Aerial Toll-Houses

[ChristosVoskrese]

What is the general consensus among the people here on the teaching of the aerial toll-houses? (For those who don't know what this is - it's a teaching that states that after death, the soul will pass through a series of 20 "toll-houses" in the air, where demons will accuse it of various sins that were unconfessed to one's spiritual father. The angels will counter the demons with good deeds. After you have passed through all the toll-houses, God will judge you).

I am in two minds abou this theory myself. One, I'm scared of passing through the toll-houses. But two, I consider that it is a good way to explain the particular judgement after death.

[Грешник]

Has this belief or idea been spoken of by the Fathers of by a Council? This would be my first question before accepting an idea that sounds a bit "off". The Church has the final word.

[Pravoslavnik]

C.V.,

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      The definitive review of the traditional Orthodox literature on this subject was published by blessed Father Seraphim Rose in the book, [i]The Soul After Death[/i] (St. Herman's Press) circa 1980.  That book describes the Orthodox hagiography and Patristic teachings on the subject, including twentieth century accounts by Photios Kontoglou and others.  Ithink that Father Seraphim wrote the book partly as an Orthodox response to the popular near-death literature that began to appear in the 1970's, and 1980's--especially Dr. Orville Moody's best-seller [i]Life After Life[/i].  Father Seraphim saw the Protestant near-death literature, in part, as a demonic deception, conveying the false notion that everyone will enter into a blessed hereafter (and tunnel of bright light), regardless of their faith and works...

[ChristosVoskrese]

I borrowed a copy of Fr. Seraphim's book yesterday from the local Presbyterian minstry college (it's part of my university). It's really interesting, and I didn't know that the toll-houses were so widely spoken of in the tradition of the Church.