And not only did he survive, but by the power of Christ he overthrew the dragon! Once again, the sheep, the Christians, defeated the wolves – the Antichrist and his servants! It could not be otherwise!