Death. Death as we view it in Eastern Orthodoxy is the inevitable result of Adam’s sin, as well as our irresistible temptation toward sin in the generations since. That said, we don’t worry much about death, as we’re generally too focused on the Resurrection to give it much thought! The Resurrection of Christ is the very center of our faith and the Gospel/ Good News we are called to share. As St. Paul reminds us, “if Christ is not risen, then your faith is in vain,” and we give witness in the Paschal Troparion that, “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tomb bestowing life.” Not just cool and pretty lyrics, but the heart of our theology of death in the Church. Similarly, we have various teachings and Fathers’ visions about what happens to us after death, but these too should not overly concern us; we are called to live virtuous Christian lives and have faith that God will keep his promise to us of resurrection - St. John Chrysostom tells us that when Christ rose from the dead not only did He destroy death itself, but also its dominion, despair, and finality - something for which we can quite literally be eternally grateful.
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