The Transmigration of Souls
Attention: This doctrine is not held by the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Oversimplified
- A Jewish concept of the afterlife for souls to try again on earth.
- A type of re-incarnation so that souls have another chance to be saved.
- One soul binds to another living soul to try again.
Summary
This is importantly not the same as Greek metempsychosis or Hindu reincarnation, even though it superficially resembles them. It's specifically remedial — a soul that failed to fulfill its purpose gets another opportunity.
In Scripture
Though this is not a doctrine held by the Church, a reference to its existence can be found in the Gospels. (Not explicitly but is non-the-less interesting).
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” - Mathew 16.13-14
Also in Mark 8.27 and Luke 9.18.
Why would the disciples think Jesus, would be John the Baptist, who had just died? Hence the concept of The Transmigration of Souls was in their minds at the time. This also connects to Herod's fear in Mark 6.14 — Herod thinks Jesus is John the Baptist risen, with powers. There's ambiguity in the text between resurrection and transmigration that reflects genuine confusion in popular theology.
The concept of being buried with your father, is also claimed to be a faint hint to the transmigration of souls.