[Kolokotronis]

“Are those who are in heaven, other than the Trinity and the angels, aware of what is going on in this world?”

Only in the West would that question be asked. In the East it is understood that there is a constant “back and forth” of angels and saints and the Theotokos between earth and heaven. We “see” our patron saints with the “nous”, the eye of the soul and they are very real. Although mass visions like the appearance of the Theotokos over a church in Egypt are a matter of wonder, that a regular Christian would see her or saints while saying daily prayers or at the Divine Liturgy is not all that remarkable. We expect to see them...and we have no doubt that they intercede for us just as much as we intercede for each other.

[Mad Dawg]

Troo dat.

[vladimir998]

In the East and among those of us Westerners who still hold the faith of the saints, we understand that there is an openness now between heaven and the saints on earth that was made possible by Christ sacrifice on the cross.

Protestants - for all their preaching about a “personal relationship with Christ” - seem to view heaven as very remote, far beyond an unbreakable veil.