This is a very important question often asked by Orthodox Christians. In considering our answer, let us turn to the words of the Elder Arsenius of the Holy Mount Athos. Elder Arsenius was born in Russia and later journeyed and stayed on the Holy Mountain in Greece where he became the director of the spiritual lives of thousands of Russian monks, having acquired a great reputation as an ascetic and an experienced spiritual guide. He reposed in the Lord on March 24, 1846. Here is what this holy man has to say about our question at hand: