According to orthodox churches Holy Episcopal Synod is the keeper of the faith. Holy Synod is the one who defines the faith, and not even achens…And that is why the church could hold same faith even after 2000 years.

Look into the Bible.

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation. For prophecy never came by the will of man,but, holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” 2 pet.1:20-21

“All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable doctrine , for reproof , for correction , for instruction in righteousness” 2 Tim.3:16

If somebody believes in Bible let them follow Bible and do Bible.

“The sacraments of the Christian Church are purely symbolic and not filled with the Grace of the Holy Spirit.” says most of the Christians .I have recently gone through the debates of the members of our IOIF digest , which makes such an assertion. Most of us are of the view that the Scriptures can be used to prove the symbolic nature of the sacraments, in particular the sacraments of Baptism and Communion.

It should be noted from the very early days of Christianity that there was no debate whether the Sacraments are real or symbolic. The Orthodox Faith was established by the Apostles (Heb. 6:1-) and their successors maintained the same faith thru out till date. The Orthodox Church has held from the beginning that the sacraments are spiritual in nature, and only in relatively modern times have non-Orthodox Christians rejected this belief because they do not have any authorized persons to do so. Thus we do not have two parties who differ in interpretations, but instead we have those who strive to preserve the faith of the Early Church and those who reject it

It should also be noted that the true nature of the sacraments does not depend on scriptural evidence for its justification. The sacraments were initiated and established before the writing of the Bible and beginning of
the church. The same Holy Spirit which inspired the authors of the Holy Bible also inspired the Apostles and Fathers of the Church as they taught the Jews and Gentiles about Christ and the Holy Sacraments.

“There fore , leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ Let us go on to perfection ,not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith towards God , of the doctrine of baptisms , Of laying on of hands , of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment” (Heb. 6:1-2)

Bible says that there are 6 doctrines which already have a foundation and not to lay again the foundation.

That is what the non- orthodox denominations do now. We are not expected to be carried away by these winds.

I was not talking about what would happen to those outside the Christianity. That is in the hands of God as Jesus says.

“Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons , kneeling down and asking something from Him. And he said to her, What do you wish? She said to Him, Grant that these two sons may sit, one on your right hand, and other on the left, in your kingdom.

But Jesus answered and said, You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink , and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They said to Him, We are able.

And he said to them, You will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by my Father.” (Matthew 20:20-23; also: Mark 10:37)

The justice in the Kingdom of God is defined in the Bible thru the workers of the vineyard .God kept His promise .To the one who came on the 9th hour also is given the same wages .That is the justice of the Kingdom of God .We are not to worry about it.. Jesus says.

If you are called to the vineyard of Christianity do according to the instructions of the Lord. And not how you think. I know that Mr. X  is working somewhere. If you do according to you there , in no time u will be firedor replaced. That justice is very simple.

Let me come back to the point.

We were talking about the souls in Hades -whether they are eligible of SALVATION or not.

The church teaches you that it is possible. That is why we pray and do ritual for the departed ones.