Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
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Is it true that part of our Lord’s suffering for us was to stay in the Hades for three days?

Following the Lord Jesus Christ's burial and before His Glorious Resurrection, the Lord liberated the righteous dead who were in Hades. By destroying sin and death, He enabled them to enter into Paradise through His Holy Life-Giving Death. The Holy Book of 1 Peter 3:18-20 tells us, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit" (1 Pt 3:18-20).

This Holy Scripture teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ descended to those in darkness and death that Light might shine upon them and they would be delivered from death. The Lord Jesus Christ faced death and Hades for us. Have you ever noticed the beautiful Coptic icons that portray the Resurrected Lord with the Gates of Hades opened? We say in the Liturgy, He descended into Hades through the cross.

Just as Noah preached righteousness and suffered unjustly, rescuing those who were with him, so also did the Lord Jesus Christ.
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