St John of Damascus

Below are some very characteristic and very important passages from Saint John of Damascus on the subject of Hell: *1. Hell is not God’s punishment, but it is a state of receptivity. It appears that Hell and Paradise as “places” do not exist. There is only God, who is present in all places (omnipresent).

– ST JOHN OF DAMASCUS – SERMON I [147] THE memory of the just takes place with rejoicing, said Solomon, the wisest of men; for precious in God’s sight is the death of His Saints, according to the royal David. If, then, the memory of all the just is a subject of rejoicing, who will not offer praise to justice …