medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear [log in to unmask] (I suppose Fr Ambrose),
Thank you very much for your so rich and informative reply. However they are
several points needing some specification.
The Descent of Christ in Hades (Harrowing of Hell) had never been included
in the New Testament. This scene is chapter XVIII from the non-canonical
Nicodemus Gospel and Eiphanius Homily. And the sermon of John Crysostom on
the Resurrection during the Paschal is some kind of retelling or free
borrowing of the Nicodemus gospel’s episode. According to the ‘Orthodox
theological encyclopedy‘ (Pravoslavnaia bogoslovskaia entsiclopedia ili
bogoslovskiy entsiklopedicheskiy slovar’. T.I. Petrograd. 1900, p.821) the
descent of Christ into Hell is regarded as bringing the blessed news, the
Christ word to the eternal darkness, thereby destroying its eternal power
and (quote) “associating the entire pre-Christian world with redemption”.
And when delivery from Hell is meant, it is assumed that those were mainly
“Old Teastament innocents.” Traditionally on Orthodox icons is painted the
salvation of Adam and Eve.
The Bogomil-Cathar delivery is for all souls. This was put down in the
records of the Inquisition in Languedoc in the 14th century: “after Christ
was resurrected he descended into Hell body and soul, and took out from
there all human souls, be they sinners or not, with the exception of Judas
Iscariot…” (postquam Christus resurrexerat, descendit ad inferos in corpore
and anima, ed de inde extraxit animas omnium hominum, tam peccatorum, quae
ibie errant, excepta animae Judae Scariot… Doellinger, Ign. Dokumente
vornehmlich zur Geschihte der Valdesier und Katharer herausgegeben. Munchen.
1890. t. II, p.p.193-194).
Georgi Vasilev Ph.D., D.Litt.
Professor of European and Medieval Studies
State University of Library studies and Information Technologies
Sofia 1784
119 Tsarigradsko chaussee bd
Mob. 00359 885 969087
E-mail: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
Web: www.geocities.com/bogomil1bg
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