St. Barthlomew

In the tradition of the Eastern Church, particularly through ascetic writings and the teachings of elders like Fr. Seraphim Rose, we encounter the mystical teaching of the 20 Aerial Toll Houses—also called “torment stations” or “testing places.” Though not formal dogma, this teaching is rooted in patristic writings and the lives of saints such as St. Basil the New, and serves as a spiritual metaphor for the soul’s journey after death.

According to this understanding, after death, the soul passes through twenty spiritual stations, where it is met by accusing demons who test the soul for specific sins—such as pride, envy, gluttony, fornication, and slander. The guardian angel and the prayers of the faithful assist the soul during this trial. These toll houses represent the gravity of unrepented sin and the need for deep spiritual vigilance and repentance in this life.

Although the Church does not possess a specific icon exclusively depicting the toll houses, the famous icon of the Ladder of Divine Ascent—drawn from the writings of St. John Climacus—can be viewed through a similar lens. In this icon, monks climb toward Christ, while demons pull down some who fall to temptation, illustrating the spiritual struggle against passions and demonic forces. This ascent, and the falls along the way, visually resemble the soul’s postmortem journey and the toll house tradition.

This teaching ultimately calls each believer to live a life of deep repentance, humility, and watchfulness, trusting in Christ’s mercy and the intercession of the saints.